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Introduction

The United States Congress designated the Mt. Moriah Wilderness (map) in 1989 and it now has a total of 89,790 acres. All of this wilderness is located in Nevada and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service.

Description

Shallow caves, many of which show evidence of prehistoric habitation, are common in this Wilderness. And those who would know suspect that many more caves have yet to be discovered. If you set out to explore this territory, you will be in the northern Snake Range of eastern Nevada, bounded on the east by Snake Valley and on the west by Spring Valley. Stretching north and west of 12,050-foot Mount Moriah is a plateau known as The Table, a unique world of subalpine vegetation lined with bristlecone and limber pine. Dry pinion-juniper forestland dominates a large part of the lower elevations here. About 30 miles of generally primitive trails provide access to the area from several primitive trailheads.

Four year-round creeks provide watery homes for Bonneville cutthroat trout, but the heart of the area tends to be dry, requiring you to carry all your water. Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep scramble around Mount Moriah, but visitors are few (most come to hunt mule deer or grouse). The rugged topography is at least partially to blame.

About 50 miles of fair to very poor trails give access to the area. Some trailheads on the east side are generally accessible by passenger car along roads that follow Hampton Creek, Hendry's Creek, and Smith Creek. Some of Mount Moriah Wilderness lies on BLM land and is managed by the Ely Field Office. Great Basin National Park lies just to the south

Planning to Visit the Mt. Moriah Wilderness?

• Print a fact sheet
• General things to consider when visiting any wilderness
• Regulations
• Contact the Bureau of Land Management or the Forest Service

Leave No Trace

How to follow the seven standard Leave No Trace principles differs in different parts of the country (desert vs. Rocky Mountains). Click on any of the principles listed below to learn more about how they apply in the Mt. Moriah Wilderness.

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

For more information on Leave No Trace, Visit the Leave No Trace, Inc. website.