Cloud Peak Wilderness | |
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![]() Cloud Peak Wilderness, as viewed from Freezout, off Cold Springs Road. | |
Location | Johnson / Big Horn / Sheridan counties, Wyoming, USA |
Nearest city | Sheridan, WY |
Coordinates | 44°23′55″N107°12′07″W / 44.39861°N 107.20194°W |
Area | 189,039 acres (765.01 km2) |
Established | 1984 |
Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
The Cloud Peak Wilderness is located in north central Wyoming in the United States. Entirely within Bighorn National Forest, [2] the wilderness was established in 1984 in an effort to preserve the wildest section of the Bighorn Mountains. The wilderness has the highest peaks in the Bighorn Mountains including Cloud Peak and Black Tooth Mountain, as well as Cloud Peak Glacier, the only remaining active glacier in the Bighorn Mountains. The Cloud Peak Wilderness is 189,039 acres (765.01 km2).
U.S. Wilderness Areas do not allow motorized or mechanized vehicles, including bicycles. Although camping and fishing are allowed with proper permit, no roads or buildings are constructed and there is also no logging or mining, in compliance with the 1964 Wilderness Act. Wilderness areas within National Forests and Bureau of Land Management areas also allow hunting in season.
Climate data for Shell Creek, Wyoming, 1991–2020 normals: 9580ft (2920m) | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 22.0 (−5.6) | 22.9 (−5.1) | 30.8 (−0.7) | 37.9 (3.3) | 47.1 (8.4) | 56.4 (13.6) | 65.9 (18.8) | 63.9 (17.7) | 52.8 (11.6) | 38.6 (3.7) | 27.9 (−2.3) | 21.2 (−6.0) | 40.6 (4.8) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 14.8 (−9.6) | 14.8 (−9.6) | 21.6 (−5.8) | 27.9 (−2.3) | 37.2 (2.9) | 45.7 (7.6) | 54.1 (12.3) | 52.6 (11.4) | 43.4 (6.3) | 30.9 (−0.6) | 20.5 (−6.4) | 14.2 (−9.9) | 31.5 (−0.3) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 7.5 (−13.6) | 6.7 (−14.1) | 12.4 (−10.9) | 17.9 (−7.8) | 27.4 (−2.6) | 35.0 (1.7) | 42.3 (5.7) | 41.3 (5.2) | 33.9 (1.1) | 23.2 (−4.9) | 13.1 (−10.5) | 7.1 (−13.8) | 22.3 (−5.4) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.21 (56) | 2.01 (51) | 2.39 (61) | 3.21 (82) | 3.55 (90) | 3.26 (83) | 1.52 (39) | 1.16 (29) | 2.31 (59) | 2.57 (65) | 2.15 (55) | 1.77 (45) | 28.11 (715) |
Source 1: XMACIS2 [3] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: NOAA (Precipitation) [4] |
Climate data for Cloud Peak Wilderness | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 35.6 (2.0) | 40.4 (4.7) | 49.7 (9.8) | 59.2 (15.1) | 69.2 (20.7) | 79.0 (26.1) | 86.7 (30.4) | 85.6 (29.8) | 75.1 (23.9) | 62.3 (16.8) | 45.2 (7.3) | 37.4 (3.0) | 60.5 (15.8) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 24.7 (−4.1) | 29.4 (−1.4) | 38.1 (3.4) | 46.7 (8.2) | 56.1 (13.4) | 65.5 (18.6) | 72.6 (22.6) | 71.7 (22.1) | 61.6 (16.4) | 50.0 (10.0) | 35.4 (1.9) | 26.9 (−2.8) | 48.2 (9.0) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 13.7 (−10.2) | 18.4 (−7.6) | 26.5 (−3.1) | 34.2 (1.2) | 43.0 (6.1) | 51.9 (11.1) | 58.4 (14.7) | 57.9 (14.4) | 48.0 (8.9) | 37.6 (3.1) | 25.5 (−3.6) | 16.4 (−8.7) | 36.0 (2.2) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.5 (13) | 0.3 (7.6) | 0.9 (23) | 1.3 (33) | 2.3 (58) | 1.8 (46) | 0.9 (23) | 0.6 (15) | 1.4 (36) | 1.2 (30) | 0.7 (18) | 0.6 (15) | 12.5 (317.6) |
Source: climbingweather.com [5] |
Cloud Peak is the highest peak within the Bighorn Mountains in the U.S. state of Wyoming.
Absaroka–Beartooth Wilderness was created from existing National Forest lands in 1978 and is located in Montana and Wyoming, United States. The wilderness encompasses two distinct mountain ranges: the Beartooth and Absaroka ranges. These ranges are completely distinct geologically speaking, with the Absaroka composed primarily of volcanic and metamorphic rock, while the Beartooth is made up almost entirely of granitic rocks. The Absaroka are noted for their dark and craggy appearance, lush and heavily forested valleys, and abundant wildlife. The highest peak in the range, in Wyoming, is Francs Peak at 13,153 feet (4,009 m). The Beartooth is more alpine, with huge treeless plateaus and the highest peak of Montana. The wilderness has more than 120 peaks over 10,000 feet (3,000 m) and 28 peaks over 12,000 feet (3,700 m), including Montana's highest, Granite Peak at 12,799 feet (3,901 m). The wilderness is integral to the 20-million-acre (81,000 km2) Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and borders Yellowstone National Park.
