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2024 Map of Paiute Butte

Name: 2024 Topographic Map of Paiute Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2024
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2024

About this map

Paiute Butte rises as the central landmark in this high-desert portion of Harney County, characterized by a complex of seasonal playas and drainage networks. The landscape is defined by its interior drainage basins, most notably China Lake and Papoose Lake, which sit at the center of the quadrangle. These features, along with Evening Lake and Yellowstone Lake to the south, indicate a terrain where water is ephemeral and highly dependent on seasonal runoff.

Surface travel across this arid expanse is facilitated by a few key corridors, including Placidia Butte Rd and Big Stick Rd. The northern portion is dominated by the long slope of Juniper Ridge, while Big Stick Creek provides a primary drainage route toward the south near the Lone Tree Reservoir. This map documents a remote part of the Oregon high desert where water sources and topographic high points like the butte were essential navigational markers for surveyors and early travelers.