Table Mountain Wilderness
Encyclopedia
The Table Mountain Wilderness is a protected wilderness area in the Monitor Range
of Nye County
in central section of the state of Nevada
. It is the third largest wilderness area in the state. The nearest city is Tonopah, Nevada
. The Table Mountain Wilderness Area covers an area of 92600 acres (375 km²), and is administered by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
. The 1860s ghost town
of Belmont
is nearby.
The Table Mountain Wilderness is a partially forested tableland, or high plateau, which lies at the center of the Monitor Range
. Table Mountain itself rises to 10,000 feet (3000 meters) and covers an area of 12 mi2. There are significant herds of mule deer
and elk
as well as mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, beaver, chukar partridge, sage grouse, blue grouse
, golden eagles, hawks, and falcons. The deer and elk herds are among the largest in the state. Five fishing streams hold rainbow
, brook
, brown
, and Lahontan cutthroat
trout
. Aspen
trees are very common. Pines, juniper, mountain mahogany, and cottonwood
are also found. Horse packing and riding is even more popular than hiking and backpacking. The most popular trail is the Barley Creek Trail which is 6 miles (10 km) long, not counting forks. Other trailheads are at Mosquito Creek, Clear Creek, and Green Monster Canyon. A 20 miles (32 km) loop trail follows Cottonwood Creek, which has beaver
ponds. There are over 100 miles (161 km) of trails.
Wilderness areas do not allow motorized
or mechanical
equipment including bicycle
s. Although camping
and fishing
are allowed with proper permit, no roads or buildings are constructed and there is also no logging
or mining
, in compliance with the 1964 Wilderness Act
. Wilderness areas within National Forests and Bureau of Land Management
areas also allow hunting
in season. The elk herd, which had disappeared from this region, was reintroduced in 1979 and is doing well. In 1999 the second largest bull elk ever taken in the 20th century in North America was taken in this wilderness.
Monitor Range
The Monitor Range is located in south-central Nevada in the United States. The range lies west and northwest of the Hot Creek Range and north of Highway 6 in Nye County, and extends for approximately 106 miles into Eureka County at its northern end.The Forest Service is in charge of 83.6% of the...
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 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...
. It is the third largest wilderness area in the state. The nearest city is Tonopah, Nevada
Tonopah, Nevada
Tonopah is a census-designated place located in and the county seat of Nye County, Nevada. It is located at the junction of U.S. Routes 6 and 95 approximately mid-way between Las Vegas and Reno....
. The Table Mountain Wilderness Area covers an area of 92600 acres (375 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 1860s ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
of Belmont
Belmont, Nevada
Belmont is a ghost town in Nye County, Nevada, United States. The town is a historic district listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is Nevada Historical Marker number 138.-History:...
is nearby.
The Table Mountain Wilderness is a partially forested tableland, or high plateau, which lies at the center of the Monitor Range
Monitor Range
The Monitor Range is located in south-central Nevada in the United States. The range lies west and northwest of the Hot Creek Range and north of Highway 6 in Nye County, and extends for approximately 106 miles into Eureka County at its northern end.The Forest Service is in charge of 83.6% of the...
. Table Mountain itself rises to 10,000 feet (3000 meters) and covers an area of 12 mi2. There are significant herds of mule deer
Mule Deer
The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer...
and elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
as well as mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, beaver, chukar partridge, sage grouse, blue grouse
Blue Grouse
The genus Dendragapus, contains two closely related species of grouse that have often been treated as a single variable taxon . The two species are the Dusky Grouse and the Sooty Grouse...
, golden eagles, hawks, and falcons. The deer and elk herds are among the largest in the state. Five fishing streams hold rainbow
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
, brook
Brook trout
The brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, is a species of fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. In many parts of its range, it is known as the speckled trout or squaretail. A potamodromous population in Lake Superior are known as coaster trout or, simply, as coasters...
, brown
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
, and Lahontan cutthroat
Lahontan cutthroat trout
Lahontan cutthroat trout is the largest subspecies of cutthroat trout, and the state fish of Nevada.-Natural history:...
trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
. 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 are very common. Pines, juniper, mountain mahogany, and cottonwood
Cottonwood
Populus section Aigeiros is a section of three species in the genus Populus, the poplars. Commonly known as cottonwoods, the species are native to North America, Aigeiros and western Asia. In the past, as many as six species were recognized, but recent trends have been to accept just three species,...
are also found. Horse packing and riding is even more popular than hiking and backpacking. The most popular trail is the Barley Creek Trail which is 6 miles (10 km) long, not counting forks. Other trailheads are at Mosquito Creek, Clear Creek, and Green Monster Canyon. A 20 miles (32 km) loop trail follows Cottonwood Creek, which has 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. There are over 100 miles (161 km) of trails.
Wilderness areas do not allow motorized
Motor vehicle
A motor vehicle or road vehicle is a self-propelled wheeled vehicle that does not operate on rails, such as trains or trolleys. The vehicle propulsion is provided by an engine or motor, usually by an internal combustion engine, or an electric motor, or some combination of the two, such as hybrid...
or mechanical
Machine
A machine manages power to accomplish a task, examples include, a mechanical system, a computing system, an electronic system, and a molecular machine. In common usage, the meaning is that of a device having parts that perform or assist in performing any type of work...
equipment including bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
s. Although camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
are allowed with proper permit, no roads or buildings are constructed and there is also no logging
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
or mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
, in compliance with the 1964 Wilderness Act
Wilderness Act
The Wilderness Act of 1964 was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society. It created the legal definition of wilderness in the United States, and protected some 9 million acres of federal land. The result of a long effort to protect federal wilderness, the Wilderness Act was signed...
. Wilderness areas within National Forests and 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...
areas also allow hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
in season. The elk herd, which had disappeared from this region, was reintroduced in 1979 and is doing well. In 1999 the second largest bull elk ever taken in the 20th century in North America was taken in this wilderness.
See also
- List of largest wilderness areas in the United States
- List of wilderness areas in Nevada
- List of U.S. Wilderness Areas
- Nevada Wilderness AreasNevada Wilderness AreasIn 1989 the U.S. Government enacted the Nevada Wilderness Bill, expanding the one existing Wilderness Area and creating thirteen new areas...
- Wilderness ActWilderness ActThe Wilderness Act of 1964 was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society. It created the legal definition of wilderness in the United States, and protected some 9 million acres of federal land. The result of a long effort to protect federal wilderness, the Wilderness Act was signed...