Eastern Mojave Vegetation U. S. Highway 6  
 

Tom Schweich  

Home Page  (No Preface)
  Junction: Province Lands Road

End of Road.

 

   

Provincetown, MA

 
  Nebraska above …
Colorado below …

Other articles:
• Colorado State Highway 14:   at US 6 E;  

Junction: Colorado State Highway 14, on 3rd Street at Main Street.

Other articles:
• US Interstate 25:   at US 6;  

Junction: US Interstate 25

Other articles:
• Simms Street:   at 6th;  

Junction: Union Street, Simms Street

Other articles:
• Indiana Street:   at 6th;  

Junction: Indiana Street

Other articles:
• Interstate 70:   at US 6;  

Junction: US Interstate 70, westbound access only.

Locations: Golden.  


Golden below …

Locations: Green Mountain.  

Green Mountain to the south.

Other articles:
• US Hwy 40:   at 6th;  

Junction: US Highway 40, Colfax Avenue

Other articles:
• Ulysses Street:  at 6th;  

Intersection: Ulysses Street, accessible from westbound lanes only.

Other articles:
• C-470:  ushwy6;
• Johnson Road:   at 6th;  

Junction: Colorado Highway 470, Johnson Road

Other articles:
• Jefferson County Parkway:   at 6th;
• Cty Rd 93:   at US 6;  

Junction:

  • County Road 93, known in this immediate area as Heritage Road, to Heritage Square, US Highway 40, and then Hogback Road to Morrison.
  • Jefferson County Parkway

Locations: Deadman Gulch. Kinney Run.  

Highway crosses Deadman Gulch, as it is identified by BGN, or “Kinney Run” as it seems to be called locally. The Kinney Run Trail also crosses under the highway, but cannot be accessed here.

Other articles:
• 19th Street:   at US 6;
• Lookout Mountain Road:   at 6;  

Junction:

  • 19th Street, to downtown Golden by way of Washington Avenue or Ford Street.
  • Lookout Mountain Road, to Lookout Mountain and the Buffalo Bill Grave and Museum.

Other articles:
• Chimney Gulch Trail:   at pkg;
• Golden Checklist Flora:   glider;

Locations: Landing Zone.  

Parking for Chimney Gulch Trail, and paraglider landing area.

Other articles:
• CO Hwy 58:   at US 6;
• CO Hwy 93:   at US 6;  

Junction:

  • Colorado State Highway 58, east to downtown Golden or to I-70 enroute to Denver.
  • Colorado State Highway 93, north to Boulder.

US Highway 6 turns west, up Clear Creek Canyon to I-70.

 

Other articles:
• Peaks to Plains Spur Trail:   at trlhd;
• Field Notes:   9 Mar 2021;

Locations: Gateway Trailhead.
Full Size ImageGateway of Clear Creek Canyon Park Trailhead under construction.  

Gateway Trailhead, Peaks to Plains Trail

Parking lot and trailhead facilities constructed 2019-2021.

Locations: Clear Creek Canyon. Golden.
Full Size ImageMouth of Clear Creek Canyon  

Golden above …
Mouth of Clear Creek Canyon.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   27 Apr 2018;   27 Apr 2018;

Locations: Clear Creek Canyon. Clear Creek Canyon Park.
Full Size ImageEntrance to Clear Creek Canyon Park  

Full Size Image
Car wreck.
Full Size Image
Obs. No. 1599, Oenothera coronopifolia
Full Size Image
Mazes constructed on the floor of the quarry.
Full Size Image
Fault plane exposed by quarry.
Full Size Image
Fault plane exposed by quarry.
Welcome sign to Clear Creek Canyon Park, and interpretive panel. Quarry.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   27 Apr 2018;

Locations: Clear Creek Canyon Park.
Full Size ImageStuck?  

 

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   27 Apr 2018;

Locations: Indian Gulch.
Full Size ImageIndian Gulch  

Indian Gulch.

