2017 Map of Owyhee Ridge

About this map

Lake Owyhee dominates the northwestern corner of this high-desert landscape in Malheur County, where the terrain is defined by the prominent Owyhee Ridge and Board Corral Mtn. This 2017 U.S. Geological Survey topographic study reveals an arid environment managed for water through an intricate system of small catchments and reservoirs, such as Birch Cr Reservoir, Stark Reservoir, and Bas Reservoir. The network of intermittent drainages like N Alkali Cr and Camp Kettle Cr flow through deep erosional features like Buck Gulch and the narrow passage at Devils Gate. Water is the primary driver of movement and naming conventions here, with numerous isolated water sources including Three Fingers Spring, Monument Spring, and Board Corral Spring providing vital points of reference across the high plateaus. Primitive routes such as Fisherman Rd and Camp Kettle Creek Rd provide the only access through this desolate expanse of the Oregon high desert.