Walker River
Walker River is a high-desert watercourse that flows from the Sierra Nevada in California into Nevada, bisecting valleys and eventually joining the Western United States basin. Crossing remote plains and seasonal lakes, it sustains local wildlife and has historic importance for native tribes and western settlement.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Western United States |
| Subregion | Great Basin |
| Country | United States |
| State | CaliforniaNevada |
| Timezone | AmericaLos Angeles |
| Latitude | 38.5 |
| Longitude | -119.5 |
| Maps |
6:14 PM LOCAL TIMEWalker River originates in the eastern Sierra Nevada of California, near the crest of the range in Mono County. It flows northeasterly across Nevada, passing through high desert valleys and wide playas before converging with the Carson River. Historically, the river was vital for Paiute and other native peoples, and it later became a corridor for trans-Mojave travel and irrigation. Today, Walker primarily traverses open rangeland and seasonal wetlands; while it can run year-round near its headwaters, downstream flow is highly variable and heavily dependent on snowmelt and groundwater - water management and diversion have historically impacted its flow regimes. Travelers and wildlife watchers may follow parts of its corridor via Nevada Hwy 95 or visit adjoining lakes and federal lands for desert river scenery and birding.
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