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| | Scroll down the page for photos of the areas. The Calico Complex is consists of these Herd Management Areas: Functionally (in terms of the horses) but not administratively, the Calico Complex also could also be considered to include certain herd areas managed by California and the US Fish & Wildlife Service. These include High Rock, Bitner, Fox Hog, Wall Canyon, Nut Mountain, and the Sheldon Range. As you can see from the map below (click to enlarge) they are all connected. 
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Much of the Calico Complex of herd areas is part of National Wilderness system, including the Calico Mountains Wilderness, the Black Rock Desert Wilderness, HIgh Rock Canyon Wilderness, and Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area. Both Wilderness and non-Wilderness land in this area is managed by the Bureau of Land Management under the "Multiple Uses" concept, which includes cattle, wildlife, recreation, energy, mineral, and recreational uses as well as wild horses. Few if any wild burros remain in the area.The area is named "Calico" for the colorful rock formations. The habitat is mostly high desert sagebrush, with riparian areas having willows, grasses, and other riparian species. Wild horses share the habitat with wildlife and cattle grazing, as well as mineral, energy, and recreational interests. 
The highest peak is Mount Donnelly, 8533 feet. About halfway up Mt. Donnelley is McCarty Springs, a fairly large and vibrant riparian area that is important to both wildlife (including wild horses) and domestic grazing.
The old Leadville Mine is an historic ruin which can be seen from Leadville Canyon Road.
At the border between Granite Range and Calico Mountains, this handsome pair of horses takes an afternoon siesta.
I photographed this colorful band in June of 2006, along the gravel road that goes along the border between the East side of the Calico Mountains, and the Black Rock and Warm Springs HMA's, on its way up to Summit Lake. I believe these horses would be considered Warm Springs, although it might still have been in the Black Rock HMA.
Close-up pic of the same band - nice conformation on all of them! This area has some Cavalry Re-Mount influence.
Headed toward the Calico Mtns out of Gerlach. The road to Soldier Meadows Resort is gravel, but maintained in excellent condition. After that, it becomes a rocky, rutted jeep trail.
The range is healthy and lush in this area. No, the horses are not starving!
The Black Rock Desert in June, 2006
Open range in the Black Rock-Warm Springs area on the East side of the Calico Mountains.
A small jeep trail takes off the left here, to go to the High Rock HMA. We saw the wild horse band near here, on the left.
The Summit Lake are required by law to let people go through on the road, but they clearly don't want visitors!
 since 8-24-06
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