Regional overview

The Monitor Range is a remote north-south Great Basin range in central Nevada whose best-known hiking core is the Table Mountain Wilderness. The hiking character is very different from the busy trail systems near Las Vegas or the Ruby Mountains: long dirt-road approaches, high sagebrush basins, aspen pockets, perennial creek corridors, broad volcanic uplands, elk and mule-deer country, and sparse public route descriptions. Table Mountain rises to about 10,649 ft / 3,246 m, and the wilderness is administered by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest through the Austin-Tonopah Ranger District.

This entry treats the Monitor Range as a map-and-navigation region. Barley Creek has an official Forest Service trail page; the other selections are verified primarily through the official USDA Forest Service TrailNFS GIS layer and secondary protected-area descriptions. Exact elevation gain, loss, current tread condition and trailhead coordinates are often unresolved and should be field-checked locally before departure.

For neighbouring Nevada ranges in the same broader taxonomy, see the sister catalogues on the Spring Mountains, the Schell Creek Range and the Toquima Range.

See also: Spring Mountains, Nevada · Schell Creek Range, Nevada · Toquima Range, Nevada.

Selection rationale

The five hikes cover the best-documented open corridors of the Table Mountain Wilderness: the well-described Barley Creek approach, two more remote creek routes (Mosquito Creek and Clear Creek), a shorter canyon (South Green Monster) and a manageable day section of the long Table Mountain Skyline Trail. Barley Creek is the only route with a narrative official Forest Service page; the others are verified via the USDA Forest Service TrailNFS GIS layer for trail name, number and geometry length. Elevation profiles, tread condition and exact trailhead coordinates should be treated as unresolved and confirmed with the Austin-Tonopah Ranger District before travel.

Summary

# Hike Trailhead Route type Distance Gain Max elevation Difficulty
1 Barley Creek Trail Barley Creek Trailhead / Campground Out-and-back creek valley ~24.5 km round trip Unresolved Unresolved Hard
2 Mosquito Creek Trail Mosquito Creek access (unresolved) Out-and-back creek valley ~23.5 km round trip Unresolved Unresolved Hard
3 Clear Creek Trail Clear Creek access (unresolved) Out-and-back creek / canyon ~15.2 km round trip Unresolved Unresolved Moderate–hard
4 South Green Monster Canyon Trail South Green Monster access (unresolved) Out-and-back canyon ~12.0 km round trip Unresolved Unresolved Moderate
5 Table Mountain Skyline (day section) Skyline Trail access (unresolved) Out-and-back high plateau 10–16 km, day section only Unresolved Table Mountain 3,246 m Moderate–hard

1. Barley Creek Trail

Central Nevada sagebrush valley terrain between the Toquima and Monitor Ranges
Sagebrush valley terrain between the Toquima and Monitor Ranges in central Nevada — the wide, dry country that the Barley Creek approach crosses on the way to the Table Mountain Wilderness. Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Snapshot

CountryUSA (Nevada, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest)
Sub-regionMonitor Range / Table Mountain Wilderness
StartBarley Creek Trailhead / Campground area
FinishCottonwood Creek 2 Trail junction, returning by the same route
Route typeLong out-and-back creek-valley route
Distance7.6 mi / 12.2 km one way per USFS official page; ~15.2 mi / 24.5 km round trip. TrailNFS segment total ~8.7 mi / 14.0 km one way — exact field mileage unresolved
Elevation gainUnresolved — no official gain profile found
Elevation lossUnresolved
Maximum elevationUnresolved for the trail itself; Table Mountain high country reaches about 3,246 m / 10,649 ft
Estimated timeApprox. 6–8 h for the full out-and-back; distance-only estimate
DifficultyHard — because of length and remoteness
Best seasonBest after snowmelt and before early winter; spring mud, lingering snow, summer thunderstorms and hunting-season activity are all possible
Public transportNone; private vehicle on remote central Nevada roads near Tonopah / Austin-Tonopah Ranger District; high-clearance vehicle recommended, verify road status locally
Verification statusPartially verified — route corridor and official endpoint verified via USFS page; gain / loss and exact field mileage unresolved

Itinerary

Follow the official Barley Creek Trail north along Barley Creek through the Table Mountain Wilderness. The Forest Service page places the start at the Barley Creek Trailhead / Campground, describes travel north along Barley Creek, and ends at the junction with Cottonwood Creek 2 Trail, with connections to South Fork Mosquito Creek Trail and Tipover Trail.

Why it is essential

Barley Creek is the best-documented and most clearly official day-hike corridor in the Table Mountain Wilderness, representing the Monitor Range’s creek, meadow and high-wilderness character.

Equipment

  • Offline map and GPS
  • Paper map backup
  • Water treatment and extra water
  • Sun protection
  • Sturdy footwear
  • Layers and rain shell
  • Emergency kit
  • High-clearance vehicle recommended for the approach

Hazards and notes

  • Remote trailhead and sparse signage.
  • Stream crossings or wet meadow sections possible.
  • Route-finding required in places.
  • Limited rescue access and cell signal.
  • Thunderstorms in summer.
  • No verified public water reliability beyond named creeks.

