Alta Toquima Wilderness
Encyclopedia
The Alta Toquima Wilderness is a protected wilderness area in the Toquima Range
of Nye County
, in the central section of the state of Nevada
in the western United States
. It covers an area of 35860 acres (145 km²),
and is administered by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
. The Mount Jefferson Research Natural Area
protects 4953 acres (20 km²) around Mount Jefferson, the highest peak in Central Nevada. The Mount Jefferson Research Natural Area is the most unusual environments in the USA, due to its extreme alpine conditions. Wildlife is plentiful in the Wilderness, including bighorn sheep
, deer, grouse
, chukar
and native trout.
Toquima Range
The Toquima Range is a line of mountains in northwestern Nye County, in central Nevada in the western United States. From Hickson Summit on U.S. Route 50, the range runs for approximately 71 miles to the south-southwest. To its west are Big Smoky Valley, scenic State Route 376, and the large...
of Nye County
Nye County, Nevada
-National protected areas:* Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge* Death Valley National Park * Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest * Spring Mountains National Recreation Area -Demographics:...
, in the central section of the state of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
in the western United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It covers an area of 35860 acres (145 km²),
and is administered by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is the principal U.S. National Forest located in the U.S. state of Nevada. With an area of , it is the largest National Forest of the United States outside of Alaska...
. The Mount Jefferson Research Natural Area
Research Natural Area
Research Natural Area is a designation for certain protected areas in the United States.Research Natural Areas are part of a nationwide network of ecological areas set aside for both research and education. The network includes areas managed by many Federal agencies...
protects 4953 acres (20 km²) around Mount Jefferson, the highest peak in Central Nevada. The Mount Jefferson Research Natural Area is the most unusual environments in the USA, due to its extreme alpine conditions. Wildlife is plentiful in the Wilderness, including bighorn sheep
Bighorn Sheep
The bighorn sheep is a species of sheep in North America named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to , while the sheep themselves weigh up to . Recent genetic testing indicates that there are three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: Ovis canadensis sierrae...
, deer, grouse
Grouse
Grouse are a group of birds from the order Galliformes. They are sometimes considered a family Tetraonidae, though the American Ornithologists' Union and many others include grouse as a subfamily Tetraoninae in the family Phasianidae...
, chukar
Chukar
The Chukar Partridge or Chukar is a Eurasian upland gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae. It has been considered to form a superspecies complex along with the Rock Partridge, Philby's Partridge and Przevalski's Partridge and treated in the past as conspecific particularly with the first...
and native trout.