2023 Map of Round Top Butte

About this map

Round Top Butte serves as the dominant landmark of this high-desert landscape on the border of Lake and Harney Counties. The drainage patterns of Lost Creek illustrate the unique hydrology of the Oregon interior, where seasonal waters flow toward the Sinks of Lost Creek rather than reaching a traditional river system. This arid region is marked by vital water sources such as Dolton Spring, Skookum Spring, and Bradley Spring, which sustained cattle ranching and migration through the sagebrush plains. A network of small-scale water management is evident in the presence of the North Sheep Mountain Reservoir and West Sheep Mountain Reservoir, alongside the aptly named Pasture Lake. The terrain transitions from the volcanic prominence of the butte into the distinct topographical feature of Hay Lk Deep Valley, while Big Stick Rd provides the primary transit route through the eastern slopes of Sheep Mtn.