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1968 Map of Wildhorse Lake

Name: 1968 Topographic Map of Wildhorse Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Steens Mountain dominates this high-altitude landscape of southeastern Oregon, where steep glacial carved features like Kiger Gorge and Wildhorse Canyon define the drainage patterns of the Great Basin. This late-1960s survey illustrates a wilderness primarily shaped by hydrology and geology, characterized by a high density of perennial and seasonal springs that feed watercourses such as the Little Blitzen River and Big Indian Creek.

Evidence of human activity is sparse but specific to ranching and recreation in Harney County. The map identifies the Radio Facility on the high ridge, while lower elevations show small outposts like Grant Place and The Hunters Cabin. At the base of the peaks, the water moves toward the arid basin floor through Big Alvord Creek and Cottonwood Creek, providing a detailed look at the hydrology of the area before modern climate shifts altered these seasonal flows.