2017 Map of Owyhee Butte

About this map

Owyhee Canyon dominates this high-desert landscape in Malheur County, where the Owyhee River carves a deep, winding path through volcanic terrain. The geological history is written in the earth here, particularly evident in the expansive Saddle Butte Lava Field in the northwest and the prominent peaks of Owyhee Butte and Little Owyhee Butte. Human activity in this arid region centers on water management, as seen in the series of irrigation and stock ponds including Eiguren Reservoir Number 1, Eiguren Reservoir Number 2, and the White Rock Reservoir. These sites, along with tributaries like Crooked Cr and Granite Cr, illustrate the essential infrastructure required for ranching and survival in the Oregon backcountry. Remote transit routes, such as Tub Springs Rd and the Old Ion Hwy, skirt the canyon edges, linking this isolated terrain to the broader region.