1959 Map of West Myrtle Butte

About this map

The Malheur National Forest provides the setting for this mid-century survey of Harney and Grant Counties, where the high-country landscape is defined by isolated ranches and early timber management. Dominating the northern terrain, West Myrtle Butte rises above an intricate network of water sources such as Gribble Spr and Cold Spr. For the local historian, the map reveals a pattern of mid-century land use where remote outposts like the Old Dale Smith Homestead and the Peabody Homestead exist alongside working operations like the H J Baker Ranch and Finke Ranch. These settlements are connected by a sparse system of primitive routes, including several identified as Jeep Trail, highlighting the challenges of traversing this part of the Oregon interior before modern road improvements reached the deep forest canyons.