 

Other articles:
• Peaks to Plains Trail:   at trl spur;  

Tunnel 1 Trailhead

 

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   27 Apr 2018;

Locations: Indian Gulch.
Full Size ImageTunnel No. 1 from ridge above Indian Gulch.  

Tunnel 1

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   30 Oct 2014;
Full Size ImageClear Creek Canyon as seen from Windy Saddle  

 

Locations: Guy Gulch.  

Guy Gulch

Locations: Beaver Brook.  

Tunnel 2, Beaver Brook.
  Tunnel 3

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   27 Apr 2018;

Locations: Clear Creek Canyon Park.
Full Size ImageMayhem Gulch Parking Lot and Trailhead  

Mayhem Gulch, parking and trailhead for Clear Creek Canyon Park.
  Jefferson County above …
Clear Creek County below …

Other articles:
• CO Highway 119:   at US 6;  

Junction: CO State Highway 119, to Central City, Nederland and back out on the plains through Boulder.

Other articles:
• Golden Checklist Flora:  Physaria vitulifera, Mellichamp, 1968;  

This location, 2.3 miles east of the junction of US 6 and US 40, is the probable location of Mellichamp & Nesom collection of P. vitulifera.

Junction: CO State Highway 119, to Central City, Nederland and back out on the plains through Boulder.

  Junction: US Highway 40, turns south similar to the current route of US Interstate 70 over Floyd Hill and through Mt. Vernon Canyon.

Other articles:
• Interstate 70:   at US 6;  

Junction: US Interstate 70, west.

Other articles:
• Interstate 70:   at Exit 216;  

Junction: US Interstate 70

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   28 Jun 2018;
Full Size ImageEast portal of the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnels.  

Pullout at a switchback in the road.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   28 Jun 2018;

Locations: Loveland Pass.
Full Size ImageLoveland Pass.  

Clear Creek County above …


Loveland Pass

, elevation 11,995 ft., 3656 m.

Full Size Image
View west from Loveland Pass looking into the Colorado River drainage.
Full Size Image
View east from Loveland Pass looking into the South Platte River drainage.
Full Size Image
Penstemon whippleanus on Loveland Pass.

Summit County below …

 

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   28 Jun 2018;

Locations: Pass Lake.
Full Size ImageView east from Loveland Pass looking into the South Platte River drainage.  

Pass Lake

Glacial tarn near the top of Loveland Pass.

Full Size Image
Pass Lake below the summit of Loveland Pass.
Full Size Image
Hymenoxys grandiflora at Pass Lake
Full Size Image
Minuartia obtusiloba ??

Other articles:
• Montezuma Road:   at US 6;  

Junction: County Road 5 “Montezuma Road”, to Montezuma, and the Peru Creek basin and the inlet to Vidler Tunnel.

Other articles:
• Colorado Trans-Basin Water Transfer:  Roberts Tunnel intake;  

Junction: Roberts Tunnel Access Road, to the intake of the Roberts Tunnel. This road may be gated.

 

Locations: Dillon Reservoir.  

Dillon Reservoir

Reservoir at the confluence of the Snake River, the Blue River, and Tenmile Creek. Store water for Denver, which is sent by way of the Harold D. Roberts Tunnel to the South Platte River.

 

 

Locations: Dillon.  

Dillon

 

Other articles:
• CO Highway 9:   at I-70E;
• Interstate 70:   at CO 9N;  

Junction: US Interstate 70
  Colorado above ...
Utah below …

Other articles:
• US Highway 191:  57800;
• Interstate 70:   at US Hwy 191 N;  

Junction: US Interstate 70, just west of Green River, Utah.

US Highway 6 diverges north from the route of I-70, passing through Price, Utah, en route to Spanish Fork, Utah.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   5-Jun-08 near Green River, UT;
Full Size ImageSan Rafael Swell, southeast edge, in the morning sun.  

