2017 Map of Plot Butte

About this map

The high desert volcanic landscape of the Deschutes National Forest is defined here by a series of prominent volcanic buttes and seasonal water sources. The namesake Plot Butte rises above the center of the sheet, situated near the Plot Butte Waterhole, a critical resource in this arid terrain. The map records a complex network of forest development roads and primitive tracks, such as Sand Springs Rd and Mahogany Butte Rd, which navigate the rises of Mahogany Butte and Antelope Butte. To the south, Watkins Flat spreads between Watkins Butte and Ko Butte, illustrating the open, flat basins that punctuate the higher elevations. This topography of cinder cones and dry basins, including the ephemeral Dry Lake, highlights the specialized land management and natural history of the eastern Oregon high country.