Smoky Mountains (Idaho)

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Smoky Mountains
Baldmountainid.jpg
Bald Mountain in the Smoky Mountains
Highest point
Peak Saviers Peak
Elevation 10,441 ft (3,182 m)
Coordinates 43°49′19″N114°42′47″W / 43.821944°N 114.713056°W / 43.821944; -114.713056
Dimensions
Length45 mi (72 km)N/S
Width39 mi (63 km)E/W
Area877 sq mi (2,270 km2)
Geography
Country United States
State Idaho
Parent range Rocky Mountains

The Smoky Mountains are part of the Rocky Mountains and located on the west side of the Wood River Valley near Sun Valley, Idaho, in the Western United States. The range is within Sawtooth National Forest, while part of it is within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. [1] The highest point in the range is Saviers Peak at 10,441 ft (3,182 m). [2]

Contents

The Smoky Mountains area is closely surrounded by other mountain ranges including the Sawtooth Mountains to the northwest, Boulder Mountains to the north, Pioneer Mountains to the east, and Soldier Mountains to the south. The Smoky Mountains are located within the watersheds of the Big Wood, Salmon, and Boise Rivers. The mountains are most easily accessed from Idaho State Highway 75, although many unimproved and improved dirt roads, including National Forest road 227, enter and cross the mountains.

The Smoky Mountains were named from the frequent forest fires in the mountains. In 2007 the Castle Rock Fire burned 48,000 acres (19,000 ha) of the Smoky Mountains near Ketchum. [3] [4]

Peaks

Peaks of the Smoky Mountains
Mountain Peak Elevation Prominence Isolation Location
Saviers Peak 10,440 ft
3182 m
1,759 ft
536 m
6.86 mi
11.04 km
43°49′19″N114°42′47″W / 43.822013°N 114.713114°W / 43.822013; -114.713114 (Saviers Peak)
Camas County Highpoint 10,338 ft
3151 m
240 ft
73 m
0.59 mi
0.95 km
43°48′53″N114°43′10″W / 43.814796°N 114.719438°W / 43.814796; -114.719438 (Camas County Highpoint)
Norton Peak 10,335 ft
3150 m
1,253 ft
382 m
4.92 mi
7.91 km
43°45′43″N114°39′12″W / 43.762049°N 114.653375°W / 43.762049; -114.653375 (Norton Peak)
Bromaghin Peak 10,226 ft
3117 m
187 ft
57 m
0.63 mi
1.01 km
43°49′48″N114°43′08″W / 43.830098°N 114.718877°W / 43.830098; -114.718877 (Bromaghin Peak)
Baker Peak 10,174 ft
3101 m
1,074 ft
327 m
6.5 mi
10.46 km
43°40′12″N114°40′47″W / 43.66990°N 114.67980°W / 43.66990; -114.67980 (Baker Peak)
Prairie Creek Peak 10,138 ft
3090 m
259 ft
79 m
0.84 mi
1.35 km
43°44′38″N114°40′12″W / 43.74390°N 114.67000°W / 43.74390; -114.67000 (Prairie Creek Peak)
Titus Peak 10,112 ft
3082 m
250 ft
76 m
1 mi
1.61 km
43°50′11″N114°42′41″W / 43.83630°N 114.71130°W / 43.83630; -114.71130 (Titus Peak)
Backdrop Peak 10,098 ft
3078 m
639 ft
195 m
1.36 mi
2.19 km
43°41′21″N114°41′09″W / 43.68930°N 114.68570°W / 43.68930; -114.68570 (Backdrop Peak)
Big Peak 10,013 ft
3052 m
987 ft
301 m
2.45 mi
3.94 km
43°40′07″N114°43′43″W / 43.66873°N 114.72870°W / 43.66873; -114.72870 (Big Peak)
Lower Titus Peak 10,007 ft
3050 m
225 ft
69 m
1.54 mi
2.48 km
43°50′38″N114°43′03″W / 43.84400°N 114.71760°W / 43.84400; -114.71760 (Lower Titus Peak)
Paradise Peak 9,797 ft
2986 m
817 ft
249 m
5.53 mi
8.9 km
43°44′19″N114°50′57″W / 43.738513°N 114.849235°W / 43.738513; -114.849235 (Paradise Peak)
Bear Peak 9,524 ft
2903 m
505 ft
154 m
1.38 mi
2.22 km
43°40′32″N114°35′19″W / 43.67560°N 114.58860°W / 43.67560; -114.58860 (Bear Peak)
Dollarhide Mountain 9,301 ft
2835 m
481 ft
147 m
1.11 mi
1.79 km
43°36′33″N114°40′54″W / 43.60910°N 114.68170°W / 43.60910; -114.68170 (Dollarhide Mountain)
Bald Mountain 9,150 ft
2789 m
1,533 ft
467 m
6.72 mi
10.81 km
43°39′18″N114°24′30″W / 43.65500°N 114.40830°W / 43.65500; -114.40830 (Bald Mountain)
Buttercup Mountain 9,078 ft
2767 m
580 ft
177 m
2.42 mi
3.89 km
43°30′58″N114°34′34″W / 43.51600°N 114.57600°W / 43.51600; -114.57600 (Buttercup Mountain)
Skillern Peak 8,878 ft
2706 m
374 ft
114 m
1.37 mi
2.2 km
43°41′15″N114°48′57″W / 43.687402°N 114.815900°W / 43.687402; -114.815900 (Skillern Peak)
Kelly Mountain 8,825 ft
2690 m
1,446 ft
441 m
5.77 mi
9.29 km
43°29′35″N114°27′58″W / 43.49300°N 114.46600°W / 43.49300; -114.46600 (Kelly Mountain)
Griffin Butte 8,412 ft
2564 m
871 ft
265 m
3.22 mi
5.18 km
43°43′48″N114°25′08″W / 43.73000°N 114.41900°W / 43.73000; -114.41900 (Griffin Butte)
Mahoney Butte 7,904 ft
2409 m
484 ft
148 m
1.77 mi
2.85 km
43°35′49″N114°27′11″W / 43.59700°N 114.45300°W / 43.59700; -114.45300 (Mahoney Butte)
Carbonate Mountain 6,713 ft
2046 m
294 ft
90 m
1.21 mi
1.95 km
43°18′36″N114°12′00″W / 43.31000°N 114.20000°W / 43.31000; -114.20000 (Carbonate Mountain)

