Description

Key Pittman Wildlife Management Area includes two small lakes near the town of Hiko. The town and the lakes are located in a broad valley with mountain ranges on both sides. In the bottom of the valley, farmers use spring water to maintain fields that attract a variety of waterfowl, shorebirds, cranes, hawks, and songbirds. Beyond the farm fields, the desert rises gradually to the west and more abruptly to the east. The desert vegetation is composed largely of Greasewood, Blackbrush, desert thorn, with some Banana Yucca and a bit of Silver Cholla mixed in. This is the edge of the Great Basin Desert, so vegetation common just a few miles to the south (e.g., Creosote Bush and Eastern Joshua Trees) is absent here.

Key Pittman is a Nevada State Wildlife Management Area, which means that it is managed for hunting. If you visit during hunting season, be careful and read the signs before entering. The area may be closed to non-hunters during hunts.

Link to map.

Nesbitt Lake, the northern of the two lakes, is a broad, moderately deep lake with open water all year. There are cottonwood trees on the south end, shrub and willow thickets on the southwest side, and an extensive marshy area at the northern end. Most of the edge of the lake is bordered by cattail and reeds. Vegetation from the surrounding desert (e.g., saltbush, desert thorn, and rabbitbrush) grows down to the water in some places. Trees are also starting to grow along the east side of the lake.

A good dirt road runs across Nesbitt Lake Dam (actually a low dike) at the south end of the lake. The road then runs north along the east side of the lake to a gate. During the breeding season (February to August), the gate is locked and access to the marshy area beyond is prohibited. I've never been here when the area was open. Restroom facilities are available along the access road on the southwest corner of Nesbitt Lake.

Frenchy Lake, the southern lake, is broad and very shallow, with open water only during some years. When it is wet, an extensive marsh surrounds almost the entire lake. A road from the south runs up along the east side of the lake, providing access to the water and views of the islands, plus access to the cottonwood grove at the northeast corner of the lake.

Location

Key Pittman is located in the Pahranagat Valley, about 110 miles north of Las Vegas.

From town, drive north on Interstate 15 to US Highway 93. Turn left onto Highway 93 and drive north past the towns of Alamo (95 miles) and Ash Spring (102 miles) to the intersection of Highway 93 and Highway 318 (107 miles) (Table 1, Site 677).

Nesbitt Lake Unit (follow the link for photos of the area)

From the intersection of Highway 93 and Highway 318, drive west then north on Highway 318. Pass a cattle operation and alfalfa fields, then at 2.9 miles out, watch for a wide dirt parking area (Site 0678) on the east side of the road with Wildlife Management Area signs.

The gate is always closed, but open the gate, drive in, and close the gate behind you. Drive down the dirt access road 0.2 miles to the dam (Site 0679) and parking area just beyond the dam. From there, drive or walk the road on the east side of the lake. Birders can also walk up behind the willow thickets on the southwest corner of the lake. There is an outhouse near the entrance gate.

Frenchy Lake Unit (follow the link for photos of the area)

From the intersection of Highway 93 and Highway 318, drive west on Highway 318 for 0.3 miles. Just before a cattle guard, notice a wide gravel area on the right with Wildlife Management Area signs (Site 0680). Between the signs and a barbed-wire fence, drive north on the dirt access road to another parking area with more signs, an outhouse, and a closed gate (Site 0681).

From the parking area, walk up the road to the southeast corner of the lake, and then continue northward along the east side of the lake to an old parking area behind the grove of cottonwood trees (Site 0636). The old road used to loop around the north side of the lake, but it is washed out and impassable.

Hours: The Wildlife Management Area is always open, but it probably should be considered day-use only. There are "no camping" and "no fires" signs at the entrance to both lakes.

Fees: None.

Specialties: Surrounded by seemingly endless miles of dry desert terrain, these lakes provide habitat for waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, pelicans, cranes, hawks, and even elk. During migration, watch for swallows, nighthawks, flycatchers, and warblers. During summer, the willow thickets on the west side of Nesbitt Lake are said to provide nesting sites for Western Willow Flycatchers and Yellow-billed Cuckoos. Turkey Vultures roost in the cottonwood trees along Nesbitt Dam, and on summer evenings you can watch dozens of them flying in to roost.

The distances can be long, so be sure to bring a spotting scope.