2020 Map of Sinker Butte

About this map

The Snake River carves a deep canyon through this high desert landscape, serving as a boundary for both geography and history. Evidence of early migration routes is preserved in the tracks of the Emigrant Trl and Oregon Trl, which navigate the plateaus around Sinker Butte and Sinker Creek Butte. These landmarks provide orientation in an arid environment defined by broad expanses like Murphy Flat. A poignant human touch is found at the burial site of Jacob Reuben Graves, situated near the bluffs overlooking the river. The map also delineates the transition between Ada and Owyhee counties, where modern roads like Murphy Grandview Rd follow ancient corridors. Water remains the focal point of the terrain, with Sinker Cr cutting a rugged path toward the main river channel near the Swan Falls Trail.