Lakes

Named lakes of the Smoky Mountains
Lake Elevation Max. length Max. width Location Primary Outflow
Baker Lake 2,685 m (8,809 ft)280 m (920 ft)150 m (490 ft) 43°41′26″N114°40′32″W / 43.690651°N 114.675674°W / 43.690651; -114.675674 (Baker Lake) Baker Creek
Big Lost Lake 2,797 m (9,177 ft)295 m (968 ft)210 m (690 ft) 43°44′38″N114°39′44″W / 43.743924°N 114.662344°W / 43.743924; -114.662344 (Big Lost Lake) Norton Creek
Dollar Lake 1,815 m (5,955 ft)053 m (174 ft)046 m (151 ft) 43°41′18″N114°25′07″W / 43.688218°N 114.418695°W / 43.688218; -114.418695 (Dollar Lake) Warm Springs Creek
Little Lost Lake 2,768 m (9,081 ft)075 m (246 ft)028 m (92 ft) 43°44′12″N114°39′37″W / 43.736715°N 114.660383°W / 43.736715; -114.660383 (Little Lost Lake) Norton Creek
Lower Norton Lake 2,737 m (8,980 ft)190 m (620 ft)106 m (348 ft) 43°44′56″N114°39′15″W / 43.748834°N 114.654185°W / 43.748834; -114.654185 (Lower Norton Lake) Norton Creek
Mill Lake 2,510 m (8,230 ft)320 m (1,050 ft)257 m (843 ft) 43°46′45″N114°38′23″W / 43.779064°N 114.639653°W / 43.779064; -114.639653 (Mill Lake) Mill Creek
Miner Lake 2,678 m (8,786 ft)390 m (1,280 ft)240 m (790 ft) 43°45′33″N114°39′55″W / 43.759270°N 114.665195°W / 43.759270; -114.665195 (Miner Lake) Prairie Creek
Paradise Lake 2,741 m (8,993 ft)177 m (581 ft)084 m (276 ft) 43°44′00″N114°50′46″W / 43.733329°N 114.846167°W / 43.733329; -114.846167 (Paradise Lake) Paradise Creek
Penny Lake 1,810 m (5,940 ft)072 m (236 ft)041 m (135 ft) 43°41′10″N114°25′08″W / 43.686078°N 114.418867°W / 43.686078; -114.418867 (Penny Lake) Warm Springs Creek
Smoky Lake 2,755 m (9,039 ft)100 m (330 ft)095 m (312 ft) 43°44′22″N114°39′34″W / 43.739392°N 114.659457°W / 43.739392; -114.659457 (Smoky Lake) Norton Creek
Snowslide Lake 2,670 m (8,760 ft)102 m (335 ft)060 m (200 ft) 43°44′19″N114°49′31″W / 43.738611°N 114.825412°W / 43.738611; -114.825412 (Snowslide Lake) Snowslide Creek
Titus Lake 2,719 m (8,921 ft)105 m (344 ft)093 m (305 ft) 43°51′18″N114°42′38″W / 43.855021°N 114.710435°W / 43.855021; -114.710435 (Titus Lake) Titus Creek
Upper Norton Lake 2,780 m (9,120 ft)279 m (915 ft)106 m (348 ft) 43°45′07″N114°39′22″W / 43.751912°N 114.656145°W / 43.751912; -114.656145 (Upper Norton Lake) Norton Creek

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sawtooth National Recreation Area</span> National recreation area in Idaho, US

The Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) is a national recreation area in central Idaho, United States that is managed as part of Sawtooth National Forest. The recreation area, established on August 22, 1972, is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, and includes the Sawtooth, Hemingway–Boulders, and Cecil D. Andrus–White Clouds wilderness areas. Activities within the 730,864-acre (2,957.70 km2) recreation area include hiking, backpacking, White water rafting, camping, rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, fishing, and hunting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sawtooth Range (Idaho)</span> Mountain range in Idaho, United States

