2020 Map of Van

About this map

The small settlement of Van and the high point of Capps Mtn anchor this high-desert landscape in Harney County. The area is defined by its water management and grazing history, evidenced by Cleveland Ditch and the expansive reaches of the Malheur National Forest. This terrain is remarkably rich in named water sources, vital for ranching and survival in the Oregon interior. Named springs like Diamond Spring, Skookum Spring, and Little Britches Spring dot the landscape near Potts Field. Modern roads like the Van-Drewsey Rd and Calamity Creek Rd follow natural drainage paths through the ridges, tracing a long history of movement between isolated ranching outposts and more established settlements to the south. The presence of McEwen Spring and Muller Basin Spring suggest family-named landmarks that are essential for genealogists tracing ancestors in the high Oregon rangeland.