2022 Map of Spaulding Butte

About this map

The high volcanic plateau of Modoc County is defined here by the prominent rise of Spaulding Butte and the surrounding reaches of the Modoc National Forest. This landscape is characterized by a high-altitude water management system, evidenced by several catchments including Whitney Reservoir, Hackamore Reservoir, and Spaulding Reservoir. The small settlement of Meares sits in the northern section of the map, providing a rare point of habitation in an area otherwise dominated by ridge lines and timbered slopes. Notable elevations such as Plum Ridge, Deer Hill, and Damons Butte punctuate the terrain, while isolated water features like Mud Lake and the Cannon Tank serve as vital landmarks for navigation and land use in this remote section of northeastern California. The survey captures the transition between the open forest and the series of buttes that give the quadrangle its namesake.