Beaverhead Mountains
{{Short description|Mountain range in the U.S. states of Montana and Idaho}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Beaverhead Mountains
| native_name =
| other_name =
| etymology =
| photo = Beaverhead Mountains.jpg
| photo_caption = Beaverhead Range including Ajax Peak, Copperhead Peak, Monument Peak, and Center Mountain. Viewed from the Salmon River Range above Carmen, ID.
| photo_size =
| country = United States
| subdivision1_type = States
| subdivision1 = {{enum|Montana|Idaho}}
| subdivision2_type = Region
| parent = Bitterroot Range
| borders_on = {{enum|Bitterroot Mountains|Centennial Mountains|Pioneer Mountains}}
| highest = Scott Peak
| elevation_ft = 11393
| coordinates = {{coord|44|21|14|N|112|49|17|W|type:mountain|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| range_coordinates =
| length_mi =
| length_orientation =
| width_mi =
| width_orientation =
| area_mi2 = 4532
| geology =
| orogeny =
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| map = United States
| map_caption =
}}
The Beaverhead Mountains, highest point Scott Peak, el. {{convert|11393|ft|m}}, are a mountain range straddling the Continental Divide in the U.S. states of Montana and Idaho.{{cite peakbagger|title=Beaverhead Mountains|rid=14314|accessdate=4 March 2007}} (See also the GNIS link here.{{cite gnis |id=377296 |name=Beaverhead Mountains }}) They are a sub-range of the Bitterroot Range, and divide Beaverhead County, Montana from Lemhi County, Idaho and Clark County, Idaho.
Geography
The Beaverheads encompass an area of {{convert|4532|sqmi|sqkm|0}}. They lie to the east of the Bitterroot Mountains, to the south-west of the Big Hole Basin and the Pioneer Mountains and to the west of the Centennial Mountains. Passes in the mountains include Lemhi Pass, Bannock Pass, Big Hole Pass, Big Hole Pass II, Junction Pass and Monida Pass. The Beaverheads are further subdivided into the West Big Hole Mountains, the Big Hole Divide, the Tendoy Mountains, the Italian Peaks, and the Garfield Peaks.
=Climate=
Homer Youngs Peak is a mountain in the West Big Hole roadless area.
{{Weather box
|location = Homer Youngs Peak (MT) 45.3088 N, 113.6757 W, Elevation: {{cvt|9977|ft}} (1991–2020 normals)
|single line = y
|Jan high F = 22.3
|Feb high F = 22.4
|Mar high F = 27.9
|Apr high F = 32.7
|May high F = 42.3
|Jun high F = 51.3
|Jul high F = 63.2
|Aug high F = 62.9
|Sep high F = 53.2
|Oct high F = 39.5
|Nov high F = 27.3
|Dec high F = 21.3
|Jan mean F = 15.2
|Feb mean F = 14.1
|Mar mean F = 18.2
|Apr mean F = 22.4
|May mean F = 31.2
|Jun mean F = 39.5
|Jul mean F = 49.7
|Aug mean F = 49.4
|Sep mean F = 41.0
|Oct mean F = 29.6
|Nov mean F = 19.9
|Dec mean F = 14.3
|Jan low F = 8.0
|Feb low F = 5.7
|Mar low F = 8.5
|Apr low F = 12.1
|May low F = 20.1
|Jun low F = 27.7
|Jul low F = 36.2
|Aug low F = 36.0
|Sep low F = 28.8
|Oct low F = 19.7
|Nov low F = 12.5
|Dec low F = 7.3
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 5.21
|Feb precipitation inch = 4.27
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.47
|Apr precipitation inch = 4.96
|May precipitation inch = 4.84
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.51
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.59
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.45
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.21
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.46
|Nov precipitation inch = 4.90
|Dec precipitation inch = 5.47
|source=PRISM Climate Group {{cite web
|url= http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/
|title= PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University
|publisher= PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University
|access-date= October 4, 2023
|quote= To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clicking Coordinates (under Location); copy Latitude and Longitude figures from top of table; click Zoom to location; click Precipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp; click 30-year normals, 1991-2020; click 800m; click Retrieve Time Series button.}}
}}
{{Weather box
|location = Darkhorse Lake, Montana, 1991–2020 normals: 8600ft (2621m)
|single line = Yes
|Jan high F = 25.4
|Feb high F = 27.1
|Mar high F = 33.6
|Apr high F = 39.6
|May high F = 48.5
|Jun high F = 55.5
