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2017 Map of Picture Gorge West

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Picture Gorge West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument anchors the eastern edge of this landscape, where the John Day River carves a path through the volcanic stratigraphy. The namesake Picture Gorge serves as a narrow passage for the river just south of Sheep Rock, highlighting the complex geology that has made this region a focal point for paleontological study. The terrain is defined by a series of high ridges and basins, including Jerrys Ridge, Artman Basin, and Butler Basin.

Evidence of early land use and local navigation appears in the naming of isolated water sources and crossings, such as Johnny Kirk Spring, Cal Smith Spring, and the Goose Rock Bridge. Tributaries like Rock Cr, Indian Cr, and Buckhorn Cr feed into the main river system, while local transit is represented by Dick Creek Rd and numerous gulches and draws that dictate the flow of travel through the Wheeler and Grant county borderlands.