View of the southeast edge of the San Rafael Swell.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   5-Jun-08 near Green River, Utah;
Full Size ImageBeckwith Plateau as seen from the south, near Green River, Utah  

Beckwith Plateau from the south; photograph taken at a small rise in US Highway 6, just north of Interstate 70.
  Desert Siding

Other articles:
• Frasera albomarginata:   at Beckwith Plateau;

Locations: Beckwith Plateau.  

Beckwith Plateau to the east.

Literature Cited:
- Bureau of Land Management, 2006.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   5-Jun-08 along US Hwy 6;
• Emery County Route 401:   at US Hwy 6;
Full Size ImageGreen River Cut-Off Road  

Junction: Green River Cut-Off Road (EM401)
  Cross Price River

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   5-Jun-08 in Woodside, Utah;   23 Sep 2022;
Full Size ImageBeckwith Plateau from the side of US Highway 6.
Full Size ImageProfile of Beckwith Plateau seen from Woodside, Utah  

 

 

Literature Cited:
- Baker, A. A., 1935.
- Shapiro, Russel S., 2005.
- Shapiro, Russel S., 2007.
- Vrolijk,Peter, Rod Meyers, Michael L. Sweet, Zoe K. Shipton, Ben Dockrill, James P. Evans, Jason Heath, and Anthony Williams, 2005.

Locations: Woodside.  

Woodside

 

Locations: Summerville Wash.  

Summerville Wash empties into Price River.
  Horse Canyon Road

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   22 Dec 2012;
Full Size ImageBeckwith Plateau seen from Amtrak  

View of Beckwith Plateau from Amtrak's California Zephyr on a winter morning.

Other articles:
• US Highway 191:   at Drill Road;
• Drill Road:   at US Hwy 6;  

Junction: Drill Road

 

 

Other articles:
• US Highway 191:   at Sunnyside Junction;

Locations: Sunnyside Junction.  

Sunnyside Junction

 

Other articles:
• US Highway 191:   at Mounds Road;
• Mounds Road:   at US Hwy 6;  

Junction: Mounds Road

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   5-Jun-08 near Wellington;
Full Size ImageWellington, Utah, from the east.  

View of Wellington, Utah, from beside US Highway 6.

 

 

Locations: Wellington.  

Wellington

 

 

 

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   23 Sep 2022;

Locations: Price.  

Price

 

Other articles:
• Utah Highway 10:   at US Hwy 6;  

Junction: Utah Highway 10, southwest to US I-70.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   5-Jun-08 near Helper, Utah;
Full Size ImageComing into Helper, Utah, on US Highway 6  

Entering Helper from the south on US Highway 6.

 

 

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  20080605100;
• US Highway 191:   at Helper;

Locations: Helper.
Full Size ImageThe Western Mining and Railroad Museum in Helper, Utah.  

Helper

Full Size Image
Main Street, Helper, Carbon County, Utah
Full Size Image
Main Street, Helper, Utah
 

Other articles:
• US Highway 191:  54600;  

Junction: US Highway 191, north to Vernal, south to US I-70

 

 

Locations: Castle Gate.  

Castle Gate

 

Other articles:
• UT Highway 96:   at US Hwy 6;  

Junction: Utah Highway 96, to Scofield Reservoir, Clear Creek, and a canyon named Miller Canyon, where I thought Marcus E. Jones might have collected Frasera albomarginata. It turns out, though, that he was referring to another Miller Canyon far to the south.

Other articles:
• Interstate 15:   at US 6 E;  

Junction: US Interstate 15, north.

 

   

Spanish Fork

 

Other articles:
• Interstate 15:   at US 6 W;  

Junction: US Interstate 15, south.

 

 

Locations: Santaquin.  

Santaquin

 

 

 

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   11 Oct 2024;
• U. S. Highway 50:   in Delta;

Locations: Delta.  

Delta

Delta

Other articles:
• U. S. Highway 50:   between Ely and Delta;  


Note: From Ely, Nevada to Delta, Utah, U. S. Highway 6 and U. S. Highway 50 share the same route. Please jump to U. S. Highway 50 for commentary.

