Cortez Mountains

Cortez Mountains
Utility poles cross Crescent Valley eastward toward the Cortez Mountains in the distance
Highest point
Peak	Mount Tenabo
Elevation	2,790 m (9,150 ft)
Coordinates	40°09.80′N 116°34.99′W / 40.16333°N 116.58317°W / 40.16333; -116.58317
Geography
Location of Cortez Mountains in Nevada
Country	United States
State	Nevada
District	Eureka and Lander counties
Range coordinates	40°18′39.711″N 116°20′5.277″W / 40.31103083°N 116.33479917°W / 40.31103083; -116.33479917Coordinates: 40°18′39.711″N 116°20′5.277″W / 40.31103083°N 116.33479917°W / 40.31103083; -116.33479917
Topo map	USGS Crescent Valley 30x60 and Battle Mountain 30x60

The Cortez Mountains are located in north central Nevada in the United States. The range lies in a southwest-northeasterly direction between Crescent Valley and Pine Valley. Mount Tenabo is the principal peak of the range, at 9,153 feet above sea level. Surrounding ranges include: the Shoshone Range to the northwest, the Pinon and Sulphur Springs ranges to the east, the Simpson Park Mountains to the south and the Toiyabe Range to the southwest across the narrow Cortez Canyon. The northeastern end of the range reaches the Humboldt River at Palisade about 9.5 miles (15.3 km) southwest of Carlin.

The Bureau of Land Management oversees 70% of the range, while privately held land accounts for the other 30%. Vegetation is primarily pinyon-juniper, montane shrub, and sagebrush steppe. At least four different species of mice live in the range. The side-blotched lizard and the chisel-toothed kangaroo rat are also found in the mountains.