# Pilot Range

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pilot_Range.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_Range
> Source revision: 1355491738
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Mountain range in Nevada and Utah, US}}
{{About|the mountain range in Utah and Nevada|the Pilot Range in the Northeast U.S.|Pilot Range (New Hampshire)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2026}}
{{Infobox mountain
| image                 = Pilot Range Along Nevada and Utah (50419432496).jpg
| image_caption         = Aerial view of Pilot Range
| image_alt             = 
| country               = United States
| subdivision1_type     = States
| subdivision1          = {{enum|Utah|Nevada}}
| parent                = 
| subdivision4_type     = Peaks
| subdivision4          = {{enum|Copper Mountain|Bald Eagle Mountain|Rhyolite Butte}}
| borders_on            = east: [Pilot Valley Playa](/source/Pilot_Valley_Playa_(Nevada_and_Utah))<br />west: Pilot Creek Valley
| range_coordinates     = 
| range_coordinates_ref = 
| length_mi             = 30
| length_orientation    = SSW to NNE
| length_ref            = 
| width_mi              = 4
| width_ref             = (variable)
| location              = 
| area_mi2              = 80
| area_ref              = <ref name=gpo />
| highest               = [Pilot Peak](/source/Pilot_Peak_(Nevada))
| elevation_ft          = 10716
| elevation_ref         = 
| coordinates           = {{coord|41.021123|N|114.077392|W|type:mountain|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| geology               = 
| orogeny               = 
| map                   = USA Nevada
| map_size              = 
| map_caption           = 
}}

The '''Pilot Range'''<ref>{{gnis|1438007}}</ref> is a [mountain range](/source/mountain_range) straddling the border of [Box Elder County, Utah](/source/Box_Elder_County%2C_Utah), and [Elko County, Nevada](/source/Elko_County%2C_Nevada), United States.  Lying 50 miles west of the [Great Salt Lake](/source/Great_Salt_Lake), the range forms part of the north-west border of the [Great Salt Lake Desert](/source/Great_Salt_Lake_Desert). The range reaches a maximum elevation of 10,716 feet at the summit of [Pilot Peak](/source/Pilot_Peak_(Nevada)). Most of the range is public [Bureau of Land Management](/source/Bureau_of_Land_Management) land and thus has no access restrictions. Its principal uses are [mining](/source/mining), livestock [grazing](/source/grazing), and seasonal [elk](/source/elk) and [deer](/source/deer) hunting.

== Description ==
The Pilot Range begins about {{convert|15|mi}} north of the community of [West Wendover](/source/West_Wendover%2C_Nevada), and continues north-northeastwards for approximately {{convert|30|mi}}. The abandoned railroad town of [Lucin, Utah](/source/Lucin%2C_Utah) lies two miles north-east.

The range runs SSW to NNE,<ref>Nevada Atlas & Gazetteer, DeLorme, c. 2010, p. 14-15.</ref> with various [canyon](/source/canyon)s spurring east and west off a prominent ridgeline. It covers an area of about {{convert|51200|acres}}.<ref name=gpo>{{cite web |url=http://www.access.gpo.gov/blm/utah/pdf/nw12.pdf |title=Pilot Range |author= |date= |work= |publisher= |accessdate=2009-12-09}}</ref> [Elevation](/source/Elevation) varies from a base of {{convert|5000|ft}} feet to  10,716 foot (3,266&nbsp;m) [Pilot Peak](/source/Pilot_Peak_(Nevada)).<ref>Nevada Atlas & Gazetteer, p. 14-15.</ref> Other significant [summits](/source/Summit_(topography)) in the range are Copper Mountain, Bald Eagle Mountain, and Rhyolite Butte.

To the east of the range lie [Pilot Valley Playa](/source/Pilot_Valley_Playa_(Nevada_and_Utah)) and its springs; beyond that the [Silver Island Mountains](/source/Silver_Island_Range%2C_Utah), and the north section of Pilot Creek Valley to the west.

Several fresh and salty springs flow from the base of the [alluvial fans](/source/alluvial_fans) at the base of the range. The largest is Bettridge Creek, a [habitat](/source/habitat) for the threatened [Lahontan cutthroat trout](/source/Lahontan_cutthroat_trout).<ref name=gpo />  [Vegetation](/source/Vegetation) varies from [Engelmann Spruce](/source/Picea_engelmannii) and [Limber Pine](/source/Pinus_flexilis) in the highest elevations, [pinyon pine](/source/Pinus_monophylla), [mountain mahogany](/source/Cercocarpus), and [juniper](/source/Juniperus_osteosperma) in the middle elevations, [sagebrush](/source/Artemisia_tridentata) and [grass](/source/grass) in the south-face slopes and ridge-tops, and [rabbitbrush](/source/Asteraceae), grass, and [greasewood](/source/Sarcobatus) in the lower elevations. The [Pilot Range cinquefoil](/source/Potentilla_cottamii) (''Potentilla cottamii'') is a rare species of plant which can be found in the Pilot Range and a few other ranges nearby.<ref name=tnc>[http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Potentilla+cottamii ''Potentilla cottamii''.] The Nature Conservancy.</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|22em}}

== External links ==
* {{commons category-inline|Pilot Range}}

Category:Mountain ranges of Utah
Category:Mountain ranges of Nevada
Category:Great Salt Lake Desert
Category:Mountain ranges of Elko County, Nevada
Category:Mountain ranges of Box Elder County, Utah

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pilot Range](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_Range) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_Range?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.