High Schells Wilderness

High Schells Wilderness is a protected mountain area in the Schell Creek Range with peaks that range from about 5,800 to 11,000 feet (1,770 to 3,350 meters) in elevation. The landscape features steep slopes, ridges, and valleys with changing vegetation as you climb higher.

Native American groups hunted and gathered across this land for generations before mining activity began in the late 1800s. The shift from traditional hunting and gathering to extracting minerals changed how people used these mountains.

Evidence of long occupation appears in petroglyphs and stone tools scattered across the landscape, telling the story of people who made their lives in these mountains. These traces show how inhabitants moved through and used the terrain.

Several hiking trails wind through the protected area, including a route to North Schell Peak that climbs through different mountain zones. The best time to visit is from late spring through early fall when snow is less likely on the higher trails.

The area protects rare bristlecone pines, some of the oldest living trees on Earth. Perennial mountain streams running through the valleys support four different trout species in cool waters.

Location: Nevada

GPS coordinates: 39.33990,-114.59900

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:02