Symmes Creek

Name: Symmes Creek
Acreage: 11,480 (BLM), 430 (INF)
Location: Southwest of Independence

Natural Values:

Standing on the brink of two worlds, at the transition between the adventure-promising Sierra Nevada and the vast expanse of the Owens Valley, is Symmes Creek WSA.

It is easy to bypass the region if you're in a rush, but this would be missing out on an area rich in wildlife. The hefty vegetation of Symmes Creek WSA make it a gathering point for scrub jays, towhees, dark-eyed juncos, mountain bluebirds, and numerous other chattering birds, while the large swaths of bitterbrush provide food for mule deer during the winter months.

Symmes Creek can be easily spotted from afar, marked by a line of willows bisecting the dry, alluvial fans.

Cultural Values:

This WSA is in the home territory of the Independence Paiute Indian Tribe. It was used for seed collection as well as sites for small, temporary camps.

Recreational Values:

Trout fishing, hunting, and camping