Albion Mountains

{{Short description|Mountain range in Idaho, USA}}

{{Infobox mountain

| name=Albion Mountains

| map=

| photo= Heyburn Idaho Looking South.JPG

| photo_caption= Albion Mountains from Heyburn

| photo_alt=A photo of the Albion Mountains viewed from Heyburn in winter

| country=United States

| state=Idaho

| border=

| area_mi2=1082

| length_mi=49

| length_orientation=N/S

| width_mi=36

| width_orientation=E/W

| highest=Cache Peak

| elevation_ft=10339

| coordinates = {{coord|42.185606|-113.661156|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

}}

The Albion Mountains are a mountain range in the U.S. states of Idaho (~99%) and Utah (~1%), spanning Cassia County, Idaho and barely reaching into Box Elder County, Utah.{{cite gnis|id=397367|title=Albion Mountains}} The highest point in the range is Cache Peak at {{convert|10339|ft|m}}, and the range is a part of the Basin and Range Province.{{cite gnis|id=378685|title=Cache Peak}}{{cite web|url=http://www.peakbagger.com/range.aspx?rid=13317|title=Albion Range |publisher=PeakBagger|access-date=2012-05-10}}{{cite web|url=http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=3438|title=Cache Peak, Idaho |publisher=PeakBagger|access-date=2012-05-10}} Most of the mountains are part of the Albion Division of the Minidoka Ranger District of Sawtooth National Forest.

The Raft River Mountains are southeast of the range, while the Black Pine Mountains are to the east and the Snake River Plain to the north. The streams in the mountains are in the Snake River watershed, which is a tributary of the Columbia River. The towns of Almo, Elba, and Malta are east of the range, Albion, Burley, and Heyburn are to the north, and Oakley is to the west. There are six alpine lakes in the Albion Mountains. Lake Cleveland is north of Mount Harrison, a small unnamed lake is southeast of Mount Harrison, and the four Independence Lakes are north of Cache Peak.{{cite map |publisher=Sawtooth National Forest, U.S. Forest Service |title=Sawtooth National Forest |edition=1998}}

Several roads and trails are located in the mountains, which provide for a variety of activities including hiking, off-road vehicle riding, fishing, and hunting.{{cite web|url=http://www.summitpost.org/albion-range/277435|title=Albion Range |publisher=Summitpost|access-date=2012-05-10}} A paved road ascends to the summit of Mount Harrison. Most of the peaks can be accessed relatively easily via class one or two routes. City of Rocks National Reserve and Castle Rocks State Park are located in the southern portion of the range and is a popular destination for rock climbing.{{Cite web |title=City of Rocks National Preserve |url=https://www.nps.gov/ciro/ |publisher=NPS.gov |access-date=2012-05-10}} The Pomerelle ski area is located in the range and has two chairlifts.{{cite web|url=http://www.pomerelle.com/|title=Pomerelle Mountain Resort |publisher=Pomerelle Mountain Resort|access-date=2012-05-10}}

Idaho's rarest plant, Christ's Indian Paintbrush is a plant endemic to the upper slopes of Mount Harrison, being found nowhere else in the world.[http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/collection/cpc_viewprofile.asp?CPCNum=804 Castilleja christii.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026055914/http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/Collection/CPC_ViewProfile.asp?CPCNum=804 |date=2011-10-26 }} Center for Plant Conservation. Retrieved 10-23-2011. Davis' springparsley is a plant that is also endemic to the Albion Mountains.{{cite journal |last=Hartman |first=Ronald L. |title=A new species of Cymopterus (Umbelliferae) from southern Idaho |journal=Brittonia |volume=37 |issue=1 |pages=102–105 |publisher=New York Botanical Garden |date=January–March 1985 |issn=0007-196X |jstor=2806254 |doi=10.2307/2806254|s2cid=84433973 }}{{citation|last=Moseley |first=Robert K. |title=The status and distribution of Christ's Indian paintbrush (Castilleja christii) and Davis' wavewing (Cymopterus davisii) in the Albion Mountains, Sawtooth National Forest and City of Rocks National Reserve |publisher=Idaho Department of Fish and Game |date=October 1993 |url=http://fishgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/idnhp/cdc_pdf/moser93f.pdf |access-date=22 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203032301/http://fishgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/idnhp/cdc_pdf/moser93f.pdf |archive-date=3 December 2013 }} The South Hills crossbill is a bird believed to be a separate species than the Common crossbill, and it is endemic to the Albion Mountains and the South Hills due to ecological speciation.{{Cite journal|doi=10.1086/511961|author=Smith J.W.; Benkman C.W.|title=A coevolutionary arms race causes ecological speciation in crossbills|journal=American Naturalist|year=2007|volume=169|issue=4|pages=455–65|pmid=17273981|s2cid=23415653 }}

In February 1945 nine people died on Mount Harrison when a B-24 Liberator Army Bomber crashed during a training mission in dense fog.{{cite web|url=http://www.untraveledroad.com/USA/Idaho/Cassia/Albion-Mountains/157SSign.htm|title=The Plane Crash of 1945 |publisher=Untraveled Road|access-date=2012-05-10}}{{cite web |url=https://www.gendisasters.com/idaho/12588/mount-harrison-id-bomber-crashes-feb-1945 |title=Mount Harrison, ID Bomber Crashes, Feb 1945 |publisher=GenDisasters |access-date=2012-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808042754/http://www3.gendisasters.com/idaho/12588/mount-harrison-id-bomber-crashes-feb-1945 |archive-date=2014-08-08 |url-status=live }}