The Sawtooth Range is a mountain range of the Rocky Mountains in central Idaho, United States, reaching a maximum elevation of 10,751 feet (3,277 m) at the summit of Thompson Peak. It encompasses an area of 678 square miles (1,756 km2) spanning parts of Custer, Boise, Blaine, and Elmore counties, and is bordered to the east by the Sawtooth Valley. Much of the mountain range is within the Sawtooth Wilderness, part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Sawtooth National Forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Wood River</span> River in Idaho, United States

The Big Wood River is a 137-mile-long (220 km) river in central Idaho, United States, that is a tributary of the Malad River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Cloud Mountains</span> Mountain in the state of Idaho

The White Cloud Mountains are part of the Rocky Mountains of the western United States, located in central Idaho, southeast of Stanley in Custer County. The range is located within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) and partially within the Cecil D. Andrus–White Clouds Wilderness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle Peak (Idaho)</span> Mountain in the state of Idaho

Castle Peak is a mountain in the western United States, the highest peak in the White Cloud Mountains of central Idaho and the Idaho Batholith. Located in Custer County, it is the 25th highest peak in the state, and the ninth most prominent.

The Trail Creek Lakes are a series of five small alpine glacial lakes in Boise County, Idaho, United States, located in the Sawtooth Mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The lakes are on Trail Creek, which is a tributary of the South Fork Payette River. The lakes can be accessed from Sawtooth National Forest trail 453.

The Trailer Lakes are a series of three small alpine glacial lakes in Boise County, Idaho, United States, located in the Sawtooth Mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The Trailer Lakes are in the Trail Creek watershed, which is a tributary of the South Fork Payette River. The lakes are most easily accessed from Sawtooth National Forest trail 453.

The McGown Lakes are a series of seven small alpine glacial lakes in Custer County, Idaho, United States, located in the Sawtooth Mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The lakes are in the Stanley Lake Creek watershed and can be accessed from Sawtooth National Forest trail 640.

The Stevens Lakes are a chain of small alpine lakes in Custer County, Idaho, United States, located in the Sawtooth Mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. There are no trails leading to the lakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bench Lakes (Idaho)</span> Alpine lakes in the state of Idaho

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saddleback Lakes</span> Alpine lakes in the state of Idaho

The Saddleback Lakes are a chain of small alpine glacial lakes in Custer County, Idaho, United States, located in the Sawtooth Mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The lakes are drained by an unnamed tributary of Redfish Lake Creek, which flows into the Salmon River. There are no trails that lead to the lakes, although they are most easily accessed from Sawtooth National Forest trail 154.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twin Lakes (Idaho)</span> Lake in Blaine County, Idaho

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boulder Mountains (Idaho)</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soldier Mountains</span> Mountain range in the state of Idaho, US

The Soldier Mountains are a mountain range in the U.S. state of Idaho, spanning northern Camas and eastern Elmore counties. The highest point in the range is Smoky Dome at 10,095 feet (3,077 m), and the range is bounded on the west and north by the South Fork Boise River. The mountains are located within Sawtooth National Forest north of Fairfield, Idaho. The Soldier Mountain Ski Area is located within the range to the east of Smoky Dome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chamberlain Basin</span> Drainage basin in Idaho, United States

Chamberlain Basin is a drainage basin that contains a chain of ten alpine and glacial Paternoster lakes in Custer County, Idaho, United States, located in the White Cloud Mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Lakes are located on the upper portion of Chamberlain Creek in the Germania Creek watershed, a tributary of the East Fork Salmon River. Castle Peak, the highest summit in the White Cloud Mountains, rises to the east and north of Chamberlain Basin. Sawtooth National Forest trail 047 crosses the basin, although most people begin their trips at the Fourth of July Creek trailhead. Individual lakes do not have official names and are listed from lowest to highest elevation.

The Champion Lakes are a chain of seven alpine and glacial Paternoster lakes in Custer County, Idaho, United States, located in the White Cloud Mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The lakes are located on the upper portion of the Champion Creek watershed, a tributary of the Salmon River. The lakes have not been individually named, and lakes 5 and 6 are often dry. Sawtooth National Forest trail 105 leads to the lakes. In 2005 the Valley Road Forest Fire burned part of the Champion Lakes Basin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albion Mountains</span> Mountain range in Idaho, USA

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. The highest point in the range is Cache Peak at 10,339 feet (3,151 m), and the range is a part of the Basin and Range Province. Most of the mountains are part of the Albion Division of the Minidoka Ranger District of Sawtooth National Forest.

References

  1. Sawtooth National Forest (Map) (2012 ed.). 1:126,720. Sawtooth National Forest, U.S. Forest Service.
  2. "Smoky Mountains". SummitPost.org. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  3. Kauffman, Jason (31 August 2007). "Castle Rock Fire battle ends where it began". Idaho Mountain Express. Ketchum, ID. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  4. Wutz, Katherine (August 27, 2010). "Still scarred – but new life emerges". Idaho Mountain Express. Ketchum, ID. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2012.