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2017 Map of Rail Gulch

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

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

The S Fork Burnt River flows through this high-elevation terrain along the border of Grant and Baker counties, defining a landscape of narrow canyons and alpine springs. Deep in the Whitman National Forest, the topography is marked by a complex network of water sources, including Rail Gulch Spring, Mammoth Spring, and Tamarack Spring. These springs feed into drainage systems like Last Chance Creek and Savage Creek, illustrating the vital role of seasonal and year-round water in this arid highland.

Agricultural and mining history is visible through man-made water diversions such as Cavin Ditch and Elms Ditch, which channel water toward Whited Reservoir. These features, along with names like Mine Ridge and Payton Gulch, suggest a history of resource extraction and water management in a region where every drop is reclaimed for use downstream. Forest Service roads, including NFD RD 12 and NFD Road 700, provide the primary access to these remote reaches of the Blue Mountains.