Carson-Iceberg Wilderness

Located in the Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada and the Stanislaus National Forest in California.

The Carson-Iceberg Wilderness was established in 1984 as part of the California Wilderness Act. The wilderness encompasses a total of 160,000 acres, half of which are on the Toiyabe, the other half is on the the Stanislaus National Forest. The Toiyabe portion of the wilderness is located on the east side of the Sierra Nevada mountain range between Highways 4 and 108. . The name Carson-Iceberg is derived from two prominent geographical features: the Carson River {named for noted scout and explorer Kit Carson) and the distinctive granite formation called "The Iceberg" on the southern boundary of the wilderness near Clark Fork Road.

The Carson-Iceberg Wilderness straddles the crest of the central Sierra Nevada mountain range. A wide variety of terrain is featured from stream bottomlands to steep mountainous cliffs and peaks. Watersheds drain to the Stanislaus River on the west slope and the Carson River on the east slope. The area also includes several streams, lakes and waterfalls. Several of the streams in the wilderness support Lahontan and Paiute Cutthroat trout. The Lahontan is a threatened species and the Paiute Cutthroat is a sensitive species.

The Carson-Iceberg Wilderness is a rugged landscape of great scenic beauty. Much of the area is dominated by volcanic ridges and peaks. Prominent in the southwestern portion are the Dardanelles. There are many streams flowing through deep granitic canyons but few lakes. Elevations range from about 5,000 feet near Donnell Reservoir to 11,462 feet at Sonora Peak. From some vantage points one can view vast desert to the east and dense conifer forest to the west. Precipitation averages 50 inches annually on the west slope and as little as 15 inches on the east slope, 80% of it in the form of snow. Snowpacks typically linger into June, sometimes later following very wet winters. Summers are generally dry and mild but afternoon thundershowers occur periodically and night-time temperatures may dip below freezing anytime.

Various native peoples inhabited the area for 10,000 years. The most recent inhabitants, the Miwok from the west slope and the Washoe of the Great Basin, spent the warmer months hunting in the highcountry and trading with each other. In 1827, Jedediah Smith and fellow trappers crossed from east to west somewhere near Ebbett's Pass. The earliest emigrant crossing in the Carson-Iceberg area was in 1841 by the Bartleson-Bidwell party just north of Sonora Pass. Following the discovery of gold in 1848 and the subsequent increase in population, native cultures quickly declined. As this new population became more established, sheep and cattle grazing became the major use of this area. Grazing continues to this day but recreation has now become the dominant use.

There are approximately 195 miles of trails in the Wilderness. Travel is restricted to foot or horseback. Mechanized transportation of any kind, including bicycles is prohibited. Major trailheads on the Stanislaus portion are Wheat's Meadow, County Line; Arnot Creek, Disaster Creek, and Clark Fork on the Summit District (Hwy 108) and Silver Valley (Lake Alpine), Stanislaus Meadow, Heiser Lake, Pacific Valley and Highland Lakes on the Calaveras District (Hwy 4).

Special thanks to High Sierra Goat Packing for supplying the photo on this page.

For further information contact: Calaveras and Summit Ranger Districts, Stanislaus National Forest -Or- Carson Ranger District, Toiyabe National Forest