 

 

Other articles:
• Frasera albomarginata:   in vicinity of Ely;
• U. S. Highway 50:   at US Hwy 6 W;
• U. S. Highway 93:   at US Hwy 6;

Locations: Ely.  

Ely

Junction:
  • US Highway 50, west across Nevada to Sacramento, California, or east into Utah, connecting in a way with US Interstate 70.
  • US Hwy 93, north or south through eastern Nevada.
  Murry Springs
  Murry Rock
  Natural Arch

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  20080610110;
• Frasera albomarginata:  southwest of Ely;
Full Size ImageLocation of Frasera albomarginata southwest of Ely, Nevada.  

Small canyon to northwest.

 

 

Other articles:
• Frasera albomarginata:   near Murray Summit;

Locations: Murray Summit.  

Murray Summit

Elevation 7,323 ft.

Frasera albomarginata collected hear here, UC1434030.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   10-Jun-08;
Full Size ImageWard Mountain Recreation Area sign  

Ward Mountain Recreation Area.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   10-Jun-08;
Full Size ImageWard Mountain and the Terraces from US Highway 6.  

Other articles:
• Frasera albomarginata:   near Murray Summit;

Locations: Lion Spring Wash.  

Crossing Lion Spring Wash
  Junction: National Forest Road 455

This road accesses Lower Terrace and Upper Terrace, by way of Lion Spring Wash.

There is at at least one collection of Frasera albomarginata made along this road.

Locations: White Sage Wash.  

Crossing White Sage Wash

Other articles:
• Frasera albomarginata:   on Ward Mountain;

Locations: Ward Mountain.  

Ward Mountain, to the east, in the north part of the Egan Range.

There is an Edmund Jaeger collection of Frasera albomarginata from Ward Mountain.

  Junction: Headhouse Road

This looks like a good road to use for Lower and Upper Terrace.

  There is a landstrip just south of the junction with Headhouse Road.

Other articles:
• Nevada Highway 318:   at US Hwy 6;  

Junction: NV Hwy 318, south through the White River Valley to US Highway 93 near Hiko, Nevada.
  Cross Nye County Route 10, also apparently known as "Long Valley Road." The USGS identifies this as Ellison Creek.
  National Forest Road 405 to White River Campground and Currant Mountain Wilderness.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  20090606040;
Full Size ImageWhite Pine Range  

Cross the White River.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  20090606040;
• Frasera albomarginata:   near White River;
Full Size ImageWhite sediments near White River  

A. Thiem collected Frasera albomarginata in the hills east of the highway.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   11-Jun-08;
Full Size ImageView north on US Highway 6 north of Currant Summit  

  White Pine County above …
Nye County below …

 

 

Other articles:
• Frasera albomarginata:   near Currant;

Locations: Currant Summit.  

Currant Summit

 

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   11-Jun-08;
• Frasera albomarginata:  south of Currant Summit;
Full Size ImageCollection No. 553  

Literature Cited:
- Kartesz, John Thomas, 1988.

Locations: White Pine Range.  

White Pine Mountains are north of US Highway 6 between Currant and Currant Summit.

Kartesz (1988) states that Frasera albomarginata is found in the White Pine Range.

  The Currant Creek Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS) is south of the highway. Data from this weather station can be found at: http://www.met.utah.edu/cgi-bin/droman/meso_base.cgi?stn=CCRN2.

 

 

Other articles:
• Nevada State Route 379:  Currant;
• Frasera albomarginata:   near Currant;

Locations: Currant.  

Currant

Junction: Nevada State Route 379

David D. Keck collected Frasera albomarginata east of Currant.

Other articles:
• Wells Station Road:   at US Hwy 6;  

Junction: Wells Station Road, southeast through the northern Grant Range, to Wells Station Summit, and then across the White River Valley to Nevada State Route 318 between Sunnyside and Lund.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   11-Jun-08;
Full Size ImageOil Well in Railroad Valley, Nevada.  

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   11-Jun-08;
Full Size ImageGrant Range from US Highway 6  

View across Railroad Valley to the Grant Range.
  Lockes
  Black Rock Summit, elevation 6257 ft.
  Junction: Lunar Crater Road.
  Sandy Summit, elevation 6030 ft.

