2024 Map of Rufus

About this map

Rufus serves as the focal point of this Sherman County landscape, situated where the high desert plateau meets the powerful currents of the Columbia River. This modern survey illustrates the profound hydrologic engineering of the region, featuring the transition between Lake Celilo and Lake Umatilla near the mouth of the John Day River. The geography is defined by deep, winding drainages like Scott Canyon and Hellroaring Canyon that cut through the basalt layers toward the river. For genealogists and local historians, the map preserves names tied to the land's hydrology and early settlement, from the Columbia Hills rising to the north to more secluded features like Pioneer Spring, Helm Springs, and the lengthy corridor of China Hollow. The road network, including the Biggs-Rufus Hwy and numerous canyon-following routes, reveals how modern transportation still adheres to the natural contours carved by the river's tributaries.