| Whitefish Range | |
| Whitefish-MacDonald Range | |
| Range | |
|
Whitefish Range from Whitefish, Montana
|
|
| Countries | United States, Canada |
|---|---|
| States | Montana, British Columbia |
| Borders on | North Fork Flathead River, Kootenay River |
| Cities | Columbia Falls, Montana, Eureka, Montana |
| Highest point | Mount Doupe |
| - elevation | 8,740 ft (2,664 m) |
| Length | 76 mi (122 km), North-south |
| Width | 58 mi (93 km), East-west |
| Area | 1,726 sq mi (4,470 km2) |
The Whitefish Range is a mountain range stretching north-south from British Columbia, Canada to Montana, United States. It is about 76 miles (122 km) long and 58 miles (93 km) wide. Water flowing from its east side drains down the North Fork Flathead River and its west side drains into the Whitefish River, both part of the Columbia River drainage basin.[1]
The mountain range is located north of Columbia Falls north of Flathead Lake, and east of Eureka. The Flathead River separates it from the Swan Range, which would otherwise continue the Whitefish Range southwards. The Whitefish Range, however, is not particularly high. The highest peaks in the U.S. are Nasukoin Mountain, 8,086 feet (2,465 m), and Lake Mountain, 7,814 feet (2,382 m).[1] In Canada, the highest peak is Mount Doupe, 8,740 feet (2,660 m).[2]
The Whitefish Range is located west of Glacier National Park and consists mostly of wilderness. It supports a variety of conifers including western red cedar and Douglas fir, and large mammals including black bears, grizzly bears, mountain lions, and other species of fish, small mammals, and amphibians.[2]
Part of the U.S. portion of the range is protected in the 34,000-acre Ten Lakes Wilderness Study Area on the Kootenai National Forest, which contains more than 89 miles of trails, many mountain lakes, alpine peaks, and excellent views into Canada.[3]