1980 Map of Palomino Buttes

About this map

Silver Creek flows through the southern portion of this Harney County landscape, carving through the Warm Springs Valley just below the dramatic rise of the Palomino Rim. The terrain is defined by its water management and ranching infrastructure, characterized by numerous catchment features like Snow Storm Reservoir, Rock Bottom Reservoir, and Obiaque Waterhole. The eponymous Palomino Buttes dominate the northern center, surrounded by a series of ephemeral water bodies including Palomino Lake and Bunch Grass Reservoir. Human activity is marked by specialized infrastructure, from the Landing Strip and Borrow Pit in the valley to the steep routes navigating the rim, such as Palomino Grade and Ferry Grade. This survey captures a remote High Desert environment where every named water source and canyon passage was vital for local navigation and land use.