Summary
Current Protection
Designated Wilderness
Management Agency
U.S. Forest Service
Year Protected
1964
Total Area
113,167 Acres
The original 64,667 acres of the Jarbidge Wilderness was designated with the passage of 1964 Wilderness Act. Although 1964 was before the establishment of Friends of Nevada Wilderness, several founding members of Friends (including Marge Sill, Mother of Nevada Wilderness) were active in establishing the Wilderness Act. The first major campaign for Friends of Nevada Wilderness resulted in the passage of the Nevada Wilderness Protection Act of 1989, which designated an additional 48,500 acres to the Jarbidge Wilderness and brought the wilderness up to its present size of 113,167 acres.
Jarbidge is the traditional home of the Western Shoshone and the Shoshone-Bancock, who have been living on and with these lands for countless generations.
Friends of Nevada Wilderness works closely with the Forest Service to provide stewardship for Nevada’s first Wilderness. Friends’ projects include trail repair and maintenance, fence repair, kiosk repair, mapping, and monitoring. Friends of Nevada Wilderness is committed to keeping the sublime alpine beauty of the Jarbidge Wilderness protected and accessible for future generations.
Jarbidge offers an ideal destination for protracted exploration. About 150 miles of trails carry visitors into the spectacular backcountry of the Jarbidge Wilderness. A visitor could easily spend two weeks in the Wilderness and not experience everything that area has to offer. Established trailheads are located at Snowslide Gulch, Slide Creek, Three Day Creek, Humming Bird Spring, Camp Draw, and Chalk Basin. Camp Creek and Cottonwood Creek provide access to lesser-used trails into the Wilderness. Nine peaks tower above 10,000 feet in the heart of this high mountain wilderness: Jarbidge Peak (10,787 feet), Jumbo Peak (10,643 feet), Square Top (10,686 feet), Matterhorn (10,837 feet), Cougar Peak (10,561 feet), Prospect Peak (10,433 feet), Mary’s River Peak (10,564 feet), Divide Peak (10,003 feet), and Gods Pocket Peak (10,184 feet). The lower elevation trails open in May and the upper trails are accessible in June or July, depending on the snowpack. Busy times are holiday weekends and hunting season toward the end of October.
Agency Information
Managing Agency: U.S. Forest Service
Local District: Jarbidge Ranger District
Address: 660 S 12th St Suite 108, Elko, NV 89801
Phone: (775) 738-5171