Monitor Pass
Map SatelliteThis area, east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada, supports a diverse vegetational mosaic resembling that of the mountain ranges of the central Great Basin. Within the state, similar areas are found in the Warner and White Mountains, but rarely elsewhere.
On the gently sloping plateau the dominant community is the subalpine sagebrush scrub, with a scattering of pinyon pine woodland and aspen groves.
Several plants, including the sedge, Carex vallicola, and the hopsage, Grayia spinosa, though typical members of the intermountain flora, are found in the Sierra only at this site.
Integrity: Highway 89 traverses the area and atop Levitian Peak there is a radio relay station with a road leading to it. The area is used for livestock grazing during the latter part of the summer.
Use: Educational, research, present restricted grazing.
March 1975
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman