Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest's spectacular 6.3 million acres makes it the largest national forest in the lower 48 states.

Photo credit: USDA Forest Service

The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest offers a setting of classic Western beauty and is known for its many recreational opportunities, scenic vistas, and wild places where visitors can still find solitude. The Forest does not resemble most other National Forests in that it has numerous fairly large but non-contiguous sections scattered across most of the state of Nevada and a portion of eastern California. The Forest’s landscapes range from towering snow-capped peaks to wide-open sage steppe. Elevation varies from a low of 4,100 feet to a high of 12,374 feet, providing a great diversity of habitats. The vegetation changes from wide open desert with cactus and scrub to ponderosa pine forests, which in turn give way to spruce and aspen then lodgepole pine and alpine tundra. Wet and dry meadows, as well as numerous water bodies including streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands add to the variety of habitats that support the over 350 wildlife species found on the Forest.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/htnf/

Wilderness Areas/Wild & Scenic Rivers

Alta Toquima Wilderness - The Atla Toquima Wilderness contains one of the most beautiful destinations in Central Nevada, Pine Creek.

Arc Dome Wilderness - Arc Dome Wilderness Area offers breathtaking vistas, seemingly endless trails and spectacular wildlife viewing opportunities.

Bald Mountain Wilderness - This area is known for Bald Mountain, in the center of this Wilderness with its high elevation grasslands with subtle alpine characteristics.

Carson-Iceberg Wilderness - The Carson-Iceberg Wilderness is a rugged landscape of inspiring scenic beauty. Visitors will find steep mountain peaks, sub-alpine lakes, and broad glacially carved valleys.

Currant Mountain Wilderness - The Currant Mountain Wilderness is comprised of extremely rugged terrain and its limited access provides for an optimum opportunity to experience the solitude that wilderness offers.

East Humboldts Wilderness - Towering 5,000 feet above the sagebrush flats of eastern Nevada, the East Humboldt’s are “desert islands” alive with wildlife, alpine scenery, lake basins, streams, wildflowers, meadows, and stands of aspen and conifers.

Grant Range Wilderness - Raptors flock to this area which falls away from 11,298-foot Troy Peak to a few firs and bristle cone pines and on down to dryland pinyon-juniper with a sagebrush understory.

High Schells Wilderness - Hikers and horseback riders can enjoy the primitive trails and backcountry skiers explore this area in the winter.

Hoover Wilderness - This wilderness area is widely known for its extreme mountainous terrain, glistening alpine lakes, and lush meadows.

Jarbidge Wilderness - Jarbidge Wilderness is tucked into the northeast corner of Nevada on the north edge of the Great Basin. Its isolated location makes it very remote. 

La Madre Mountain Wilderness - The area contains rugged canyons, ridges and mountain peaks. LaMadre Mountain dominates the area with spectacular cliffs and steep canyons occurring on its southeast flanks.

Mokelumne Wilderness - The Mokelumne Wilderness offers diverse beauty ranging from peaks over 11,000 feet high to river canyons hundreds of feet deep.

Mt. Charleston Wilderness - Here in the high country you'll find a forested oasis and relief from the Mojave Desert heat of southern Nevada, where summer temperatures often rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mt. Moriah Wilderness - Shallow caves, many of which show evidence of prehistoric habitation, are common in this Wilderness.

Mt. Rose Wilderness - Blue lakes, colorful flowers and a variety of wildlife are a few of the things seen in this wilderness.

Quinn Canyon Wilderness - Extreme isolation defines Quinn Canyon, a remote central Nevada wilderness.

Red Mountain Wilderness - This is a remote area that possesses unique and outstanding scenic qualities, opportunities for solitude and a remoteness only found in Nevada.

Ruby Mountains Wilderness - The area is home to one of the largest mule deer herds in Nevada. It also supports populations of mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and Himalayan Snowcock.

Santa Rosa-Paradise Peak Wilderness - The Santa Rosa-Paradise Peak Wilderness is a different sort of wilderness-without lakes, alpine meadows, or large coniferous forests-but quietly spectacular with its rugged granitic rock formations, abundant spring wildflowers and wide, sweeping basi

Shellback Wilderness - This wilderness is full of lush springs on the west slope in contrast with its more arid east slope.

Table Mountain Wilderness - After the initial climb to the top of the mountain, backpackers and stock users stroll across miles of trails that connect most of the Wilderness Area. 

White Pine Ranger Wilderness - This area of the White Pine Range exhibits a varied mix of visual scenery, wildlife, wildflowers and terrain.

Wovoka Wilderness - The wilderness is named for Wovoka, a Northern Paiute, known for his visions and prophecies related to the Ghost Dance.

Invasive Species