|Jul high F = 65.8
|Aug high F = 64.8
|Sep high F = 54.8
|Oct high F = 41.5
|Nov high F = 30.2
|Dec high F = 24.0
|year high F =
|Jan mean F = 19.4
|Feb mean F = 19.8
|Mar mean F = 25.0
|Apr mean F = 30.0
|May mean F = 38.6
|Jun mean F = 45.3
|Jul mean F = 54.5
|Aug mean F = 53.8
|Sep mean F = 45.7
|Oct mean F = 34.1
|Nov mean F = 24.1
|Dec mean F = 18.2
|year mean F =
|Jan low F = 13.5
|Feb low F = 12.5
|Mar low F = 16.4
|Apr low F = 20.4
|May low F = 28.6
|Jun low F = 35.2
|Jul low F = 43.2
|Aug low F = 42.8
|Sep low F = 36.5
|Oct low F = 26.8
|Nov low F = 17.9
|Dec low F = 12.3
|year low F =
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 5.20
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.92
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.25
|Apr precipitation inch = 4.78
|May precipitation inch = 4.56
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.41
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.53
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.42
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.20
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.33
|Nov precipitation inch = 4.75
|Dec precipitation inch = 5.16
|year precipitation inch =
{{cite web
|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = xmACIS2
|access-date = October 16, 2023
}}
|source 2 = NOAA (Precipitation)
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USS0013D19S&format=pdf
|title= Darkhorse Lake, Montana 1991-2020 Monthly Normals
|access-date = October 16, 2023
}}
}}
Etymology
The mountains take their name from Beaverhead Rock, to the north of the mountains. Major summits in the Beaverheads include Garfield Mountain (10,961 ft) and Eighteenmile Peak (11,141 ft).
Roadless areas
The Beaverheads contain two large roadless areas, one predominantly in Montana and the other predominantly in Idaho.
=West Big Hole=
The West Big Hole roadless area is mostly in Montana and is about 215,000 acres in size.{{cite book|last=Wolke|first=Howie|title=The Big Outside|year=1992|publisher=Harmony Books|location=New York, NY|isbn=0-517-58737-8|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bigoutsidedescri00fore/page/103 103, 126]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/bigoutsidedescri00fore/page/103}} It includes parts of the Beaverhead National Forest in Montana and the Salmon National Forest in Idaho, and ranges in elevation from 4,500 feet on the Salmon River in Idaho to 10,620 feet at Homer Youngs Peak in Montana. Rugged peaks, semiarid foothills on the Idaho side, and extensive conifer forests on the Montana side provide habitat for a large elk herd that winters in Idaho and summers in Montana. The Montana side drains into the Big Hole River, a blue-ribbon trout stream. Marshy glacial valleys on the Montana portion constitute some of the best moose habitat in the state. Other wildlife includes black bear, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, lynx, marten, and deer.
=Idaho roadless area=
The other large roadless area is mainly in Idaho and is centered on the Italian Peaks portion of the range. This area is about 360,000 acres in size and contains portions of the Beaverhead, Salmon, and Targhee National Forests. Scott Peak, el. 11,393 feet, the highest point in the Beaverheads, is in this roadless area.{{cite book|title=Montana Atlas & Gazetteer|year=2004|publisher=DeLorme|location=Yarmouth, ME|isbn=0-89933-339-7|pages=20, section D4}} This area is predominantly semiarid sagebrush grassland with pockets of coniferous forest, large areas of quaking aspen, and alpine peaks. Wildlife includes pronghorn, black bear, golden eagle, elk, and mule deer.
These two roadless areas, along with the Centennial Mountains to the east and other roadless areas along the Continental Divide to the west, are important biological connectors allowing wildlife to migrate and disperse between two large wildland complexes: The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and Central Idaho Wilderness Ecosystem.
See also
Notes
{{Reflist}}
{{Montana}}
{{Mountains of Idaho}}
{{Idaho}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Mountain ranges of Montana
Category:Mountain ranges of Idaho
Category:Landforms of Beaverhead County, Montana
Category:Landforms of Lemhi County, Idaho
Category:Landforms of Clark County, Idaho