2017 Map of Vantage

About this map

Vantage sits along the western bank of the Columbia River in a landscape shaped by dramatic basalt formations and steep coulees. This 2017 survey shows the settlement overlooking Wanapum Lake, a reservoir created by the downstream Wanapum Dam. The topography is defined by the high, flat stretch of Babcock Bench and the prominent Frenchman Hills to the northeast. Notable geological features like Hole in the Wall and several dry erosional channels, including Schnebly Coulee, Ryegrass Coulee, and Rocky Coulee, illustrate the unique scabland terrain. Further south, Sand Hollow and Middle Canyon mark the breaks in the elevation as the land descends toward the river, highlighting the interaction between modern infrastructure and the ancient volcanic geology of Kittitas and Grant counties.