2020 Map of Wrangle Butte

About this map

The geological legacy of the Oregon desert is defined here by the Saddle Butte Lava Field and the complex formations of the Saddle Butte Lava Tube. This arid region in Malheur County shows a landscape shaped by volcanic activity and sparse water sources, where remote tracks like Tub Springs Rd provide the only major access through the sagebrush. Isolated landmarks such as Chanis Rock and Wrangle Butte stand above the drainage basins, marking a territory where topography is the primary narrator of human movement. Ephemeral and seasonal water sources are vital to this environment, represented by Whiskey Springs, Tub Spring, and the Top Hat Reservoir. Near the eastern boundary, the sharp relief of Chalk Basin adds further geological diversity to a map dominated by the wandering paths of Ryegrass Cr and Bull Cr.