Carson River Canyon
Map SatelliteOn the eastern escarpment of the Sierra, from Shingle Mill Flat downstream to near the Crystal Springs campground, the West Fork of the Carson River cuts through a steep-sided canyon which, within a few thousand meters, well illustrates the change in life zones with elevation. On the western slope of the Sierra these changes usually occur over a number of kilometers.
Extensive granite cliffs and projecting jagged spires occur on both sides of the canyon, with sparse forest cover on the south slopes and dense, avalanche-dissected forest on the north slopes. Jeffrey pine, Pinus jeffreyi, and red fir, white fir, Abies magnifies and Abies concolor, forests are the dominants on the slopes, with a riparian forest containing black cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa, and quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides, along the river and tributary creeks. Sierra maple, Acer glabrum, occurs in avalanche scars. The rare Tonestus eximius occurs in the area.
This canyon is an important deer, Odocoileus hemionus, migration route. Mountain lion, Felis concolor, are present.
The canyon was partially cut by glaciers, and moraines and erratics are still in evidence.
Integrity: Highway 89 is the only present development. Most of the area has not been logged.
Use: Research, educational, observational, light recreational.
July 1976
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman