John Muir Wilderness
John Muir Wilderness | |
---|---|
wilderness area) | |
Location | Fresno / Inyo / Mono / Madera counties, California, United States |
Nearest city | Fresno, CA |
Coordinates | 36°58′33″N 118°48′42″W / 36.97583°N 118.81167°W |
Area | 652,793 acres (2,641.76 km2)[1] |
Established | January 1, 1964 |
Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
The John Muir Wilderness is a
Geography and geology
The wilderness contains some of the most spectacular and highest peaks of the Sierra Nevada, with 57 peaks over 13,000 feet (4,000 m) in elevation.
The eastern escarpment in the wilderness rises from 6,000 to 8,000 feet (1,800 to 2,400 m) from base to peak, in 5 to 6 miles (8 to 10 km).
Ecology
The John Muir Wilderness contains the largest contiguous area above 10,000 feet (3,000 m) in the continental United States. It contains large areas of
Common animals in the wilderness include yellow-bellied marmots, pikas, golden-mantled ground squirrels, Clark's nutcrackers, golden trout, and black bears.[3] The wilderness area also includes California bighorn sheep zoological areas, which are set aside for the protection of the species.
Recreation
The wilderness contains 589.5 miles (948.7 km) of hiking trails,[3] including the John Muir Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, which run through the wilderness from north to south. The John Muir Wilderness is the second most-visited wilderness in the United States, and quotas for overnight use have been implemented on virtually all trailheads.[3]
Lakes
See also
- Bibliography of the Sierra Nevada, for further reading
References
- ^ a b "John Muir Wilderness". wilderness.net. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
- ^ a b "United States Forest Service". 2006. p. Inyo National Forest Wilderness Areas.
- ^ ISBN 1-56044-781-8.
- ISBN 0-520-06922-6.