2014 Map of West Butte

About this map

The high desert landscape of central Oregon is defined by the sharp elevations of West Butte and the Bear Creek Buttes as they stood in 2014. Spanning the boundary between Crook County and Deschutes County, this terrain is marked by essential water sources in an otherwise arid region. Named features such as Daly Spring, Odell Spring, and Tub Spring dot the landscape, feeding into a drainage system that includes Williamson Cr and the ephemeral Dry River. Human intervention in this environment is visible through the Daly Reservoir and Hirsch Reservoir, which capture runoff for ranching or land management. Transportation is limited to a few arterial routes, most notably the S Crooked River Hwy cutting through the eastern corner and the George Millican Rd navigating the southwest, illustrating the sparse settlement and reliance on established water points for survival in the High Lava Plains.