 

 

Other articles:
• Nevada Highway 375:  Warm Springs;

Locations: Warm Springs.  

Warm Springs

Junction:
  • NV Hwy 375

Hot Creek Range to the north; Kawich Range to the south.

Literature Cited:
- Cook, Harry E., and James J. Corboy, 2004.  

Stop 5-1 of Cook & Corboy (2004, pp. 97-98)

Literature Cited:
- Cook, Harry E., and James J. Corboy, 2004.  

Stop 5-2 of Cook & Corboy (2004, pp. 97-98)

Literature Cited:
- Cook, Harry E., and James J. Corboy, 2004.  

Stop 5-3 of Cook & Corboy (2004, pp. 97-98)

  The White River is to the southeast of the highway.

Other articles:
• Railroad Valley Road:   at US Hwy 6;  

Junction: Railroad Valley Road, south, down the east side of Railroad Valley Road, to NV State Route 375.

 

   

Monitor Range

 

 

   

Ralston Valley

 

 

 

Literature Cited:
- Trimble, Stephen, 1989.  

San Antonio Mountains

"Near Tonopah along the southern rim of the Great Basin Desert, shadscale forms an ecotone separating the creosote and sagebrush zones where winters are too cold for creosote bush and where the climate is, too dry for sagebrush. Here shadscale with a clear tolerance for extremes in temperature. aridity and salty soil than either of these two dominant plants looks out over the shimmering heat waves rising from the Mojave Desert (Trimble, 1989)."

Other articles:
• Nevada Highway 378:  60000;  

Junction: Nevada Highway 378, north through the Big Smoky Valley to US Highway 50.

 

 

Other articles:
• U. S. Highway 95:   at US Hwy 6;

Locations: Tonopah.  

Tonopah

Junction: US Highway 95, south to Las Vegas.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  Sunday, June 21st;
Full Size ImagePanorama of Tonopah from the Mine Park.
Full Size ImageTonopah Historic Mining Park and Mt. Oddie  

Intersection: McCullouch Avenue, to Tonopah Historic Mining Park.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  5-Jun-06 in Tonopah;  Sunday, June 21st;
Full Size ImageView across downtown Tonopah
Full Size ImageMain street of Tonopah.  

Other articles:
• Nevada State Route 89:  90000;  

Junction: Nevada State Route 89, north to Gabbs.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  20080612020;
Full Size ImageMonte Cristo Range from west of Tonopah, Nevada  

View west to Monte Cristo Range.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  5-Jun-06 near Tonopah;
Full Size ImageView of Tonopah from the west.  

  Between Tonopah and Coaldale, U. S. Hwy 6 and U. S. Hwy 95 share a route.

 

   

Big Smokey Valley

 

 

 

Other articles:
• Nevada Highway 265:   at Blair Junction;  

Blair Junction

Junction: Nevada Highway 265, south to Silver Peak.

 

 

Other articles:
• U. S. Highway 95:   at US Hwy 6 West;  

Coaldale

Junction: US Highway 95, north to such garden spots as Mina, Luning, and Hawthorne.

 

 

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  Monday, June 22nd;

Locations: Columbus Salt Marsh.
Full Size ImageOld workings at Columbus Salt Marsh  

Columbus Salt Marsh

 

Other articles:
• NV Hwy 773:  10000;  

Junction: Nevada State Route 773, south to NV State Route 264 in Fish Lake Valley.

Literature Cited:
- Reheis, Marith C., Janet L Slate, Andrei M. Sarna-Wojcicki, and Charles E. Meyer, 1993.

Locations: The Gap.  

Approximately 3 miles south is "The Gap" through which Fish Lake Valley drains into Columbus Salt Marsh.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  5-Jun-06 at Columbus Salt Marsh;

Locations: Volcanic Hills. White Mountains.
Full Size ImageWhite Mountains and Volcanic Hills across Columbus Salt Marsh  

The Volcanic Hills could be seen to the south. The west edge of Columbus Salt Marsh to the north. The White Mountains could be seen in the distance, with Montgomery Peak and Boundary Peak the higher peaks on the right.
  US Highway 6 passes through a small canyon.

