List of mountain ranges in Montana

Northwest expanse of Absaroka Range

This is a list of mountain ranges in the state of Montana. Montana is the fourth largest state in the United States and is well known for its mountains. The name "Montana" means "mountainous" in Latin. Representative James Mitchell Ashley (R-Ohio), suggested the name when legislation organizing the territory was passed by the United States Congress in 1864. Ashley noted that a mining camp in the Colorado Territory had already used the name, and Congress agreed to use the name for the new territory.[1]

According to the United States Board on Geographic Names, there are at least 100 named mountain ranges and sub-ranges in Montana. However, mountain ranges have no official boundaries, and there is no official list of mountain ranges in the state.[2]

List of mountain ranges

[edit]

The mountain ranges below are listed by name, county, coordinates, and average elevation as recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey. Sub-ranges are indented below the name of the primary range. Some of these ranges extend into Wyoming, Idaho, and Canada.

Bridger Range from Bozeman, Montana
Northern expanse of Crazy Mountains as seen from Castle Mountain foothills.
Judith Mountains in winter

See also

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
  • Graetz, Rick (2003). Montana's Mountain Ranges-Montana Geographic Series #1. Helena, Montana: Montana Magazine. ISBN 1-891152-09-2.
  • Anderson, Jonathan (1984). Beartooth Country: Montana's Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains-Montana Geographic Series #7. Helena, Montana: Montana Magazine. ISBN 0-938314-13-0.
  • Melroy, Mark (1986). Islands on the Prairie-The Mountain Ranges of Eastern Montana-Montana Geographic Series #13. Helena, Montana: Montana Magazine. ISBN 0-938314-24-6.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Aarstad, Rich; Arguimbau, Ellen; Baumler, Ellen; Porsild, Charlene L.; and Shovers, Brian. Montana Place Names From Alzada to Zortman. Helena, Mont.: Montana Historical Society Press 2009, p. xiii.
  2. ^ "Mountain Ranges of Montana." Map #08prvt0087. Natural Resource Information System. Montana State Library. September, 14, 2007. Archived 2013-05-15 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 2010-07-25.
  3. ^ "Absaroka Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  4. ^ "Anaconda Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  5. ^ "Badger Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  6. ^ "Bears Paw Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  7. ^ "Beartooth Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  8. ^ "Beaverhead Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  9. ^ "Big Belt Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  10. ^ "Big Horn Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  11. ^ "Big Sheep Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  12. ^ "Big Snowy Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  13. ^ "Bitterroot Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  14. ^ "Bitterroot Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  15. ^ "Grave Creek Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  16. ^ "Black Reef". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  17. ^ "Boulder Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  18. ^ "Boulder Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  19. ^ "Bridger Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  20. ^ "Bull Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  21. ^ "Butcher Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  22. ^ "Cabinet Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  23. ^ "Calderwood Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  24. ^ "Castle Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  25. ^ "Cayuse Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  26. ^ "Centennial Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  27. ^ "Eastern Centennial Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  28. ^ "Western Centennial Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  29. ^ "Chalk Buttes". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  30. ^ "Coeur d'Alene Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  31. ^ "Crazy Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  32. ^ "Dahl Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  33. ^ "Dickie Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  34. ^ "Dry Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  35. ^ "Ekalaka Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  36. ^ "Elkhorn Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  37. ^ "Flathead Alps". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  38. ^ "Flathead Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  39. ^ "Flattops". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  40. ^ "Flint Creek Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  41. ^ "Franklin Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  42. ^ "Gallatin Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  43. ^ "Gallatin Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  44. ^ "Garnet Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  45. ^ "Granite Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  46. ^ "Gravelly Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  47. ^ "Greenhorn Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  48. ^ "Henrys Lake Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  49. ^ "Highland Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  50. ^ "Highwood Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  51. ^ "Honeycomb Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  52. ^ "Horn Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  53. ^ "Horseshoe Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  54. ^ "Humbolt Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  55. ^ "John Long Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  56. ^ "Judith Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  57. ^ "Larb Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  58. ^ "Lewis Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  59. ^ "Lewis and Clark Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  60. ^ "Limestone Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  61. ^ "Little Belt Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  62. ^ "Little Rocky Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  63. ^ "Little Snowy Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  64. ^ "Little Wolf Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  65. ^ "Livingston Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  66. ^ "Long Pines". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  67. ^ "Madison Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  68. ^ "Spanish Peaks". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  69. ^ "The Wedge". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  70. ^ "Milk River Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  71. ^ "Mission Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  72. ^ "North Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  73. ^ "North Moccasin Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  74. ^ "Opheim Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  75. ^ "Papoose Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  76. ^ "Park Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  77. ^ "Pike Creek Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  78. ^ "Piney Buttes". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  79. ^ "Pioneer Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  80. ^ "Pryor Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  81. ^ "Purcell Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  82. ^ "McLeod Peak, Montana". Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  83. ^ "Rocky Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  84. ^ "Ruby Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  85. ^ "Salish Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  86. ^ "Sapphire Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  87. ^ "Sawtooth Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  88. ^ "Smoky Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  89. ^ "Snowcrest Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  90. ^ "South Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  91. ^ "South Moccasin Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  92. ^ "Spear Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  93. ^ "Spokane Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  94. ^ "Swan Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  95. ^ "Sweet Grass Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  96. ^ "Taylor Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  97. ^ "Tendoy Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  98. ^ "The Pine Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  99. ^ "The Pinnacles". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  100. ^ "Thoeny Hills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  101. ^ "Three Buttes". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  102. ^ "Tobacco Root Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  103. ^ "Whitefish Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  104. ^ "Wilson Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  105. ^ "Wolf Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.