Simpson Park Mountains

{{short description|Mountain range in Nevada, US}}

{{Infobox mountain

| name = Simpson Park Mountains

| native_name =

| other_name =

| etymology =

| photo =

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| country = United States

| state = Nevada

| region = Basin and Range

| district = Eureka and Lander counties{{GNIS|861395}}

| topo_map = Crescent Valley, Simpson Park and Summit Mountain 30x60 quads

| topo_maker = USGS

| range_coordinates = {{coord|39|44.86|N|116|36.52|W|type:mountain|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| highest = Fagan Mountain

| highest_location =

| elevation_m = 2788

| coordinates = {{coord|39|45.05|N|116|34.83|W|type:mountain|format=dms|display=inline}}

| length_mi = 47.7| length_orientation = NNE-SSW

| width_mi = 6.2| width_orientation =

| area_mi2 =

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| map = Nevada

| map_size = 220

| map_caption = Location of Simpson Peak Mountains in Nevada{{cite gnis|id=861395|name=Simpson Park Mountains|accessdate=2009-05-04}}

}}

The Simpson Park Mountains, also known as the Simpson Park Range, are located in Lander and Eureka counties, in central Nevada in the western United States. The mountains reach an elevation of {{convert|9147|ft|m}} at Fagin Mountain, and cover an area of approximately {{convert|310|mi2|km2}}. US Route 50 crosses the very southern end of the range at Hickison Summit between Eureka and Austin.

The range runs in a southwest-northeasterly direction between the Toiyabe Range on the west across Grass Valley and the Roberts Mountains to the east. Other ranges around the Simpson Parks include the Cortez Mountains to the north across Horse Creek Valley and the Toquima and Monitor ranges to the south. The Monitor, Kobeh and Antelope valleys lie to the southeast.Simpson Park Mts., Nevada, 30x60 Minute Quadrangle, USGS 1979Crescent Valley, Nevada, 30x60 Minute Quadrangle, USGS 1987Summit Mountain, Nevada, 30x60 Minute Quadrangle, USGS 1978

Image:Simpson Park.jpg

The Hickison Petroglyph Recreation Area lies at the southeastern end of the mountains northwest of Hickison Summit on US route 50. The Bureau of Land Management manages 98% of the Simpson Park Mountains, and 2% is privately held. Principal vegetation types are: Piñon-juniper—43.5%, Sagebrush scrub—25.4%, and Sagebrush steppe—18.5%. Trees found in the range include: western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis), Utah Juniper (Juniperus osteosperma), and Single-leaf Pinyon (Pinus monophylla). Coyotes and pikas roam the Simpson Park Mountains.

The range is named after James H. Simpson, who surveyed a transportation route just south of the range in 1858.{{cite book | url=http://dwgateway.library.unr.edu/keck/histtopoNV/Origin_of_Place_Names_Files/1941NevadaOriginofNames-pt1.pdf | title=Origin of Place Names: Nevada | publisher=W.P.A. | author=Federal Writers' Project | year=1941 | pages=42}}