Sacajawea Peak

At {{convert|9843|ft|m}}, Sacajawea Peak is the highest point in the Wallowa Mountains, and the 6th highest peak in Oregon. Matterhorn, another peak in the Wallowa Mountains, is about the same height at Sacajawea Peak, and some sources claim it is actually slightly higher.{{cite book |last=Barstad |first=Fred |title=Oregon's Eagle Cap Wilderness |year=2002 |publisher=Globe Pequot |isbn=978-0-7627-2243-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CvctPUoQzG4C |page=298}}

Sacajawea's prominence of {{convert|6377|ft}}, makes it one of the most topographically prominent peaks in the United States. It is ranked 18th among peaks in the 48 contiguous states.{{cite peakbagger |lid=41204 |name=USA Lower 48 Top 100 Peaks by Prominence |access-date=2012-04-01}} It is the 2nd most prominent peak in Oregon, after Mount Hood.{{cite peakbagger |lid=41309 |name=Oregon Peaks with 2000 feet of Prominence |access-date=2009-06-14}}

The nearest peak higher than Sacajawea is Pinyon Peak, in the Rocky Mountains of Idaho, {{convert|126|mi|km|abbr=on}} to the east. This makes Sacajawea Peak the 25th most topographically isolated peak of the United States.{{cite peakbagger |lid=31205 |name=Most Isolated Peaks of the U.S. States |access-date=2009-06-14}}

Sacajawea Peak is the highest summit in the Eagle Cap Wilderness and the Wallowa–Whitman National Forest. It is just northwest of Hurwal Divide, {{convert|1|mi}} north of Matterhorn, {{convert|1.4|mi}} northwest of Ice Lake, and {{convert|8|mi}} south of Joseph.

Sacajawea Peak is connected by high ridges to Matterhorn. Both are connected to Hurwal Divide, a high ridge extending east and north from Sacajawea and Matterhorn. A high pass connects Hurwal Divide to Chief Joseph Mountain, to the north. These mountains and high ridges form a unit separated from the rest of the Wallowas by river valleys, with the West Fork Wallowa River flows north along the east edge and Hurricane Creek along the west. Numerous tributaries flow from the high mountains to these rivers. Sacajawea Peak is closer to Hurricane Creek, and several tributary streams rise on the slopes of Sacajawea, such as Thorp Creek. To the west of Sacajawea Peak, across the valley of Hurricane Creek, is the high ridge of Hurricane Divide, which separates Hurricane Creek from Lostine River. South of the Sacajawea and Matterhorn high lands is Lake Basin, in which the Lostine River, West Fork Wallowa River, and Hurricane Creek originate among many small lakes. To the north and east of Sacajawea Peak and Chief Joseph Mountain the Wallowa Mountains come to an end at Wallowa Lake, just south of the town of Joseph. A road runs south from Joseph along the east side of Wallowa Lake and into the valley of the Wallowa River. A number of recreation opportunities are located there, south of Wallowa Lake, including Wallowa Lake State Park and the Wallowa Lake Tramway on Mount Howard.USGS topographic maps

{{Weather box|width=60%

|location = Sacajawea Peak 45.2435 N, 117.2904 W, Elevation: {{cvt|9222|ft}} (1991–2020 normals)

|single line = y

|Jan high F = 26.2

|Feb high F = 26.2

|Mar high F = 29.8

|Apr high F = 34.1

|May high F = 42.8

|Jun high F = 50.4

|Jul high F = 62.3

|Aug high F = 62.4

|Sep high F = 54.4

|Oct high F = 41.8

|Nov high F = 30.4

|Dec high F = 24.8

|Jan mean F = 18.9

|Feb mean F = 17.9

|Mar mean F = 20.3

|Apr mean F = 23.9

|May mean F = 32.1

|Jun mean F = 39.0

|Jul mean F = 49.2

|Aug mean F = 49.4

|Sep mean F = 42.3

|Oct mean F = 31.9

|Nov mean F = 22.9

|Dec mean F = 17.8

|Jan low F = 11.7

|Feb low F = 9.5

|Mar low F = 10.8

|Apr low F = 13.7

|May low F = 21.4

|Jun low F = 27.6

|Jul low F = 36.2

|Aug low F = 36.5

|Sep low F = 30.2

|Oct low F = 22.0

|Nov low F = 15.5

|Dec low F = 10.8

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 8.90

|Feb precipitation inch = 7.44

|Mar precipitation inch = 8.24

|Apr precipitation inch = 6.69

|May precipitation inch = 5.12

|Jun precipitation inch = 3.70

|Jul precipitation inch = 1.17

|Aug precipitation inch = 0.94

|Sep precipitation inch = 1.73

|Oct precipitation inch = 4.73

|Nov precipitation inch = 7.96

|Dec precipitation inch = 9.87

|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= September 28, 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.}}

}}

Sacajawea Peak is named for Sacagawea, the Shoshone woman who traveled with the Lewis and Clark Expedition. A proposal to change the name Sacajawea Peak to Sacagawea Peak was submitted in February 1998. In December 1999, the proposal was rejected by the United States Board on Geographic Names.

{{portal|Mountains}}

• List of Ultras of the United States

{{reflist|30em}}

{{commons category |Wallowa Mountains}}

• {{cite summitpost |id=151103 |name=Sacajawea Peak |accessdate=2011-05-07}}

{{US prominent}}

{{NA isolated}}

Category:Mountains of Oregon

Category:Landforms of Wallowa County, Oregon

Category:Wallowa–Whitman National Forest

Category:Sacagawea