Snowcrest Range Explained

Snowcrest Range
Country:United States
State:Montana
Highest:Sunset Peak (Snowcrest Range)
Elevation Ft:10581
Coordinates:44.8428°N -112.0947°W
Map:USA Montana

The Snowcrest Range, el. 10581feet,[1] is a small mountain range southeast of Dillon, Montana in Madison County, Montana. The Snowcrest and adjacent Gravelly Range is one of Montana's most popular hunting grounds.[2] The two mountain ranges are home to nearly 10,000 elk and a growing population of grizzly bears.[2]

The Snowcrest Range is extremely wild, with about 166,000 acres of roadless country, including 97,000 acres of roadless National Forest, as well as adjacent private and state lands.[3]

Wolke characterizes the Snowcrest thus: "Spectacular grassland foothills and slopes rise through a thin band of Limber Pine, Douglas-Fir, Aspen, spruce, and fir to alpine summits . . . [t]his is high, dry, east-slope country, and the rich habitat mosaic is superb for Elk, Bighorn, Moose, Mule Deer, Red Tailed Hawk, Swainson's Hawk and Golden Eagle."[3] The Snowcrest Range receives very little use outside of hunting season.[3]

Sunset Peak, el. 10,581, is the highest point in the Snowcrest Range.[3] (Although Wolke lists Sunset's elevation at 10,573, Peakbagger.com lists its elevation as 10,581).[4]

See also

Notes and References

  1. 790786 . Snowcrest Range .
  2. News: Backus. Perry. Up Your Game. Missoulian. November 6, 2011.
  3. Book: Wolke, Howie. The Big Outside. 1992. Harmony Books. New York, NY. 0-517-58737-8. 131. registration.
  4. Web site: Peakbagger.com. Sunset Peak, Montana. 8 November 2011.