Jackson Mountains
Encyclopedia
One hundred seventy five million years ago continental plates collided causing the rise of the Jackson Mountain Range. Today the majority of the range is divided into two federally protected wilderness area, the North Jackson Wilderness and the South Jackson Wilderness. The South Jackson Wilderness offers a panoramic view including the Black Rock Desert
, from the top of the majestic King Lear Peak at 8,924 feet. Topography of the wilderness is characterized by steep-sided and sharp-crested ridges spotted with Juniper and are considered to be the most rugged of the Bureau of Land Management
's Winnemucca District. Remnants of the historic Red Butte copper mining district can still be found nearby. The North Jackson Mountains Wilderness' topography is characterized by steep-sided, sharp-crested ridges spotted with juniper, and V-shaped rocky valleys. Elevations in the Wilderness range from 4,000 feet to the high point of Parrot Peak at 8,400 feet. Deep rugged canyons are laden with aspen, willow, and cottonwood groves. Several riparian streams support small populations of introduced rainbow trout.
South Jackson Recreational Opportunities
Canyons on the west side of the mountains provide for excellent routes for dayhiking and backpacking. McGill, Bliss, and Alaska Canyons are particularly scenic. The eastern slopes of the South Jackson are gentler in terrain and more suitable for horse travel. Photography, wildlife and wild horse viewing opportunities exists throughout the wilderness area. Hunting for mule deer, California bighorn sheep, antelope and game birds is popular in the area.
North Jackson Recreational Opportunities
The area provides for excellent camping, dayhiking, photography, wildlife and wild horse viewing opportunities. Deer Creek, Mary Sloan, Happy Creek, and Jackson Creek are scenic streams in the North Jackson Mountains Wilderness. Due to the ruggedness of the area; base camping and dayhiking is recommended.
Location:
The Jackson Mountains are located in Humboldt County
, 56 miles west of Winnemucca, Nevada
. Access can be reached from Winnemucca by taking the Jungo Road west for 35 miles to Bottle Creek Road. The Jackson Mountain Range can also be reached by taking the Leonard Creek or Bottle Creek Roads south from State Route 140
. The two wildernesses are divided by Trout Creek Road.
Black Rock Desert
The Black Rock Desert is an arid region in the northern Nevada section of the Great Basin with a lakebed that is a dry remnant of Pleistocene Lake Lahontan...
, from the top of the majestic King Lear Peak at 8,924 feet. Topography of the wilderness is characterized by steep-sided and sharp-crested ridges spotted with Juniper and are considered to be the most rugged of the Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
's Winnemucca District. Remnants of the historic Red Butte copper mining district can still be found nearby. The North Jackson Mountains Wilderness' topography is characterized by steep-sided, sharp-crested ridges spotted with juniper, and V-shaped rocky valleys. Elevations in the Wilderness range from 4,000 feet to the high point of Parrot Peak at 8,400 feet. Deep rugged canyons are laden with aspen, willow, and cottonwood groves. Several riparian streams support small populations of introduced rainbow trout.
South Jackson Recreational Opportunities
Canyons on the west side of the mountains provide for excellent routes for dayhiking and backpacking. McGill, Bliss, and Alaska Canyons are particularly scenic. The eastern slopes of the South Jackson are gentler in terrain and more suitable for horse travel. Photography, wildlife and wild horse viewing opportunities exists throughout the wilderness area. Hunting for mule deer, California bighorn sheep, antelope and game birds is popular in the area.
North Jackson Recreational Opportunities
The area provides for excellent camping, dayhiking, photography, wildlife and wild horse viewing opportunities. Deer Creek, Mary Sloan, Happy Creek, and Jackson Creek are scenic streams in the North Jackson Mountains Wilderness. Due to the ruggedness of the area; base camping and dayhiking is recommended.
Location:
The Jackson Mountains are located in Humboldt County
Humboldt County, Nevada
Humboldt County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of 2007, the population was estimated to be 18,052. Its county seat is Winnemucca.The county was the site of an arrest in 2000 that led to the U.S. Supreme Court decision Hiibel v...
, 56 miles west of Winnemucca, Nevada
Winnemucca, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,174 people, 2,736 households, and 1,824 families residing in the city. The population density was 867.5 people per square mile . There were 3,280 housing units at an average density of 396.6 per square mile...
. Access can be reached from Winnemucca by taking the Jungo Road west for 35 miles to Bottle Creek Road. The Jackson Mountain Range can also be reached by taking the Leonard Creek or Bottle Creek Roads south from State Route 140
Nevada State Route 140
State Route 140 is a two-lane state highway in Humboldt County, Nevada. It serves a sparsely-populated section of the state, connecting northwestern Nevada to southern Oregon...
. The two wildernesses are divided by Trout Creek Road.
See also
- North Jackson Mountains WildernessNorth Jackson Mountains WildernessThe North Jackson Mountains Wilderness is a U S Wilderness Area in Nevada under the Bureau of Land Management. It is located in the Jackson Mountains north of the South Jackson Mountains Wilderness and east of the Black Rock Desert Wilderness....
- South Jackson Mountains WildernessSouth Jackson Mountains WildernessThe South Jackson Mountains Wilderness is a U S Wilderness Area in Nevada under the Bureau of Land Management. It is located in the Jackson Mountains south of the North Jackson Mountains Wilderness and east of the Black Rock Desert Wilderness....