1964 Map of Rondowa

About this map

The Grande Ronde River and Wallowa River converge at the small settlement of Rondowa, where the Union Pacific railroad follows the winding canyon floor. This survey, photogrammetrically mapped in 1959 and photorevised in 1983, captures the rugged boundary between Union Co and Wallowa Co within the Umatilla Nat For and Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Small communities and outposts like Palmer Junction and Kimmell are linked by a network of trails and unimproved roads, including a noted Pack Trail through the steep terrain. Local history is anchored by landmarks such as Mt Pleasant Cem and Lookingglass Falls, while the landscape is defined by deep drainages like Rysdam Canyon and Duncan Canyon. Numerous Gravel Pits indicate localized extraction activity alongside the primary river arteries that have shaped the region's transport and settlement patterns.