1972 Map of Stockade Mtn

About this map

The South Fork Malheur River carves through this high-desert landscape on the border of Harney and Malheur counties, a region where water sources dictate the placement of every homestead and landmark. Ranching history is deeply etched into the terrain, evidenced by family holdings such as the McEwen Ranch and Spurlock Ranch, along with the Grave McRae Homestead near the river. The presence of the Union Pacific rail line and Luce Hot Springs highlights the strategic importance of this corridor in the early 1970s. Cattle operations appear central to the local geography, with specifically named infrastructure like Dipping Vat Spring and numerous stock waterings including Hat Butte Waterhole and the Jake Hughes Reservoir. The map illustrates a network of fences and primitive trails connecting remote heights like Stockade Mountain to the seasonal drainages of Swamp Creek and Visher Creek.