2017 Map of Sheep Rock

About this map

Sheep Rock rises above a high-desert landscape defined by scarce water resources and distinct topographic breaks in Lake County. This 2017 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey details a network of named catchment points and shallow lakes essential for land management and ranching in the Oregon high desert. The prominence of Burma Rim to the northeast creates a dramatic shift in elevation, while the surrounding basins are marked by features such as Packsaddle Lake, Dead Horse Lake, and Walking Plow Lake. The nomenclature of the area's water sources provides insight into the difficulty of the terrain and the necessity of livestock watering, with labels like Impossible Waterhole, Handy Waterhole, and Legal Waterhole indicating a history of human interaction with this arid environment.