These mountains are a serious obstacle to travel between the more level terrain of the Great Salt Lake Desert and the Humboldt River Valley. The First transcontinental railroad was routed around the north end of the range, on its way to Promontory Summit in Utah.
These mountains hinder travel between the more level terrain of the Great Salt Lake Desert and the Humboldt River Valley. The initial transcontinental railroad avoided the northern part of the mountain range, continuing towards Promontory Summit in Utah.