Simpson Park Mountains

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 steep range runs in a southwest-northeasterly direction between the Toiyabe Range and the Roberts Mountains. The mountains reach an elevation of 9,147 feet at Fagin Mountain, and cover an area of 310 square miles (800 km²).

The Hickison Petroglyph Recreation Area lies at the southeastern end of the mountains. The Bureau of Land Management manages 98% of the Simpson Park Mountains, and 2% is privately held. Principle 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.

References

* Biological Resources Research Center - [http://www.brrc.unr.edu/mtn/html/simpson-park.html]
* "Nevada Atlas & Gazetteer", 2001, pg. 38 & 46.