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 mountain in the Spanish language. 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

The mountain ranges below are listed by name, county, coordinates, and average elevation as recorded the by 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

Further reading

Notes

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