The Simpson Park Mountains, also known as the Simpson Park Range, are located in Lander and Eureka counties, in central Nevada in the western United States. The mountains reach an elevation of 9,147 feet (2,788 m) at Fagin Mountain, and cover an area of approximately 310 square miles (800 km2). US Route 50 crosses the very southern end of the range at Hickison Summit between Eureka and Austin.
| Simpson Park Mountains | |
|---|---|
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Fagan Mountain |
| Elevation | 2,788 m (9,147 ft) |
| Coordinates | 39°45.05′N 116°34.83′W / 39.75083°N 116.58050°W |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 47.7 mi (76.8 km) NNE-SSW |
| Width | 6.2 mi (10.0 km) |
| Geography | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| Region | Basin and Range |
| District(s) | Eureka and Lander counties[2] |
| Range coordinates | 39°44.86′N 116°36.52′W / 39.74767°N 116.60867°W |
| Topo map(s) | USGS Crescent Valley, Simpson Park and Summit Mountain 30x60 quads |
The range runs in a southwest-northeasterly direction between the Toiyabe Range on the west across Grass Valley and the Roberts Mountains to the east. Other ranges around the Simpson Parks include the Cortez Mountains to the north across Horse Creek Valley and the Toquima and Monitor ranges to the south. The Monitor, Kobeh and Antelope valleys lie to the southeast.[3][4][5]
The Hickison Petroglyph Recreation Area lies at the southeastern end of the mountains northwest of Hickison Summit on US route 50. The Bureau of Land Management manages 98% of the Simpson Park Mountains, and 2% is privately held. Principal vegetation types are: Piñon-juniper—43.5%, Sagebrush scrub—25.4%, and Sagebrush steppe—18.5%. Trees found in the range include: western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis), Utah Juniper (Juniperus osteosperma), and Single-leaf Pinyon (Pinus monophylla). Coyotes and pikas roam the Simpson Park Mountains.
The range is named after James H. Simpson, who surveyed a transportation route just south of the range in 1858.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Simpson Park Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Simpson Park Mountains
- ^ Simpson Park Mts., Nevada, 30x60 Minute Quadrangle, USGS 1979
- ^ Crescent Valley, Nevada, 30x60 Minute Quadrangle, USGS 1987
- ^ Summit Mountain, Nevada, 30x60 Minute Quadrangle, USGS 1978
- ^ Federal Writers' Project (1941). Origin of Place Names: Nevada (PDF). W.P.A. p. 42.
- Biological Resources Research Center - [1]
- Nevada Atlas & Gazetteer, 2001, pg. 38 & 46.