A living lab of forested mountain land in the Sierra Nevada, dedicated for research, instruction and community outreach.

Mission

The mission of the Whittell Forest & Wildlife Area is to maintain a living field laboratory of forested mountain land for research, instruction, and community outreach that contributes to the understanding and protection of natural ecosystem integrity while engaging Nevada citizens in learning and problem-solving activities.

Land acknowledgement

We acknowledge that the University of Nevada, Reno Whittell Forest & Wildlife Area is situated on the traditional homelands of the Wašiw (Washoe) peoples. The land continues to be a gathering place for Indigenous Peoples and we recognize their deep connections to this land. We extend our appreciation for the opportunity to discover and learn on their territory.

Reserve history & details

The Whittell Forest & Wildlife Area (Whittell) is a 2,650-acre forested property owned by the University of Nevada, Reno and administered by Research & Innovation at the University. The original 2,550 acres were gifted to the University by George Whittell in 1959, with the intent of maintaining a living laboratory of forested mountain land in a primitive state for research and instruction.

Close up of Snow plants protruding from a bed of pine needles and cones

In 1961, the Board of Regents (BOR) designated the property as a natural wildlife area (Title 4, Chapter 10, Section 26, Paragraph 4 of the BOR Handbook). Additional acreage augmented the initial gift through acquisitions of land in 1977 and 1979 and a donation of land by Tom Hall and his wife in 1982.

An aerial photo from the north-east corner of Lake Tahoe to the west edge of Washoe Lake with a pink overlay showing the property area of the Whittell forest

Whittell is situated in the Little Valley of the Carson Range along the eastern Sierra Front in Nevada, bordered on the west by the Tahoe Rim and the east by the community of Washoe Valley. Whittell is characterized as a hanging valley that is predominantly a Jeffrey pine/mixed-conifer forest type with an approximately 120-acre meadow system at the core of Little Valley. Whittell is surrounded by USDA Forest Service Humboldt-Toiyabe land and situated to the west of the wildland-urban interface of West Washoe Valley.

View of Washoe Valley from upper Whittell Forest and Wildlife Area

The climate is semi-arid with a long summer dry season, with most precipitation falling during the winter in the form of snow. Franktown Creek drains the valley into Washoe Lake to the east.

Close-up of yellow flowers growing in the Whittell Forest & Wildlife Area

Access is through a locked gate and via a steep dirt road, accessible by four-wheel drive vehicles from May to November most years, and by foot, skis or snowshoes during the remainder of the year. In order to maintain its primitive nature, and thereby further the University’s research and teaching efforts, the operation of private recreational vehicles within the forest is prohibited.

Land use & access

Use of Whittell requires an approved application for research or educational purposes. Applications are submitted through the reservation system.

Apply for access to Whittell