Region Great Basin section Elevation 2,260 m Country United States of America | Topo map USGS Moapa Peak NW Highest point Mormon Peak Mountains Mormon Peak | |
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Districts Lincoln County, Nevada, Clark County, Nevada Similar Mormon Peak, Meadow Valley Mountains, Meadow Valley Wash, Muddy Mountains, Virgin Mountains | ||
The Mormon Mountains are located in Lincoln and Clark counties in Nevada, between 16 and 28 miles (45 km) northwest of Mesquite on I–15 in the Virgin Valley, east of the Meadow Valley Mountains and Meadow Valley and northeast of Moapa Valley. The highest point in the range is Mormon Peak, at 7,414 feet (2,260 m) above sea level. Another smaller mountain range lies to the east, called the East Mormon Mountains. The south fork of the Toquop Wash drains the east side of the range and continues on through the N–S linear ridge of the East Mormon Mountains.
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Map of Mormon Mountains, Nevada 89008, USA
The mountains fall under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and cover approximately 175 square miles (450 km2). The Mormon Mountains are home to several different species of lizards, and ground snakes, toads and bullfrogs can be found in the region. The lower elevations of the range are mostly shrublands, but at higher elevations one can find "pygmy conifers" and single-leaf pinyon pines, in the Pinyon-juniper woodland plant community.
The area is characterized by very low rainfall, receiving less than 15 inches (380 mm) per year, on average.
Mormon Mountains WildernessEdit
As part of the Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act signed into law on 30 November 2004, 157,716 acres (63,825 ha) in the area were designated as wilderness. The wilderness is managed by the BLM through their Ely District office.