1963 Map of Pistol Butte

About this map

Volcanic peaks and riverine wetlands dominate this portion of the Deschutes National Forest as it appeared in the early 1960s. The landscape is defined by prominent buttes, including Wake Butte, Sitkum Butte, and the central Pistol Butte—which features a designated Lookout. To the south, the water systems of the Fall River and the meandering Deschutes River provide a sharp contrast to the cinder-strewn uplands. Human activity is concentrated along these waterways, evidenced by the Fall River Fish Hatchery, a nearby Gaging Station, and the Fall River Lodge. The presence of the Fall River Airfield and numerous Cinder Pit locations suggests an era of active forest management and local resource extraction. Further east, the Deschutes River winds toward The Dead Slough near the Foster Ranch, showing the varied hydrology of this high-elevation region.