Chief Joseph Pass
Encyclopedia
Chief Joseph Pass is a mountain pass
on the continental divide of the Rocky Mountains
in the northwestern United States
, between the states of Idaho
and Montana
. At an elevation
of 7264 feet (2214 m) above sea level in the Bitterroot Mountains
, it is traversed by Montana State Highway 43.
West of the pass, the highway quickly connects with US-93 at Lost Trail Pass
, about a half-mile (1 km) west of the Divide. Between the passes the Montana highway is actually in Idaho, for about a mile (1.6 km).
This is the final pass on the continental divide between Idaho & Montana. Less than a mile north, the Continental Divide heads eastward into Montana, following the Ravalli
-Beaverhead
county line towards Butte
. East of Chief Joseph Pass, Highway 43 descends to Wisdom
, 26 miles (42 km) away; just over halfway is the historic Big Hole National Battlefield
of 1877.
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
on the continental divide of the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
in the northwestern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, between the states of Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
and Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. At an elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of 7264 feet (2214 m) above sea level in the Bitterroot Mountains
Bitterroot Mountains
The Northern and Central Bitterroot Range, collectively the Bitterroot Mountains, is the largest portion of the Bitterroot Range, part of the Rocky Mountains, located in the panhandle of Idaho and westernmost Montana in the Western United States...
, it is traversed by Montana State Highway 43.
West of the pass, the highway quickly connects with US-93 at Lost Trail Pass
Lost Trail Pass
Lost Trail Pass is a mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of the United States, on the border of Idaho and Montana in the Bitterroot Mountains. The pass is at an elevation of 7014 feet above sea level and is traversed by U.S. Highway 93...
, about a half-mile (1 km) west of the Divide. Between the passes the Montana highway is actually in Idaho, for about a mile (1.6 km).
This is the final pass on the continental divide between Idaho & Montana. Less than a mile north, the Continental Divide heads eastward into Montana, following the Ravalli
Ravalli County, Montana
-National protected areas:*Bitterroot National Forest *Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge*Lolo National Forest -Demographics:As of the census of 2000 , there were 36,070 people, 14,289 households, and 10,188 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile...
-Beaverhead
Beaverhead County, Montana
-National protected areas:* Beaverhead National Forest * Big Hole National Battlefield* Nez Perce National Historical Park * Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge-History:...
county line towards Butte
Butte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
. East of Chief Joseph Pass, Highway 43 descends to Wisdom
Wisdom, Montana
Wisdom is a census-designated place in Beaverhead County, Montana, United States. The population was 114 at the 2000 census. The ZIP Code of the area is 59761.-History:...
, 26 miles (42 km) away; just over halfway is the historic Big Hole National Battlefield
Big Hole National Battlefield
Big Hole National Battlefield is a memorial located in Montana, United States. The Nez Percé, under Chief Joseph Big Hole National Battlefield is a memorial located in Montana, United States. The Nez Percé, under Chief Joseph Big Hole National Battlefield is a memorial located in Montana, United...
of 1877.
- Chief Joseph Pass is named after Chief JosephChief JosephHin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, popularly known as Chief Joseph, or Young Joseph was the leader of the Wal-lam-wat-kain band of Nez Perce during General Oliver O. Howard's attempt to forcibly remove his band and the other "non-treaty" Nez Perce to a reservation in Idaho...
of the Wallowa band of the Nez Perce tribe.
- Lewis and Clark traveled in this vicinity in early September 1805, then descended north into the Bitterroot ValleyBitterroot ValleyThe Bitterroot Valley is located in southwestern Montana in the northwestern United States. It extends over 100 miles from remote Horse Creek Pass north to a point near the city of Missoula...
of present-day Ravalli CountyRavalli County, Montana-National protected areas:*Bitterroot National Forest *Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge*Lolo National Forest -Demographics:As of the census of 2000 , there were 36,070 people, 14,289 households, and 10,188 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile...
, MontanaMontanaMontana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. They later re-entered Idaho at Lolo PassLolo Pass (Idaho-Montana)Lolo Pass, elevation , is a mountain pass in the United States, in the Bitterroot Range of the northern Rocky Mountains. It is on the border between the states of Montana and Idaho, approximately west-southwest of Missoula, Montana....
, in a very early snowstorm of mid-September.
- The Lost Trail Powder MountainLost Trail Powder MountainLost Trail Powder Mountain is an alpine ski area located along the Montana-Idaho border at the junction of US Highway 93 and Montana State Highway 43 at Lost Trail Pass, about one mile northwest of Chief Joseph Pass, which is on the Continental Divide....
ski area is about a mile (1.6 km) west, at Lost Trail PassLost Trail PassLost Trail Pass is a mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of the United States, on the border of Idaho and Montana in the Bitterroot Mountains. The pass is at an elevation of 7014 feet above sea level and is traversed by U.S. Highway 93...
on US-93.
External links
- Idaho Transportation Dept. - webcam of nearby Lost Trail Pass - US-93
- Lost Trail.com - Lost Trail Powder Mountain ski area - official site