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{{Short description|Mountain range in White Pine County, Nevada, United States}}
{{Infobox mountain 
| name=Snake Range
| photo=2013-07-14 09 37 43 Wheeler Peak viewed from Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive in Great Basin National Park.jpg
| photo_size=300
| photo_caption=Wheeler Peak, highest mountain in the Snake Range
| country= United States
| subdivision1= Nevada
| parent= 
| borders_on= {{enum|Schell Creek Range|Confusion Range}}
| length_mi=60
| length_orientation=North-South
| highest=[[Wheeler Peak (Nevada)|Wheeler Peak]]
| elevation_ft=13063
| range_coordinates= 
| coordinates= {{coord|38|59|09|N|114|18|50|W|type:mountain_region:US-NV|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| geology= 
| orogeny=
| map_image=NVMap-doton-SnakeMtns.png
| map_size=200
| map_caption=Location of the Snake Range within Nevada
}}{{More citations needed|date=January 2024}}
The '''Snake Range''' is a [[mountain range]] in [[White Pine County, Nevada|White Pine County]], [[Nevada]], [[United States]].<ref>{{gnis | 861435 | Snake Range}}</ref> The south-central portion of the range is included within [[Great Basin National Park]], with most of the remainder included within the [[Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest]]. The range reaches a maximum elevation of {{convert|13065|ft|m}} at the summit of [[Wheeler Peak (Nevada)|Wheeler Peak]], the tallest independent mountain within Nevada and the second highest point within the state (the highest point being [[Boundary Peak (Nevada)|Boundary Peak]]).<ref name="pb">{{cite peakbagger |pid=3572 |name=Wheeler Peak, Nevada}}</ref> The range also contains four of the five highest mountain peaks in Nevada, including all peaks greater than {{convert|12000|ft|m|0}} except for Boundary Peak.<ref>{{cite peakbagger |lid=21324 |name=Nevada 11,000-foot Peaks |accessdate=2014-10-22}}</ref>

==Geography==
Typical of other ranges in the [[Basin and Range Province]], the Snake Range runs in a north–south direction, for approximately {{convert|60|mi|km|0}}.

To the west are Spring Valley and the [[Schell Creek Range]], and to the east across the [[Utah]] border are [[Snake Valley (Great Basin)|Snake Valley]] and the [[Confusion Range]]. Sacramento Pass ({{convert|7154|ft|m|0|disp=sqbr}}) is where [[U.S. Route 6 (Nevada)|U.S. Route 6]]-[[U.S. Route 50 in Nevada|50]], the "Loneliest Highway in America", crosses the range. It is the principal means of eastbound access to this part of eastern Nevada.

[[File:Wheeler Peak and Snake Range.jpg|thumb|left|[[Wheeler Peak (Nevada)|Wheeler Peak]] and the Snake Range, looking north]]
[[Image:BristleConePine.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Pinus longaeva|Great Basin Bristlecone Pine]] (''Pinus longaeva'') on 'The Table']]

==Natural history==
[[Great Basin National Park]] is located in the southern section of the Snake Range. Established in 1986, it protects the unique geologic and habitat features of the mountain range and [[Great Basin Desert]], and their representations of the [[Central Basin and Range ecoregion]]. The southern section also includes the natural rock [[Lexington Arch]] ({{convert|83|ft|m}} span), and the [[Lehman Caves]], both formed from the range's [[limestone]].

Several large groves of ancient [[Pinus longaeva|Great Basin Bristlecone Pine]] (''Pinus longaeva'') trees thrive in the [[Great Basin montane forests]] of the range's higher elevations.

The higher elevations of the Snake Range in the northern section are protected by the [[Mount Moriah Wilderness|Mount Moriah Wilderness Area]], and in the southern section by the [[Highland Ridge Wilderness]].

