2017 Map of Twelvemile Ridge

About this map

Three Man Butte stands as a prominent landmark in this high-desert portion of Malheur County, where the landscape is defined by vast drainage systems and volcanic topography. The network of intermittent watercourses, including Duck Creek and Twelvemile Creek, illustrates the seasonal hydrology of this arid region. Human activity is evidenced primarily through an established network of range roads and cutoffs, such as Whitehorse Rd and Echave Ranch Rd, which follow the natural contours of the land to connect remote outposts. The presence of Twelvemile Ridge and the steep ascent at Twelvemile Hill Grade reveals the significant elevation changes that dictate travel patterns through this corner of Oregon. This survey captures a moment in the modern management of these public and private lands, showing the infrastructure required for ranching and resource navigation in the 21st-century West.