Snake Valley is located in the Great Basin, an area that has no surface drainage connection with the ocean. All the water that falls in the Great Basin stays in the Great Basin-unless it evaporates, is diverted, or flows underground. Click on one of the subsections below to learn more about the nature of Snake Valley.
CLIMATESnake Valley has a climate typical of the high desert, with hot summers and cold winters. Temperature and precipitation change rapidly as you ascend in elevation. The elevational gradients allow for a wide array of plants and animals to call Snake Valley home.
ANIMALS Learn about the amazing variety of animals that make Snake Valley their home! Lizards and snakes are commonly seen in the summer at the lower elevations. Up high in the mountains, you might find deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and mountain lions. Over 180 bird species have been documented in the Valley, along with an impressive array of insects. Some of the rarest animals include those that live in water, like the seven native fish species and frogs.
PLANTSNearly 1,000 plants can be found in Snake Valley. Some have adapted to salty, alkaline conditions like pickleweed and salt grass, while others can withstand high elevations and fierce winds like bristlecone pines. Sagebrush, four-wing saltbush, shadscale, greasewood, pinyon pine, and Utah juniper are among the most common.
GEOLOGY Sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks are all found in Snake Valley, along with interesting geologic clues about past glaciers, Lake Bonneville, and more.
