Sapphire Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Sapphire Mountains are a range of mountains located in southwestern Montana
in the northwestern United States
. From a point near the Clark Fork River and the city of Missoula, they run in a southerly direction for a distance of approximately 60 miles (100 km), making up much of the border between Ravalli County
(to the west) and Granite County
. To the west is the Bitterroot Valley
, and to the east is Rock Creek. The southern end of the range meets the larger Anaconda Range
at West Pintler Peak.
The northern segment of the range is part of the Lolo National Forest
, while the south is part of the Deerlodge National Forest. The range also includes part of the Threemile Wildlife Management Area, the Welcome Creek Wilderness
Area, the Skalkaho Game Preserve, and the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness Area
. The range is bisected by just two roads, Route 38 at 7250 foot (2210 m) Skalkaho Pass and FS80 at Lutz Creek.
Besides West Pintler Peak (considered part of the Anaconda Range), the highest point in the Sapphire Mountains is Kent Peak, located at 46°03.79'N and 113°47.61'W at an elevation of 8999 feet (2743 m).
The Sapphires contain three large National Forest roadless areas, in addition to the officially protected Welcome Creek Wilderness
. The northernmost, about 77,000 acres in size, is centered on Quigg Peak, el. 8419 ft. This area is characterized by thousands of acres of sliderock or talus slopes, and extensive Douglas-fir
and lodgepole pine
forests rising to open, glaciated ridges. Bighorn sheep and mountain goats utilize this area. U.S. Senator Jon Tester
, (D. Mont.) has proposed about 8,275 acres of the Quigg Peak roadless area be designated wilderness in his proposed wilderness bill, S.B. 1470, the Senate Jobs and Recreation Act of 2009.
The second roadless area, about 103,000 acres in area and completely unprotected, is called the Stony Mountain Roadless Area. The Skalkaho Game Preserve is within this roadless area. A feature of this roadless area is Fuse Lake, which contains rare arctic grayling
.
The southernmost roadless area is about 117,000 acres in size and is connected to the designated Anaconda-Pintlar Wilderness
, in the Anaconda Range
, for a total roadless area of 368,000 acres. Wolke describes this part of the Sapphires as "lower rolling mountains, mostly under 9,000 feet and heavily forested, except for parts of the rocky crest." About 98,000 acres of this southernmost roadless area in the Sapphires are protected as a Wilderness Study Area
.
Sapphire
s of gem quality are found in the region. They were first found in this region at Rock Creek
near Philipsburg
in 1892. Rock Creek, also known as Gem Mountain, has been the most productive site in Montana for sapphires by far, even more so than Yogo Gulch, producing over 190 million carats of sapphires. Garnet
s are also found here.
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
in the northwestern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. From a point near the Clark Fork River and the city of Missoula, they run in a southerly direction for a distance of approximately 60 miles (100 km), making up much of the border between Ravalli County
Ravalli County, Montana
-National protected areas:*Bitterroot National Forest *Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge*Lolo National Forest -Demographics:As of the census of 2000 , there were 36,070 people, 14,289 households, and 10,188 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile...
(to the west) and Granite County
Granite County, Montana
-National protected areas:*Deerlodge National Forest *Lolo National Forest -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,830 people, 1,200 households, and 784 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 2,074 housing units at an average...
. To the west is the Bitterroot Valley
Bitterroot Valley
The Bitterroot Valley is located in southwestern Montana in the northwestern United States. It extends over 100 miles from remote Horse Creek Pass north to a point near the city of Missoula...
, and to the east is Rock Creek. The southern end of the range meets the larger Anaconda Range
Anaconda Range
The Anaconda Range, informally known as the "Pintlars", is a group of high mountains located in southwestern Montana, in the northwestern United States. The mountain range takes its name from the nearby town of Anaconda, founded by Marcus Daly in 1883...
at West Pintler Peak.
The northern segment of the range is part of the Lolo National Forest
Lolo National Forest
Lolo National Forest is located in western Montana, United States with the western boundary being the state of Idaho. The forest spans 2 million acres and includes four wilderness areas; the Scapegoat and the Bob Marshall Wilderness are partially within the forest while the Welcome Creek and...
, while the south is part of the Deerlodge National Forest. The range also includes part of the Threemile Wildlife Management Area, the Welcome Creek Wilderness
Welcome Creek Wilderness
The Welcome Creek Wilderness is located in the U.S. state of Montana. Created by an act of Congress in 1978, the wilderness is within Lolo National Forest, and protects the northern portion of the Sapphire Mountains....
