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2017 Map of Sparta Butte

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Sparta Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

Whitman National Forest dominates this section of Baker County, where a complex network of forest development roads provides access to a deeply carved drainage system. The settlement of Sparta Butte sits at the southern edge of this landscape, positioned near several distinct geological depressions including Tackle Gulch and Baldy Gulch. The hydrologic character of the region is defined by the winding course of Eagle Cr and its many tributaries, such as Hershey Cr and Shanghai Cr, which feed into the central Stoddard Reservoir.

Tracing the topography reveals the industry-driven nomenclature of the era, seen in names like Empire Gulch and Six Dollar Gulch. These labels, alongside landmarks like Twin Bridges and Eagle Creek Canyon, suggest a history of resource extraction and transit through the high-elevation terrain. This modern survey preserves the locations of numerous springs, including Torchlight Spring and Cup Spring, which historically supported movement through these canyons.