2013 Map of Red Basin

About this map

Owyhee River carves a deep path through the high desert of Owyhee County, defining the southern portion of this landscape. The terrain is characterized by dramatic elevation shifts and named topographic features such as The Tongue, Defeat Ridge, and The Badlands. Human activity is primarily oriented toward water management and transit, evidenced by several small impoundments like Potter Reservoir and Big Bend Reservoir. The presence of Crutcher Crossing indicates a historical and functional point of passage across the river within the Owyhee Canyon. To the north, the drainage systems of West Fork Red Canyon and East Fork Red Canyon feed into the broader Red Basin, while the Y P Desert occupies the southern plateau, illustrating a classic western rangeland and canyonlands environment.