The Bridger Wilderness is located in Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming, United States. Originally established in 1931 as a primitive area, 428,169-acre (1,732.74 km2) region was redesignated as a wilderness in 1964 and expanded to the current size in 1984. The wilderness lies on the west side of the Continental Divide in the Wind River Range and contains Gannett Peak; at 13,809 feet (4,209 m) it is the tallest mountain in Wyoming. The wilderness is a part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
The Great Bear Wilderness is located in northern Montana, United States, within Flathead National Forest Created by an act of Congress in 1978, the wilderness comprises 286,700 acres (1,160 km2) and borders the Bob Marshall Wilderness on the north. The Great Bear and Bob Marshall Wildernesses, along with the Scapegoat Wilderness which borders the Bob Marshall to the south, collectively form the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, which is over 1.5 million acres (6,100 km2) of almost untouched landscape. Glacier National Park is separated from the Great Bear Wilderness by U.S. Highway 2.
The Gros Ventre Wilderness is located in Bridger-Teton National Forest in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Most of the Gros Ventre Range is located within the wilderness.
The Washakie Wilderness is located in Shoshone National Forest in the U.S. state of Wyoming.
The North Absaroka Wilderness is located in Shoshone National Forest in the U.S. state of Wyoming. It lies adjacent to the eastern border of Yellowstone National Park.
The Fitzpatrick Wilderness is located in Shoshone National Forest in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The wilderness was originally known as the Glacier Primitive Area, but was redesignated a wilderness in 1976.
The Huston Park Wilderness is located in south central Wyoming in the United States. Entirely within Medicine Bow National Forest, the wilderness was designated in 1984 to preserve the northernmost section of the central Rocky Mountains, an area of high mountain peaks and coniferous forest.
The Platte River Wilderness is primarily located in south central Wyoming, with a small section extending into Colorado in the United States. Located entirely within Medicine Bow - Routt National Forest, the wilderness was created in 1984 to protect the forestlands adjacent to the North Platte River. These forestlands were almost entirely consumed by the Mullen Fire in 2020.
The Cabinet Mountains Wilderness, created by an act of Congress in 1964, is located in the U.S. state of Montana. Protecting the wildest portions of the Cabinet Mountains and an integral part of Kootenai National Forest and Kaniksu National Forest, the wilderness had enjoyed more limited protection since 1935 as a Primitive Area.
The Black Elk Wilderness is a nature preserve located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. The wilderness was designated by an act of Congress in 1980. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Black Elk Wilderness is part of Black Hills National Forest. This 13,426 acre (54 km2) region is considered sacred to Native Americans, especially the Sioux and is named after Black Elk, an Oglala Sioux holy man. Mount Rushmore National Memorial is immediately to the north and much of the rest of the wilderness is bordered by other protected land under the jurisdiction of state and federal agencies.
Cloud Peak Glacier is in the Bighorn Mountains in the northcentral section of the U.S. state of Wyoming. Centered within the Cloud Peak Wilderness of Bighorn National Forest, Cloud Peak Glacier is the only active glacier in the Bighorn Mountains. The glacier is in a deep cirque immediately northeast of Cloud Peak, the highest peak in the Bighorn Mountains. Cloud Peak Glacier lies at approximately 11,800 feet (3,600 m) above sea level.
Black Tooth Mountain is located in the Bighorn Mountains in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The peak is the second highest in the range after Cloud Peak, which is only 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the south, and the summit is located in the Cloud Peak Wilderness of Bighorn National Forest. The sharp dark profile of the mountain resembles a dark tooth or fang, hence the name. Because of the steep terrain, Black Tooth Mountain is one of the hardest mountains to climb in the Bighorns. Many of the trails up the mountain are unmarked which adds to the difficulty of reaching the summit. Mount Woolsey is an adjacent summit only .20 mi (0.32 km) to the southeast. Another high peak of the Bighorns known as Hallelujah Peak is situated along a knife-like ridge known as an arête .64 mi (1.03 km) to the northeast. Several tiny remnant glaciers can be found on the north slopes of Black Tooth Mountain.
Mount Woolsey is located in the Bighorn Mountains in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The peak is the third highest in the range after Cloud Peak, which is only 1.3 miles (2.1 km) to the south, and the summit is located in the Cloud Peak Wilderness of Bighorn National Forest. Black Tooth Mountain, the second highest mountain in the Bighorns, is an adjacent summit only .20 mi (0.32 km) to the northwest. Mount Woolsey is on a knife-like ridge known as an arête and is connected to both Black Tooth Mountain and Cloud Peak by this ridge. Along the arête is another mountain peak known as The Innominate. A small glacier lies below the arête to the southeast of Mount Woolsey.
Hallelujah Peak, also known as Peak 12590, is located in the Bighorn Mountains in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The peak is the fifth-highest in the range and it is in the Cloud Peak Wilderness of Bighorn National Forest. Hallelujah Peak is 0.64 miles (1.03 km) northeast of Black Tooth Mountain and connected to that peak by a knife-like ridge known as an arête.
The Innominate is a mountain peak located in the Bighorn Mountains in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Situated along a knife-like ridge known as an arête, the summit is located in the Cloud Peak Wilderness of Bighorn National Forest. The slightly taller Mount Woolsey is .30 miles (0.48 km) to the northwest. A small glacier lies below the arête to the east.
Bighorn Peak is located in the Bighorn Mountains in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The peak is the seventh highest in the range and it is in the Cloud Peak Wilderness of Bighorn National Forest. Bighorn Peak is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of Darton Peak.
Darton Peak is located in the Bighorn Mountains in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The peak is the eighth-highest in the range and it is in the Cloud Peak Wilderness of Bighorn National Forest. Darton Peak is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of Bighorn Peak and 4.5 mi (7.2 km) southeast of Mather Peaks.
Mather Peaks is located in the Bighorn Mountains in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The peak is the sixth highest in the range and it is in the Cloud Peak Wilderness of Bighorn National Forest. Mather Peaks is 4.5 miles (7.2 km) northwest of Darton Peak and 3.2 mi (5.1 km) south of Bomber Mountain.