Mount Washburn
Encyclopedia
Mount Washburn el. 10223 feet (3,116 m) is a prominent mountain peak in the Washburn Range in Yellowstone National Park
, Wyoming. The peak was named in 1870 to honor Henry D. Washburn
, leader of the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition. The Washburn Range is one of two mountains ranges completely within the boundaries of Yellowstone.
ascended the peak they named Mount Washburn after their expedition leader, Henry D. Washburn
. A portion of Lt.Gustavus Cheyney Doane
's description is quoted below:
Mount Washburn became a very popular tourist attraction early in the park's history. Many tourist accounts tell of a trip to the summit of Mount Washburn. In 1879, Mrs. Elizabeth D. Wickes of Boulder, Montana
, in a party of eight men and five ladies, spent six weeks touring the park. Her account of Mount Washburn follows:
In 1914, two years before automobiles were allowed in Yellowstone, noted author Elbert Hubbard
and his wife Alice spent two weeks touring Yellowstone. In a short article written after the trip--A Little Journey to the Yellowstone Hubbard described his visit to Mount Washburn.
is also visible. The mountain trails are some of the most frequented in the park, so summer hikes can be crowded. With an altitude gain of 1,393 feet (424 m) in 3 miles (4.8 km), the hike from Dunraven Pass
to the summit is moderate. Another trail which climbs 1,491 feet (454 m) in only 2.25 miles (3.6 km) starts from the Chittenden parking area.
One of three active fire lookout tower
s in Yellowstone is located on the summit. There is a small visitor center and restrooms on the first floor, an observation deck on the second, and a ranger's residence on the top floor (closed to the public).
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
, Wyoming. The peak was named in 1870 to honor Henry D. Washburn
Henry D. Washburn
Henry Dana Washburn was a U.S. Representative from Indiana and a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
, leader of the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition. The Washburn Range is one of two mountains ranges completely within the boundaries of Yellowstone.
History
On August 29, 1870, members the Washburn-Langford-Doane ExpeditionWashburn-Langford-Doane Expedition
The Washburn Expedition of 1870, explored the region of northwestern Wyoming that a couple years later became Yellowstone National Park. Led by Henry Washburn, Nathaniel P. Langford and under U.S. Army escort led by Lt. Gustavus C...
ascended the peak they named Mount Washburn after their expedition leader, Henry D. Washburn
Henry D. Washburn
Henry Dana Washburn was a U.S. Representative from Indiana and a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
. A portion of Lt.Gustavus Cheyney Doane
Gustavus Cheyney Doane
Gustavus Cheyney Doane was a U.S. Army Cavalry Captain, explorer, inventor and Civil War soldier who played a prominent role in the exploration of Yellowstone as a member of the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition.-Early life:...
's description is quoted below:
Mount Washburn became a very popular tourist attraction early in the park's history. Many tourist accounts tell of a trip to the summit of Mount Washburn. In 1879, Mrs. Elizabeth D. Wickes of Boulder, Montana
Boulder, Montana
Boulder is a town in and the county seat of Jefferson County, Montana, United States. It is on the north bank of the Boulder River between Butte and Helena, slightly east of the Continental Divide, at the intersection of Interstate 15 and Montana Highway 69. The population was 1,300 at...
, in a party of eight men and five ladies, spent six weeks touring the park. Her account of Mount Washburn follows:
In 1914, two years before automobiles were allowed in Yellowstone, noted author Elbert Hubbard
Elbert Hubbard
Elbert Green Hubbard was an American writer, publisher, artist, and philosopher. Raised in Hudson, Illinois, he met early success as a traveling salesman with the Larkin soap company. Today Hubbard is mostly known as the founder of the Roycroft artisan community in East Aurora, New York, an...
and his wife Alice spent two weeks touring Yellowstone. In a short article written after the trip--A Little Journey to the Yellowstone Hubbard described his visit to Mount Washburn.
Mount Washburn trails
Views from the summit include much of the northern section of Yellowstone National Park and on clear days, the Teton RangeTeton Range
The Teton Range is a mountain range of the Rocky Mountains in North America. A north-south range, it is on the Wyoming side of the state's border with Idaho, just south of Yellowstone National Park. Most of the range is in Grand Teton National Park....
is also visible. The mountain trails are some of the most frequented in the park, so summer hikes can be crowded. With an altitude gain of 1,393 feet (424 m) in 3 miles (4.8 km), the hike from Dunraven Pass
Dunraven Pass
Dunraven Pass is a mountain pass on the Grand Loop Road between Tower and Canyon in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.-History:In 1874, just two years after the park's creation, the Earl of Dunraven, a titled Irish Peer made a visit to Yellowstone in conjunction with a hunting expedition to the...
to the summit is moderate. Another trail which climbs 1,491 feet (454 m) in only 2.25 miles (3.6 km) starts from the Chittenden parking area.
One of three active fire lookout tower
Fire lookout tower
A fire lookout tower, fire tower or lookout tower, provides housing and protection for a person known as a "fire lookout" whose duty it is to search for wildfires in the wilderness...
s in Yellowstone is located on the summit. There is a small visitor center and restrooms on the first floor, an observation deck on the second, and a ranger's residence on the top floor (closed to the public).
External links
- Mount Washburn Webcam - A webcam from the fire lookout tower atop Mount Washburn.