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1992 Map of Rough Mountain

Name: 1992 Topographic Map of Rough Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1992
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1992

About this map

Rough Mountain dominates this high-elevation landscape in Owyhee County, where a network of seasonal drainages and springs supported remote grazing and early mineral exploration. The topography is defined by the deep incisions of Poison Creek and Birch Creek, which carve through the high plateaus and provide the primary landmarks for this arid region. Traces of human activity are concentrated around reliable water sources, such as Doyle Place and the Lower Birch Spring.

Prospectors left their mark across the terrain, evidenced by numerous Prospect and Mine notations, particularly around the slopes of Poison Gulch. The map reveals a sophisticated naming system for the sparse water sources essential for survival, ranging from the evocative Holy Moon Spring and Little Half Moon Spring to the distinctively named Horseshead Spring. These springs and the high crossings like Half Moon Pass represent the vital points of a landscape navigated by ranching and mining interests in the late twentieth century.