Literature Cited:
- Lee, J., Stockli, D., Schroeder, J., Tincher, C., Bradley, D., Owen, L., Gosse, J., Finkel, R., and Garwood, J., 2006.  

Field Trip Stop 7: Eastern Segment of Coaldale Fault (Volcanic Hills) in Lee, et al., 2006. Walk about 200 meters south of the dirt pullout.`

Other articles:
• NV Hwy 264:  10000;  

Junction: Nevada State Route 264, south through Fish Lake Valley.

Field Trip Stop 6 of Lee, et al., 2006 is one mile south on Nevada State Route 264.

  Esmeralda County above …
Mineral County below …
   

Literature Cited:
- Albers, J. P., and J. H. Stewart, 1972.
- Driesner, Doug, and Alan Coyner, 2008.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  20080612090;   at Grefco;  

Full Size Image
Grefco Diatomaceous Earth Mine.
Full Size Image
Grefco diatomaceous earth mine
Basalt Mine and Mill, operated by Grefco, Inc..

Grefco has operated this mine since 1944. J. S. Horton, Chief Mine Engineer of Grefco is quoted in Albers and Stewart (1972):

 "The deposit is an isolated embayment of a large fresh-water lake bed of the Tertiary period. During the interval of diatomaceous deposition there was a minimum of contaminants introduced by interior drainage into this embayment.
 "Structurally the deposit forms a shallow basin in the western sector while the central and eastern sones are monoclinal. Stratigraphically the lacustrine sediments are composed of diatomite, clay, sand, and volcanic ash. The lacustrine section overlies basalt and andesite flows, and is itself overlain by basaltic flows.
 "Species of diatoms occurring in this deposit are fresh-water structure, Melosira predominating. More specifically the more abundant species are Melosira granulata, Stephanodiscus aslraea, and Eunotia robusta."

In 1989, mail came here from Mina, NV 89422, and the local telehone was Dicalite #1. The mine had 12 employees and produced 8,766 tons of diatomaceous earth.

In 2007, the Basalt Mine and Mill had 9 employees and a telephone number: 775-573-2422. Mail was directed to Grefco's address in Burney, California.

   

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  22 Jun 2015;
Full Size ImageWild horses near Basalt  

Wild horses in the field.

 

 

Other articles:
• Nevada State Route 360:  90000;

Locations: Basalt.  

Basalt

Junction: Nevada State Route 360, north and east to US Highway 95.

Populated place of Basalt to the south.

Other articles:
• Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge:  45810;

Locations: Mount Montgomery.  

Mount Montgomery. Historical location, post office and station of the Southern Pacific narrow gauge.

 

 

Literature Cited:
- Stockli, Daniel F., Trevor A. Dumitru, Michael O. McWilliams, and Kenneth A. Farley, 2003.

Locations: Montgomery Pass.  

Montgomery Pass

 

Literature Cited:
- Lee, J., Stockli, D., Schroeder, J., Tincher, C., Bradley, D., Owen, L., Gosse, J., Finkel, R., and Garwood, J., 2006.

Other articles:
• Forest Road 01N155:   at US 6;  

Junction: Forest Road 01N155

Turn off here onto Carson & Colorado roadbed for Field Trip Stop 5" Overview of Queen Valley and Middle Miocene Faulting in Lee, et al., 2006. Drive along the railroad grade about 1.6 miles and park along a wide pull-out before the old railroad bridge.

Literature Cited:
- Lee, J., Stockli, D., Schroeder, J., Tincher, C., Bradley, D., Owen, L., Gosse, J., Finkel, R., and Garwood, J., 2006.  

Field Trip Stop 4: Intersection of Queen Valley and Coaldale Faults, or Lee, et al., 2006.

