Seitz Canyon
Encyclopedia
Seitz Canyon is one of the major canyons and valleys within the Ruby Mountains
of Elko County
, in the northeastern section of the state of Nevada
in the western United States
. Approximately 5.5 miles (8.9 km) in length, it was extensively sculptured by glaciers in previous ice age
s. Remote, scenic, and ecologically diverse, it is protected in both the Ruby Mountains Wilderness Area
and the Seitz-Echo Research Natural Area.
The main branch of Seitz Canyon begins at the summit of Mt. Silliman, at an elevation of 11250 feet (3,429 m). This high ridge also includes Mt. Gilbert
at 11120 ft (3,389.4 m), and an unnamed peak at 11035 ft (3,363.5 m). The canyon then drops to the north as a spectacular headwall of over 200 ft (61 m) to a nearly level basin that includes Seitz Lake
.
It is here that the greatest evidence for glacial sculpturing can be found. The canyon shows a classic U-shaped cross section, and many patches of bare granite still retain the dark patina and striations caused by direct contact with the lower surface of the glacier that once filled this valley.
From Seitz Lake the canyon makes a more gradual descent to its middle section 8000 ft (2,438.4 m), an area that includes a dense stand of aspen
trees and beaver
ponds. It then descends again to its large lower section 7000 ft (2,133.6 m), which includes an open forest of aspen and white fir
trees, sagebrush flats, and the junction with the south branch of the canyon. Towering 1500 ft (457.2 m) above are granite cliffs and pinnacles
.
Like its neighbor to the north, Lamoille Canyon
, Seitz Canyon is branched. The southern fork begins at the highest point of the range, the north face of Ruby Dome
11387 ft (3,470.8 m). Nearby are two other tall peaks known locally as Ruby Pyramid and Seitz Peak. The canyon descends steeply in four steps before merging with the main branch of the canyon.
This southern branch of the canyon may have once drained into the adjacent smaller valley of Thompson Creek. By this theory, early glaciers were able to break through the narrow ridge separating the canyons, and subsequently flow into the deeper main branch of Seitz Canyon. The result is that Thompson Creek is now a 'reverse' hanging valley, with its source perched 1200 ft (365.8 m) up the wall of Seitz Canyon. This merger also led to a large area of exposed granite at the bottom of Seitz Canyon, and a steep cascade of the stream nearly 1000 ft (304.8 m) long.
The merger of the two branches of Seitz Canyon forms Rabbit Creek, which drains into Pleasant Valley and then meanders across Lamoille Valley before merging with the Humboldt River
near the community of Halleck
. As the stream exits the range, it passes the last unusual feature of Seitz Canyon, the best examples of lateral moraines
in the Ruby Mountains. These ridges were formed as the glaciers dropped the rocks they had scraped from higher slopes. The moraines show the curve the glaciers took as they exited the confines of the rocky canyon, and exhibit multiple secondary ridges produced as the glaciers retreated at the end of the last ice age.
The canyon (and the lake within it) was named after brothers George and Edward Seitz, who were early ranchers in Pleasant Valley. George eventually left the area, but Ed Seitz became the sheriff of Elko County in 1869.
Ruby Mountains
The Ruby Mountains comprise one of the many mountain ranges of the Great Basin in the western United States. They are the predominant range in Elko County, in the northeastern section of the state of Nevada. To the north is Secret Pass and the East Humboldt Range, and from there the Rubies run...
of Elko County
Elko County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 45,291 people, 15,638 households, and 11,493 families residing in the county. The population density was 3/sq mi . There were 18,456 housing units at an average density of 1/sq mi...
, in the northeastern 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
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
. Approximately 5.5 miles (8.9 km) in length, it was extensively sculptured by glaciers in previous ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
s. Remote, scenic, and ecologically diverse, it is protected in both the Ruby Mountains Wilderness Area
Ruby Mountains Wilderness
The Ruby Mountains Wilderness is a protected wilderness area in the Ruby Mountains of Elko County, in the northeast section of the state of Nevada in the western United States. It covers an area of approximately 90,000 acres , and is administered by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.-External...
and the Seitz-Echo Research Natural Area.