GPX / route file

Source URL Format Notes
USFS — Barley Creek Trail fs.usda.gov Web page Official route description, start and endpoint
USFS TrailNFS — Barley Creek Trail #24038 apps.fs.usda.gov GeoJSON USDA Forest Service data; cite provenance if reused

Sources

2. Mosquito Creek Trail

Snapshot

CountryUSA (Nevada, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest)
Sub-regionMonitor Range / Table Mountain Wilderness
StartMosquito Creek trail access; exact trailhead coordinates unresolved
FinishUpper Mosquito Creek corridor / chosen turnaround, returning by the same route
Route typeOut-and-back creek-valley route on official trail corridor
DistanceApprox. 14.6 mi / 23.5 km round trip if the full verified TrailNFS corridor is walked out and back; one-way TrailNFS segment total about 7.3 mi / 11.7 km
Elevation gainUnresolved — no published profile found
Elevation lossUnresolved
Maximum elevationUnresolved
Estimated timeApprox. 6–8 h for the full out-and-back; distance-only estimate
DifficultyHard — distance, remoteness and uncertain trail condition
Best seasonBest after snowmelt through fall; road and trail may be muddy in spring; thunderstorms possible in summer
Public transportNone; private high-clearance vehicle likely needed depending on road conditions; confirm with the Austin-Tonopah Ranger District
Verification statusPartially verified — official trail name, number and geometry verified via TrailNFS; trailhead coordinate, gain / loss and condition unresolved

Itinerary

Follow the official Mosquito Creek Trail corridor into the Table Mountain Wilderness and return the same way. The USFS TrailNFS layer verifies Mosquito Creek Trail #24041 in the Austin-Tonopah Ranger District with about 7.3 mi / 11.7 km of one-way trail geometry.

Why it is essential

Mosquito Creek is one of the named wilderness approaches into the Table Mountain high country and balances Barley Creek with another major drainage route.

Equipment

  • Offline map and GPS
  • Paper map backup
  • Water treatment and extra water
  • Layers and rain shell
  • Sun protection
  • Sturdy footwear
  • Emergency kit

Hazards and notes

  • Remote access with possible faint tread.
  • Stream crossings or wet ground.
  • Limited rescue access.
  • No published elevation profile found.
  • Thunderstorms and hunting-season activity in shoulder months.

GPX / route file

Source URL Format Notes
USFS TrailNFS — Mosquito Creek Trail #24041 apps.fs.usda.gov GeoJSON USDA Forest Service data; cite provenance if reused. No narrative USFS trail page found in this pass

Sources

3. Clear Creek Trail

Snapshot

CountryUSA (Nevada, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest)
Sub-regionMonitor Range / Table Mountain Wilderness
StartClear Creek trail access; exact trailhead coordinates unresolved
FinishUpper Clear Creek corridor / official trail terminus, returning by the same route
Route typeOut-and-back creek and canyon route on official trail corridor
DistanceApprox. 9.4 mi / 15.2 km round trip if the full verified TrailNFS corridor is walked out and back; one-way TrailNFS length about 4.7 mi / 7.6 km
Elevation gainUnresolved
Elevation lossUnresolved
Maximum elevationUnresolved
Estimated timeApprox. 4–6 h; distance-only estimate
DifficultyModerate to hard
Best seasonBest after snowmelt through fall; road mud, creek flow and snow may affect spring access
Public transportNone; private vehicle required; high clearance may be needed depending on approach roads
Verification statusPartially verified — official trail name, number and geometry verified via TrailNFS; access details and elevation profile unresolved

Itinerary

Follow the official Clear Creek Trail corridor into the Table Mountain Wilderness and return the same way. The USFS TrailNFS layer verifies Clear Creek Trail #24049 with about 4.7 mi / 7.6 km of one-way trail geometry.

Why it is essential

Clear Creek is a shorter official wilderness corridor that represents the Monitor Range’s stream-cut canyon and meadow routes while staying within a more typical day-hike distance than some longer Table Mountain trails.

Equipment

  • Offline map and GPS
  • Water treatment and extra water
  • Sun protection
  • Layers and rain shell
  • Sturdy footwear
  • Emergency kit

Hazards and notes

  • Remote trailhead with uncertain tread condition.
  • Creek crossings or wet meadows possible.
  • No published elevation profile found.
  • Weather can change quickly on the high plateau above.