Area, the Skalkaho Game Preserve, and the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness Area
Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness
The Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness is located in southwestern Montana, in the northwestern United States. It runs for 40 miles along both sides of the crest of the Anaconda Range, covering almost 250 square miles . To the north are the Sapphire Mountains, and to the south is the Big Hole Valley...
. The range is bisected by just two roads, Route 38 at 7250 foot (2210 m) Skalkaho Pass and FS80 at Lutz Creek.
Besides West Pintler Peak (considered part of the Anaconda Range), the highest point in the Sapphire Mountains is Kent Peak, located at 46°03.79'N and 113°47.61'W at an elevation of 8999 feet (2743 m).
The Sapphires contain three large National Forest roadless areas, in addition to the officially protected Welcome Creek Wilderness
Welcome Creek Wilderness
The Welcome Creek Wilderness is located in the U.S. state of Montana. Created by an act of Congress in 1978, the wilderness is within Lolo National Forest, and protects the northern portion of the Sapphire Mountains....
. The northernmost, about 77,000 acres in size, is centered on Quigg Peak, el. 8419 ft. This area is characterized by thousands of acres of sliderock or talus slopes, and extensive Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir is one of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other common names include Douglas tree, and Oregon pine. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia...
and lodgepole pine
Lodgepole Pine
Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta, also known as Shore Pine, is a common tree in western North America. Like all pines, it is evergreen.-Subspecies:...
forests rising to open, glaciated ridges. Bighorn sheep and mountain goats utilize this area. U.S. Senator Jon Tester
Jon Tester
Jon Tester is the junior U.S. Senator for Montana, serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served as President of the Montana Senate.-Early life, education, and farming career:...
, (D. Mont.) has proposed about 8,275 acres of the Quigg Peak roadless area be designated wilderness in his proposed wilderness bill, S.B. 1470, the Senate Jobs and Recreation Act of 2009.
The second roadless area, about 103,000 acres in area and completely unprotected, is called the Stony Mountain Roadless Area. The Skalkaho Game Preserve is within this roadless area. A feature of this roadless area is Fuse Lake, which contains rare arctic grayling
Arctic grayling
Arctic grayling is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. It comprises five subspecies native to the Nearctic and Palearctic ecozones. T. a. arcticus is widespread throughout the Arctic and Pacific drainages in Canada, Alaska, and Siberia, as well as the upper...
.
The southernmost roadless area is about 117,000 acres in size and is connected to the designated Anaconda-Pintlar Wilderness
Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness
The Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness is located in southwestern Montana, in the northwestern United States. It runs for 40 miles along both sides of the crest of the Anaconda Range, covering almost 250 square miles . To the north are the Sapphire Mountains, and to the south is the Big Hole Valley...
, in the Anaconda Range
Anaconda Range
The Anaconda Range, informally known as the "Pintlars", is a group of high mountains located in southwestern Montana, in the northwestern United States. The mountain range takes its name from the nearby town of Anaconda, founded by Marcus Daly in 1883...
, for a total roadless area of 368,000 acres. Wolke describes this part of the Sapphires as "lower rolling mountains, mostly under 9,000 feet and heavily forested, except for parts of the rocky crest." About 98,000 acres of this southernmost roadless area in the Sapphires are protected as a Wilderness Study Area
Wilderness study area
A wilderness study area contains undeveloped United States federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, and managed to preserve its natural conditions...
.
Sapphire
Sapphire
Sapphire is a gemstone variety of the mineral corundum, an aluminium oxide , when it is a color other than red or dark pink; in which case the gem would instead be called a ruby, considered to be a different gemstone. Trace amounts of other elements such as iron, titanium, or chromium can give...
s of gem quality are found in the region. They were first found in this region at Rock Creek
Rock Creek (Montana)
Rock Creek is a river in Missoula and Granite County, Montana. Rock Creek is a tributary of the Clark Fork river. The river's headwaters are in Lolo National Forest near Phillipsburg, Montana. The river roughly parallels the Sapphire Mountains and enters the Clark Fork near Clinton, Montana...
near Philipsburg
Philipsburg, Montana
Philipsburg is a town in and the county seat of Granite County, Montana, United States. The population was 914 at the 2000 census. The town was named after the famous mining engineer Philip Deidesheimer, who designed and supervised the construction of the ore smelter around which the town...
in 1892. Rock Creek, also known as Gem Mountain, has been the most productive site in Montana for sapphires by far, even more so than Yogo Gulch, producing over 190 million carats of sapphires. Garnet
Garnet
The garnet group includes a group of minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives. The name "garnet" may come from either the Middle English word gernet meaning 'dark red', or the Latin granatus , possibly a reference to the Punica granatum , a plant with red seeds...
s are also found here.