The main branch of Seitz Canyon begins at the summit of Mt. Silliman, at an elevation of 11250 feet (3,429 m). This high ridge also includes Mt. Gilbert
Mount Gilbert (Nevada)
Mount Gilbert, the sixth highest named peak of the Ruby Mountains and the eighth highest in Elko County, is located in the northeast portion of the state of Nevada in the western United States. It is a spectacular part of the view from state route 227 in Lamoille Valley, rising over above the...
at 11120 ft (3,389.4 m), and an unnamed peak at 11035 ft (3,363.5 m). The canyon then drops to the north as a spectacular headwall of over 200 ft (61 m) to a nearly level basin that includes Seitz Lake
Seitz Lake, Nevada
Seitz Lake is a glacial tarn in the Ruby Mountains, in Elko County in the northeastern part of the state of Nevada. It is located near the head of Seitz Canyon at approximately , and at an elevation of 8915 feet...
.
It is here that the greatest evidence for glacial sculpturing can be found. The canyon shows a classic U-shaped cross section, and many patches of bare granite still retain the dark patina and striations caused by direct contact with the lower surface of the glacier that once filled this valley.
From Seitz Lake the canyon makes a more gradual descent to its middle section 8000 ft (2,438.4 m), an area that includes a dense stand of aspen
Aspen
Populus section Populus, of the Populus genus, includes the aspen trees and the white poplar Populus alba. The five typical aspens are all native to cold regions with cool summers, in the north of the Northern Hemisphere, extending south at high altitudes in the mountains. The White Poplar, by...
trees and beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
ponds. It then descends again to its large lower section 7000 ft (2,133.6 m), which includes an open forest of aspen and white fir
White Fir
White Fir is a fir native to the mountains of western North America, occurring at altitudes of 900-3,400 m. It is a medium to large evergreen coniferous tree growing to 25–60 m tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 2 m . It is popular as an ornamental landscaping tree and as a Christmas Tree...
trees, sagebrush flats, and the junction with the south branch of the canyon. Towering 1500 ft (457.2 m) above are granite cliffs and pinnacles
Arete (landform)
thumb|right|[[Clouds Rest]] in [[Yosemite National Park]] is an arete.An arête is a thin, almost knife-like, ridge of rock which is typically formed when two glaciers erode parallel U-shaped valleys. The arête is a thin ridge of rock that is left separating the two valleys...
.
Like its neighbor to the north, Lamoille Canyon
Lamoille Canyon
Lamoille Canyon is the largest valley in the Ruby Mountains, located in the central portion of Elko County in the northeastern section of the state of Nevada, in the western United States. Approximately in length, it was extensively sculpted by glaciers in previous ice ages.Lamoille Canyon begins...
, Seitz Canyon is branched. The southern fork begins at the highest point of the range, the north face of Ruby Dome
Ruby Dome
Ruby Dome, the highest peak of the Ruby Mountains and Elko County, is located in northeastern Nevada in the western United States. It rises from a base elevation of about to a height of . It is located about southeast of the city of Elko....
11387 ft (3,470.8 m). Nearby are two other tall peaks known locally as Ruby Pyramid and Seitz Peak. The canyon descends steeply in four steps before merging with the main branch of the canyon.
This southern branch of the canyon may have once drained into the adjacent smaller valley of Thompson Creek. By this theory, early glaciers were able to break through the narrow ridge separating the canyons, and subsequently flow into the deeper main branch of Seitz Canyon. The result is that Thompson Creek is now a 'reverse' hanging valley, with its source perched 1200 ft (365.8 m) up the wall of Seitz Canyon. This merger also led to a large area of exposed granite at the bottom of Seitz Canyon, and a steep cascade of the stream nearly 1000 ft (304.8 m) long.
The merger of the two branches of Seitz Canyon forms Rabbit Creek, which drains into Pleasant Valley and then meanders across Lamoille Valley before merging with the Humboldt River
Humboldt River
The Humboldt River runs through northern Nevada in the western United States. At approximately long it is the second longest river in the Great Basin, after the Bear River. It has no outlet to the ocean, but instead empties into the Humboldt Sink...
near the community of Halleck
Halleck, Nevada
Halleck is an unincorporated community in central Elko County, Nevada, United States. It lies at the interchange of Interstate 80 and State Route 229 northeast of the city of Elko. Its elevation is 5,230 feet . Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 89824...
. As the stream exits the range, it passes the last unusual feature of Seitz Canyon, the best examples of lateral moraines
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
in the Ruby Mountains. These ridges were formed as the glaciers dropped the rocks they had scraped from higher slopes. The moraines show the curve the glaciers took as they exited the confines of the rocky canyon, and exhibit multiple secondary ridges produced as the glaciers retreated at the end of the last ice age.
The canyon (and the lake within it) was named after brothers George and Edward Seitz, who were early ranchers in Pleasant Valley. George eventually left the area, but Ed Seitz became the sheriff of Elko County in 1869.