2011 Map of Sand Gap

About this map

Virginia Valley and Anderson Valley dominate this high-desert landscape in Harney County, where the ranching economy is etched into the terrain. The South Fork Malheur River cuts across the northern section, supported by water management features like Mahon Reservoir and Jenkins Reservoir. This digital-era survey documents a network of rural roads, including the Old Hwy and Virginia Valley Rd, connecting working lands such as the Tom Jenkins Ranch and Anderson Valley Ranch. Notable geographic landmarks like Sand Gap and the curiously named Hole-in-the-Ground provide orientation in this vast basin. The map illustrates how seasonal water sources like Buster Creek and Camp Creek dictate the placement of livestock operations and homesteads within the shadow of the Round Mountains.