Salmon River Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Salmon River Mountains are a major mountain range
covering most of the central part of the U.S. state
of Idaho
. The range is over 120 miles (193.1 km) long and its boundaries are usually defined by the Salmon River
and its large tributary forks. Part of the central Rocky Mountains
, the entire range lies west of the Continental Divide of the Americas and drains to the Snake River
. The highest peak is White Mountain, at 10442 feet (3,182.7 m) above sea level
. There are five peaks over 10000 feet (3,048 m) high, and there are three major subranges defined by other forks of the Salmon River: the West, Central and East Salmon River Mountains.
The mountains are an extensive block-shaped massif
in central Idaho, with their western boundary defined by the Little Salmon River and the northern and eastern boundary marked by the main stem Salmon. It is a block-shaped region 102 miles (164.2 km) north-south and 122 miles (196.3 km) east-west, covering nearly 8900 mi2. The West Salmon River Mountains lie between the Little and South Forks of the Salmon, the Central range is between the South and Middle Forks, and the East range is defined by the mountains east of the Middle Fork of the Salmon. Although the northwestern corner of the range is only about 30 miles (48.3 km) southeast of the river port of Lewiston
, the Salmon River Mountains are often said to be one of the remotest areas in the contiguous United States
.
The southeastern portion of the range is bounded by the White Knob Mountains, Pioneer Mountains
, Bould Mountains, and the basins of Marsh Creek, Valley Creek and Warm Spring Creek. The southwestern boundaries are formed by forks of the Payette River
, also a Snake River tributary. The height of the mountains gradually increases from west to east, sloping up towards the Continental Divide. The highest peak is West White Mountain in the eastern subrange, rising to 10442 feet (3,182.7 m). The ten highest peaks are all in the eastern subrange, while the highest peak in the central mountains is Big Baldy, at 9705 feet (2,958.1 m). The highest mountain in the western subrange is North Loon Mountain, at 9322 feet (2,841.3 m).
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
covering most of the central part of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
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....
. The range is over 120 miles (193.1 km) long and its boundaries are usually defined by the Salmon River
Salmon River (Idaho)
The Salmon River is located in Idaho in the northwestern United States. The Salmon is also known as The River of No Return. It flows for through central Idaho, draining and dropping more than between its headwaters, near Galena Summit above the Sawtooth Valley in the Sawtooth National...
and its large tributary forks. Part of the central 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...
, the entire range lies west of the Continental Divide of the Americas and drains to the Snake River
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
. The highest peak is White Mountain, at 10442 feet (3,182.7 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. There are five peaks over 10000 feet (3,048 m) high, and there are three major subranges defined by other forks of the Salmon River: the West, Central and East Salmon River Mountains.
The mountains are an extensive block-shaped massif
Massif
In geology, a massif is a section of a planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures. In the movement of the crust, a massif tends to retain its internal structure while being displaced as a whole...
in central Idaho, with their western boundary defined by the Little Salmon River and the northern and eastern boundary marked by the main stem Salmon. It is a block-shaped region 102 miles (164.2 km) north-south and 122 miles (196.3 km) east-west, covering nearly 8900 mi2. The West Salmon River Mountains lie between the Little and South Forks of the Salmon, the Central range is between the South and Middle Forks, and the East range is defined by the mountains east of the Middle Fork of the Salmon. Although the northwestern corner of the range is only about 30 miles (48.3 km) southeast of the river port of Lewiston
Lewiston, Idaho
Lewiston is a city in and also the county seat of Nez Perce County in the Pacific Northwest state of Idaho. It is the second-largest city in the northern Idaho region, behind Coeur d'Alene and ninth-largest in the state. Lewiston is the principal city of the Lewiston, ID - Clarkston, WA...
, the Salmon River Mountains are often said to be one of the remotest areas in the contiguous United States
Contiguous United States
The contiguous United States are the 48 U.S. states on the continent of North America that are south of Canada and north of Mexico, plus the District of Columbia....
.
The southeastern portion of the range is bounded by the White Knob Mountains, Pioneer Mountains
Pioneer Mountains (Idaho)
The Pioneer Mountains is a mountain range in the U.S. state of Idaho, spanning Blaine, Butte and Custer counties. The range is bounded on the west by the Big Wood River, Trail Creek and Summit Creek, and the North Fork Big Lost River, on the north and east by the East Fork Big Lost River, Left Fork...
, Bould Mountains, and the basins of Marsh Creek, Valley Creek and Warm Spring Creek. The southwestern boundaries are formed by forks of the Payette River
Payette River
The Payette River is an river in southwestern Idaho and is a major tributary of the Snake River.Its headwaters originate in the Sawtooth and Salmon River Mountains at elevations over...
, also a Snake River tributary. The height of the mountains gradually increases from west to east, sloping up towards the Continental Divide. The highest peak is West White Mountain in the eastern subrange, rising to 10442 feet (3,182.7 m). The ten highest peaks are all in the eastern subrange, while the highest peak in the central mountains is Big Baldy, at 9705 feet (2,958.1 m). The highest mountain in the western subrange is North Loon Mountain, at 9322 feet (2,841.3 m).