1962 Map of Wood Gulch

About this map

The Columbia River Lake Umatilla dominates the southern edge of this landscape, marking the interstate border between Washington and Oregon. Rising from the riverbanks, the terrain is defined by deep incisions like Wood Gulch and Juniper Canyon, which cut through the high plateaus of Hurlburt Flats. Agricultural life in the mid-twentieth century is centered on isolated family operations such as Goodknight Ranch and Whitmore Ranch, supported by a network of unimproved roads including Whitmore Road and Sixprong Road. Evidence of rural infrastructure is found in the scattered storage bins and a prominent Smythe radio tower. Small-scale industry is present through a gravel pit and an extensive pipeline that traverses the northern canyons, while a lonely cemetery and numerous springs denote the early settlement patterns of this arid region.