About 1.2 miles west of Montgomery Pass, just east of the new highway bridge, park along the north side of the highway.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   12-Jun-08;   12-Jun-08;
Full Size ImageQueen Valley and White Mountains
Full Size ImageGlass Mountain across Queen Valley  

View of upper Queen Valley and the White Mountains to the southeast, and of Glass Mountain to the southwest across Queen Valley.
  To the north of the highway are the claims belonging to the Montgomery Pass Project of the Homeland Precious Metals Corporation. This exploration is described as being within the Walker Lane golden corridor.

Other articles:
• Mono Lake Basin Flora:   at Deep Caρon;

Locations: Hereford Valley Ranch.  

Junction: Forest Road 1N135, east to Hereford Valley Ranch.

Locations: Queen Valley.
Full Size ImageUS Highway 6 north through Queen Valley to Montgomery Pass  

This photo was taken from the Viewpoint.

Locations: Boundary Peak. Montgomery Peak.
Full Size ImageBoundary Peak (left) and Montgomery Peak (right) from Queen Valley.  

This photo was taken from the Viewpoint. There are off-highway parking areas on both sides of the highway. Labelled as "Viewpoint" on the Truman Meadows USGS quadrangle map.

Literature Cited:
- Lee, Jeffrey, Jason Garwood, Daniel F. Stockli and John Gosse, 2009.
- Lee, J., Stockli, D., Schroeder, J., Tincher, C., Bradley, D., Owen, L., Gosse, J., Finkel, R., and Garwood, J., 2006.

Other articles:
• Forest Road 1N127:   at US Hwy 6;
• Forest Road 1N14:   at US Hwy 6;

Locations: Queen Valley.  

At 9.1 miles northeast of Benton, ranch on northwest side of highway.

Junction

  • Forest Road 1N14, "Queen Canyon Road", dirt road to the southeast. This is the turnoff for Field Trip Stop 3: Queen Valley Normal Fault of Lee, et al., 2006.
  • Forest Road 1N127, northwest past ranch into West Queen Canyon.
  Nevada
California
  Queen Valley above …
Benton Valley below …

Literature Cited:
- Lee, J., Stockli, D., Schroeder, J., Tincher, C., Bradley, D., Owen, L., Gosse, J., Finkel, R., and Garwood, J., 2006.  

About 4 miles north of Benton,

Junction: Bramlette Ranch Road, then about 0.4 mile north on Bramlette Ranch Road, stop and climb to the top of the small hill to the east of the road.

This is Field Trip Stop 2: Queen Valley Thrust Fault, of Lee, et al., 2006.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  22 Jun 2015;
Full Size ImageSurface expression of Queen Valley Thrust Fault.  

Pedro Ranch Road, Forest Road 01S57.

View of hills resulting from Queen Valley Thrust Fault.

Locations: Benton Valley.  

Benton Valley

 

 

Literature Cited:
- Billeb, Emil B., 1968.

Other articles:
• How did rubber rabbitbrush get that long scientific name?:  Hall&Goodspeed, 1919;
• California Highway 120:   at US Hwy 6;

Locations: Benton.  

Benton

Junction: California Highway 120, east to Lee Vining, and over Tioga Pass in Yosemite National Park.
  Benton Valley above …
Hammil Valley below …
  Cross Marble Creek.
  Cross Lone Tree Creek.
  Hammil Valley above …
Chalfant Valley below …

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  17-Jul-05;

Locations: Chalfant Valley.
Full Size ImageThe White Mountains as seen from US Highway 6 in Chalfant Valley.  

Between Bishop and Benton, US Highway 6 passes through the Chalfant Valley, west of the White Mountains.

Literature Cited:
- Lifton, Zachary, Jeffrey Lee, Kurt Frankel, Andrew V. Newman, and Jeffrey Schroeder, 2021.  

Junction: White Mountain Estates Road

Just to the east of the highway, above White Mountain Estates, Lifton, et al. (2021) studied Quaternary slip rates on the White Mountains Fault Zone. The total middle to late Pleistocene slip rate from the southern Walker Lane near 37.5°N was 7.9 + 1.3/–0.6 mm/yr, ~75% of the observed modern geodetic rate.

