The Jarbidge Wilderness is a wilderness area located in the Jarbidge Mountains of northern Elko County in northeastern Nevada, United States. It is contained within the Jarbidge Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. "Jarbidge" is a name derived from the Shoshone language meaning "devil". Indians believed the hills in the area were haunted.

Geography

The original Jarbidge Wilderness was established by the 1964 Wilderness Act, and was the first wilderness area protected in Nevada. Expanded in 1989 by the Nevada Wilderness Act, this wilderness is now over 113000 acre. The wilderness area contains the headwaters of both the Marys and Jarbidge Rivers, and of Salmon Falls Creek. Emerald and Jarbidge Lakes are also within its boundaries. Nearly ten mountain peaks of greater than 10000 ft are located within the wilderness. Native habitats include Subalpine Fir, Whitebark Pine, and Quaking Aspen forests, riparian woodlands, and sagebrush steppe.

Climate

Pole Creek Ranger Station is on the northwestern edge of Jarbidge Wilderness.