GPX / route file

Source URL Format Notes
USFS TrailNFS — Clear Creek Trail #24049 apps.fs.usda.gov GeoJSON USDA Forest Service data; cite provenance if reused. No narrative USFS trail page found in this pass

Sources

4. South Green Monster Canyon Trail

Snapshot

CountryUSA (Nevada, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest)
Sub-regionMonitor Range / Table Mountain Wilderness
StartSouth Green Monster Canyon trail access; exact trailhead coordinates unresolved
FinishUpper South Green Monster Canyon / official trail terminus, returning by the same route
Route typeOut-and-back canyon route on official trail corridor
DistanceApprox. 7.5 mi / 12.0 km round trip if the full verified TrailNFS corridor is walked out and back; one-way TrailNFS segment total about 3.7 mi / 6.0 km
Elevation gainUnresolved
Elevation lossUnresolved
Maximum elevationUnresolved
Estimated timeApprox. 3.5–5 h; distance-only estimate
DifficultyModerate
Best seasonBest spring through fall depending on snow, road access and heat; avoid canyon travel during thunderstorm or flash-flood risk
Public transportNone; private vehicle required; confirm road condition and legal access with the Forest Service or local maps
Verification statusPartially verified — official trail name, number and geometry verified via TrailNFS; access, condition and gain / loss unresolved

Itinerary

Follow the official South Green Monster Trail corridor into the canyon and return the same way. The USFS TrailNFS layer verifies South Green Monster Trail #24053 with about 3.7 mi / 6.0 km of one-way official trail geometry.

Why it is essential

South Green Monster Canyon adds a named canyon hike to the Monitor Range selection and gives a shorter, more contained day than the long creek approaches.

Equipment

  • Offline map and GPS
  • Water and sun protection
  • Sturdy footwear
  • Layers and rain shell
  • Emergency kit

Hazards and notes

  • Canyon navigation with possible washouts.
  • Flash-flood risk during and after thunderstorms.
  • Remote access with no published condition source.
  • No verified elevation profile.

GPX / route file

Source URL Format Notes
USFS TrailNFS — South Green Monster Trail #24053 apps.fs.usda.gov GeoJSON USDA Forest Service data; cite provenance if reused. No narrative USFS trail page found in this pass

Sources

5. Table Mountain Skyline Trail — day section

Aerial view north across Little Fish Lake Valley toward the Hot Creek Range and Monitor Range
Aerial view north across Little Fish Lake Valley in Nye County, with the Hot Creek Range to the right and the Monitor Range to the left — the plateau country that carries the Table Mountain Skyline Trail. Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Snapshot

CountryUSA (Nevada, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest)
Sub-regionMonitor Range / Table Mountain Wilderness
StartPractical access to Table Mountain Skyline Trail; exact day-hike trailhead unresolved
FinishHigh-plateau / skyline turnaround chosen by time and conditions, returning by the same route
Route typeOut-and-back high-country trail section
DistanceSuggested day section approx. 6–10 mi / 10–16 km round trip depending on access and turnaround; full official TrailNFS corridor totals about 13.8 mi / 22.2 km one way
Elevation gainUnresolved
Elevation lossUnresolved
Maximum elevationUnresolved for the selected day section; Table Mountain high point is about 3,246 m / 10,649 ft
Estimated timeApprox. 4–7 h depending on chosen section; estimate only
DifficultyModerate to hard, depending on selected access and distance
Best seasonHigh-plateau travel is best after snowmelt and before winter; thunderstorms, wind and exposure can be significant even when valley weather is warm
Public transportNone; private vehicle required; confirm trailhead, road condition and wilderness access locally
Verification statusPartially verified — official trail corridor verified via TrailNFS; selected access, elevation profile and practical day-hike endpoint require manual map work

Itinerary

Use a reachable section of the official Table Mountain Skyline Trail as a day hike, turning around before the route becomes a multi-hour traverse. The USFS TrailNFS layer verifies Table Mountain Skyline Trail #24039 with about 13.8 mi / 22.2 km of official one-way trail geometry, which is too long for a normal out-and-back day if followed end to end.

Why it is essential

The skyline / plateau terrain is the signature landscape of the Table Mountain Wilderness and gives the Monitor Range its high-country identity beyond the creek approaches.

Equipment

  • Offline map and GPS
  • Paper map backup
  • Water treatment and extra water
  • Sun protection
  • Wind and rain layers
  • Emergency kit
  • Conservative turnaround time

Hazards and notes

  • Long official trail with uncertain day-hike access point.
  • Route-finding and lack of published profile.
  • Limited water on the plateau.
  • Lightning exposure on open high ground.
  • Snow and mud can extend the closed season at both ends.

GPX / route file

Source URL Format Notes
USFS TrailNFS — Table Mountain Skyline Trail #24039 apps.fs.usda.gov GeoJSON USDA Forest Service data; day section must be clipped manually from the full corridor
USFS TrailNFS — Little Table Mountain Spring Trail #24107 (optional nearby) apps.fs.usda.gov GeoJSON Optional connector for planning; cite USDA Forest Service

Sources

Region-level sources

Source URL
USFS — Barley Creek Trail, Humboldt-Toiyabe NF fs.usda.gov
USFS TrailNFS ArcGIS service apps.fs.usda.gov
Wikipedia — Table Mountain Wilderness en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia — Monitor Range en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia — Table Mountain (Nye County, Nevada) en.wikipedia.org
Wikimedia Commons — aerial view of the Monitor Range commons.wikimedia.org

Further reading