2012 Map of Packsaddle Canyon

About this map

Packsaddle Canyon and the surrounding high country of Johnson County are defined by a network of seasonal camps and ranching outposts along the N Fork Powder River. This 2012 survey illustrates the enduring cattle-rearing geography of the region, where family-named landmarks like Armstrong Cabin, Gibbs Cabin, and the Hat Ranch mark a landscape of low-density habitation. The drainage patterns of Simmons Cr and Pass Cr converge in a complex of draws and canyons, including the distinctively named Snowdrift Draw and Horseshoe Canyon. Higher elevations feature landmarks such as Red Spring Hill, providing essential water sources for livestock at Red Spring and Mud Spring. The infrastructure is primarily composed of ranch roads and irrigation works like the Webb Perkins Ditch, reflecting the local reliance on the river system for agricultural survival in this high-plains environment.