Locations: Owens Valley.  

Chalfant Valley above …

Mono County


Inyo County

Owens Valley below …

Literature Cited:
- Diggles, Michael F., Richard J. Blakely, Steven W. Schmauch, Richard L. Rains, David A. Lipton, Richard A. Winters, and Stephen R. L. Iverson, 1983.
- Lee, J., Stockli, D., Schroeder, J., Tincher, C., Bradley, D., Owen, L., Gosse, J., Finkel, R., and Garwood, J., 2006.
- Reynolds, Robert E., and David R. Jessey, 2009.

Other articles:
• Maps:   4 Apr 2009;
• Notes:  Senecio monoensis;

Locations: Chalfant Quarry. Coldwater Canyon. Southern Belle Mine.  

Full Size Image
Coldwater Canyon from Chalfant Quarry
Full Size Image
Chalfant Quarry in Bishop Ash
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Field Trip Day 2
Junction: Rudolph Road

On the east side is:

  • Access to Coldwater Canyon.

  • Field Trip Stop 1: White Mountains Fault Zone, of Lee, et al., 2006.

    Turn east here, go 0.5 mile, then turn north on dirt road for 1.1 miles, park on right side of road, and then walk south to the top of the hill. Lee, et al. (2006) give geographic coordinates of this stop of (37.5643°, -118.3287°), but I think the correct coordinates are more like (37.4705°, -118.3319°).

  • Continue east on Rudolph Road a total of 1.9 miles to the Southern Belle Mine, and the type locality of Senecio monoensis Greene.

On the west side is:

  • STOP 2-1: Chalfant Quarry (N 37°27’36.1”; W 118°21’58.3”) of Reynolds and Jessey (2009).

    The Bishop Tuff, dated at 760 ka, was produced by a 6-day-long eruptive event from the Long Valley Caldera (Hildreth and Wilson, 2007). Air-fall ash remnants have been found from western California to Nebraska, an area of 1 x 106 mi2. Pyroclastic flows spread 40 miles to the southeast down Owens Valley, 20-30 miles east to the White Mountains and 30–50 miles north into Mono Lake basin. The caldera collapsed into an 8 mi x 14 mi elliptical depression. It has been was subsequently enlarged by slumping and erosion to its current 11 mi x 20 mi dimension.

Other articles:
• Jean Blanc Road:   at US Hwy 6;  

Junction: Jean Blanc Road, access to Fish Slough.

 

 

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  17-Jul-05 at Laws;

Locations: Laws.
Full Size ImageThe train at the Laws Railroad Museum.  

Laws

Location of the Laws Railroad Museum. The Highway bypasses the town of Laws. To enter the town you must turn off at Silver Canyon Road.

Other articles:
• Silver Canyon Road:   at US Hwy 6;  

Junction: Silver Canyon Road, turn here for the Laws Railroad Museum.

Also at this intersection is California Historical Landmark No. 230

First Permanent White Habitation in Owens Valley

In August of 1861, A. Van Fleet and three other men drove their cattle into Owens Valley and prepared to stay. A cabin of sod and stone was built at the big bend of the Owens River at the northern end of the valley.

Other articles:
• 5 Bridges Road:   at US Hwy 6;  

Junction: 5 Bridges Road, north to Jean Blanc Road, in route to Fish Slough Road.

 

 

Other articles:
• U. S. Highway 395:   in Bishop;

Locations: Bishop.  

Bishop

Junction: US Hwy 395

This appears to be the end of US Hwy 6 in California. It has been replaced by California Highway 14, that begins in Inyokern, and ends at the junction with Interstate 5 in San Fernando.

If you have a question or a comment you may write to me at: tomas@schweich.com I sometimes post interesting questions in my FAQ, but I never disclose your full name or address.  


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Date and time this article was prepared: 11/3/2024 5:34:40 PM