[[Image:MtMoriahNV.jpg|thumb|Mt. Moriah and Great Basin Bristlecone Pines, looking southwest from "The Table"]]
[[Image:WheelerSunset.JPG|thumb|Wheeler Peak and the southern Snake Range at sunset]]

==Peaks==

===Southern===
The Snake Range includes two groups of peaks. The southern section rises quickly from a point near the border with [[Lincoln County, Nevada|Lincoln County]], reaching the summit of Granite Peak ({{convert|11218|ft|m|disp=sqbr}}) just {{convert|10|mi|km}} to the north.

From there northwards the range continues to rise, passing [[Lincoln Peak (Nevada)|Lincoln Peak]] ({{convert|11597|ft|m|disp=sqbr}}), Mt. Washington ({{convert|11658|ft|m|disp=sqbr}}), Pyramid Peak ({{convert|11926|ft|m|disp=sqbr}}), Baker Peak ({{convert|12298|ft|m|disp=sqbr}}), and [[Doso Doyabi]] ({{convert|12775|ft|m|disp=sqbr}}<ref>{{cite gnis | 862412 | Doso Doyabi}}</ref>).

It finally reaches its apex at [[Wheeler Peak (Nevada)|Wheeler Peak]] ({{convert|13063|ft|m|disp=sqbr}}).

===Northern===
North of Wheeler Peak the range begins to drop, reaching {{convert|7154|ft|m|0}} at Sacramento Pass, just {{convert|11|mi|km}} to the north. Sacramento Pass is where the more remote northern section of the range begins.

In just {{convert|12|mi|km}} the North Snake Range rises past Silver Creek Canyon and Hendrys Creek Canyon to the summit of photogenic [[Mt. Moriah (Nevada)|Mt. Moriah]] ({{convert|12067|ft|m|disp=sqbr}}). To the north of this peak is an unusual formation, a flat [[plateau]] of sub-[[alpine tundra]] called "The Table", covering about {{convert|2|sqmi|km2}} at an elevation of {{convert|11000|ft|m}}. A grove of ancient Great Basin Bristlecone Pines grows on this plateau near the peak.

North of "The Table" is another unusual geologic feature. Deadman Creek and Smith Creek, draining eastward into Snake Valley, combine to carve a deep canyon into the range. The mouth of this canyon lies below {{convert|3000|ft|m|adj=on}} cliffs, {{convert|6000|ft|m}} below and {{convert|6|mi|km}} away from the summit of Mt. Moriah.
[[File:Hendry's Creek Canyon.jpg|thumb|Metamorphic rocks in Hendry's Creek Canyon in the North Snake Range]]
The [[Northern Snake Range metamorphic core complex|North Snake Range]] is an important geologic feature, containing some of the world's best examples of metamorphic rock and extensional deformation. The range has been designated as only the first 100 geoheritage sites by the [[International Union of Geological Sciences]] (IUGS).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Northern Snake Range metamorphic core complex |url=https://iugs-geoheritage.org/geoheritage_sites/northern-snake-range-metamorphic-core-complex-a-cathedral-to-quartz-mylonites/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=IUGS |language=en}}</ref> Instead of normal faulting creating basins and ranges, like is seen throughout most of the Great Basin, the North Snake Range metamorphic core complex has undergone ductile deformation so that the metamorphic rocks have been stretched resulting in rocks that are 10% of their original thickness, stretching like taffy.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Tectonic evolution of the sevier-laramide hinterland, thrust belt, and foreland, and post-orogenic slab rollback (180-20 Ma) |date=2022 |publisher=The Geological Society of America |isbn=978-0-8137-9555-3 |editor-last=Craddock |editor-first=John Paul |series=Special paper |location=Boulder, Colorado |editor-last2=Malone |editor-first2=David Henry |editor-last3=Foreman |editor-first3=Brady |editor-last4=Konstantinou |editor-first4=Alexandros}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Snake Range}}
* [http://www.peakbagger.com/range.aspx?rid=13338 Peakbagger.com (Snake Range)]
* [http://www.summitpost.org/object_list.php?object_type=0&object_name_0=moriah&page=1 Summitpost.org (Mt. Moriah)]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mountain ranges of Nevada]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of the Great Basin]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of White Pine County, Nevada]]
[[Category:Great Basin National Park]]