High Uintas Wilderness
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| High Uintas Wilderness | |
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| IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area) | |
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| Location | Utah, USA |
| Nearest city | Kamas, UT |
| Coordinates | |
| Area | 456,705 acres (1,848 km²) |
| Established | September 18, 1984 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
The High Uintas Wilderness preserves the wild core of the massive Uinta mountain range. Located in northeastern Utah, the Uinta Mountains were named for the Uintaats Indians, early relatives of the modern Ute Tribe. Characterized by the highest peaks in Utah, countless lakes, and a unique alpine ecosystem, it is among the nation's most outstanding wilderness areas. The High Uintas Wilderness is administered jointly by the Ashley and Wasatch-Cache National Forests.
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[edit] Geology
The Uinta Mountains were carved by glaciers from an immense uplift of Precambrian rock. Some of this rock is exposed as colorful quartzite and shales. The main crest of the Uinta Mountains runs west to east for more than 60 miles (97 kilometers), rising over 6,000 feet (1,829 meters) above the Wyoming and Uinta Basins to the north and south. Massive secondary ridges extend north and south from the crest of the range, framing glacial basins and canyons far below. This rugged expanse of peaks and flat-top mountains is the largest alpine area in the Intermountain West. Hundreds of picturesque lakes, streams, and meadows are nestled within beautiful basins. Cold, clear rivers plunge from the basins into deep canyons that form the headwaters of Utah's major rivers.
[edit] Flora and fauna
Elevations on the Uinta Mountains rise from 7,500 feet (2,286 meters) to 13,528 feet (4,123 meters) at the summit of Kings Peak, the highest peak in Utah. The range includes diverse habitats for a wide variety of flora and fauna. Above treeline, tundra plant communities thrive in the harsh climate of the highest altitudes. Thick forests of Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, and lodgepole pine blanket the land below treeline. These forests are interrupted by park-like meadows and lush wetlands. In the lower elevations, aspen groves and countless mixed species offer contrast to the scene. The Uinta Mountains are home to: elk, mule deer, moose, mountain goats, coyotes, black bears, bighorn sheep, ptarmigan, river otter, pine marten, mountain lions, and about 75 percent of Utah's bird species. Occasionally, rare wolverines are spotted, and these mountains may still shelter the elusive lynx. Wolves are expected to return to the Uintas in the future, having been re-introduced in Wyoming by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[edit] Trails
The High Uintas Wilderness boasts 545 miles of trail, which may be accessed from a number of trailheads surrounding the wilderness near the gateway communities of Duchesne, Roosevelt, and Kamas, Utah and Evanston and Mountain View, Wyoming. Most of these trails connect with the backbone of the High Uinta trail system, the Highline Trail, a 54 mile route which roughly follows the spine of the Uintas and nearly always remains above 10,000 feet. This extensive network of trails leads visitors deep into the wilderness, through thick forests, past rushing streams and placid lakes, to sweeping alpine vistas below majestic peaks. The opportunities for exploration are endless.
[edit] References
- Lynna P. Howard, Utah's Wilderness Areas: The Complete Guide (Westcliffe Publishers, 2005) ISBN 1-56579-388-9
- Bill Cunningham & Polly Burke, Wild Utah: A Guide to 45 Roadless Recreation Areas (Falcon Publishing, 1998) ISBN 1-56044-616-1
- Jeffrey Probst & Brad Probst, High Uintas Backcountry: A Guide and Trip Planner (Outland Publishing, 1996) ISBN 0-9655871-2-6
- Mel Davis & John Veranth, High Uinta Trails (Wasatch Publishers, 1993) ISBN 0-915272-37-7
- Philip L. Fradkin, Sagebrush Country: Land and the American West (The University of Arizona Press, 1989) ISBN 0-8165-1236-1
[edit] See also
- Wasatch-Cache National Forest
- Ashley National Forest
- Wilderness Act
- National Wilderness Preservation System
- List of U.S. Wilderness Areas
[edit] External links
- High Uintas Wilderness - Ashley National Forest
- High Uintas Wilderness - Wilderness.net
- Google Maps satellite view
- High Uintas Wilderness is at coordinates Coordinates:
