Blue Lake in Denio, Nevada

The Pine Forest Range is another little-known Nevada mountain range, with a high point (Duffer Peak) at 9,397 feet (2,864 meters). It is unusual in preserving a natural alpine lake, Blue Lake, which fills the basin in a Pleistocene glacial cirque.

Alpine lakes are found at high altitudes and are fed by mountain runoff. Their water is usually clearer and colder than lakes at lower elevations—the low temperature means that algae and moss growth in the water is limited. Blue Lake is the only alpine lake in the region.

The feature is often called the Blue Lakes, even in official publications, because it's typically present as several smaller lakes that coalesce only at high water levels. The lake(s) are now preserved in the Pine Forest Range Wilderness, and there is a network of trails in the area. Much of the country is open enough to invite cross-country hiking as well.

Several small scenic reservoirs can be found in the immediate vicinity. All the bodies of water, including the Blue Lakes, are stocked with fish by the Nevada Department of Wildlife. The result is that the area gets more usage, due to anglers, than might be expected from its remote location and difficult access.