This is a list of mountain ranges in the state of Montana . Montana is the fourth largest state in the United States and is well known for its mountains. The name "Montana" means "mountainous" in Latin . Representative James Mitchell Ashley (R -Ohio ), suggested the name when legislation organizing the territory was passed by the United States Congress in 1864. Ashley noted that a mining camp in the Colorado Territory had already used the name, and Congress agreed to use the name for the new territory.[1]
Northwest expanse of Absaroka Range
According to the United States Board on Geographic Names , there are at least 100 named mountain ranges and sub-ranges in Montana. However, mountain ranges have no official boundaries, and there is no official list of mountain ranges in the state.[2]
The mountain ranges below are listed by name, county, coordinates, and average elevation as recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey . Sub-ranges are indented below the name of the primary range. Some of these ranges extend into Wyoming , Idaho , and Canada .
Absaroka Range ; Park County, Montana ; 43°57′40″N 109°20′21″W ; 13,140 feet (4,010 m) [3]
Anaconda Range ; Deer Lodge County, Montana ; 45°58′52″N 113°26′32″W ; 10,197 feet (3,108 m) [4]
Badger Hills ; Big Horn County, Montana ; 44°58′41″N 106°40′42″W ; 4,655 feet (1,419 m) [5]
Bears Paw Mountains ; Blaine & Hill County, Montana ; 48°12′30″N 109°31′03″W ; 4,623 feet (1,409 m) [6]
Beartooth Mountains ; Park County, Montana ; 45°09′48″N 109°48′29″W ; 12,693 feet (3,869 m) [7]
Beaverhead Mountains ; Lemhi County, Idaho ; 44°21′17″N 112°49′21″W ; 11,352 feet (3,460 m) [8]
Big Belt Mountains Broadwater County, Montana ; 46°27′15″N 111°15′52″W ; 7,385 feet (2,251 m) [9]
Big Horn Mountains ; Big Horn County, Montana ; 45°15′02″N 107°56′02″W ; 4,734 feet (1,443 m) [10]
Big Sheep Mountains ; Dawson County, Montana ; 47°18′58″N 105°17′32″W ; 2,900 feet (880 m) [11]
Big Snowy Mountains ; Fergus County, Montana ; 46°42′30″N 109°13′28″W ; 6,673 feet (2,034 m) [12]
Bitterroot Range ; Clearwater County, Idaho ; 46°44′08″N 115°24′27″W ; 7,126 feet (2,172 m) [13]
Black Reef ; Lewis and Clark County, Montana ; 47°35′29″N 112°51′16″W ; 6,378 feet (1,944 m) [16]
Boulder Hills ; Jefferson County, Montana ; 46°19′28″N 112°04′16″W ; 5,768 feet (1,758 m) [17]
Boulder Mountains ; Deer Lodge County, Montana ; 46°33′00″N 112°21′03″W ; 6,096 feet (1,858 m) [18]
Bridger Range from Bozeman, Montana
Bridger Range ; Gallatin County, Montana ; 45°53′19″N 110°57′30″W ; 8,747 feet (2,666 m) [19]
Bull Mountains ; Musselshell County, Montana ; 46°20′00″N 108°15′03″W ; 3,845 feet (1,172 m) [20]
Butcher Hills ; Carter County, Montana ; 45°10′32″N 104°21′59″W ; 3,553 feet (1,083 m) [21]
Cabinet Mountains ; Sanders County, Montana ; 48°10′00″N 115°50′04″W ; 4,058 feet (1,237 m) [22]
Calderwood Hills ; Valley County, Montana ; 48°27′48″N 106°23′52″W ; 2,799 feet (853 m) [23]
Castle Mountains ; Meagher County, Montana ; 46°28′11″N 110°45′54″W ; 8,117 feet (2,474 m) [24]
Cayuse Hills ; Sweet Grass County, Montana ; 46°04′44″N 109°42′00″W ; 5,079 feet (1,548 m) [25]
Centennial Mountains ; Clark County, Idaho ; 44°33′44″N 111°30′17″W ; 10,177 feet (3,102 m) [26]
Chalk Buttes ; Carter County, Montana ; 45°44′03″N 104°41′11″W ; 4,134 feet (1,260 m) [29]
Northern expanse of Crazy Mountains as seen from Castle Mountain foothills.
Coeur d'Alene Mountains ; Sanders County, Montana ; 47°45′00″N 116°00′04″W ; 3,497 feet (1,066 m) [30]
Crazy Mountains ; Park County, Montana ; 46°10′00″N 110°30′03″W ; 11,214 feet (3,418 m) [31]
Dahl Hills ; Valley County, Montana ; 48°46′59″N 106°34′51″W ; 3,245 feet (989 m) [32]
Dickie Hills ; Silver Bow County, Montana ; 45°52′07″N 113°02′48″W ; 7,831 feet (2,387 m) [33]
Dry Range ; Meagher County, Montana ; 46°48′00″N 111°17′03″W ; 6,152 feet (1,875 m) [34]
Ekalaka Hills ; Carter County, Montana ; 45°52′36″N 104°28′18″W ; 3,720 feet (1,130 m) [35]
Elkhorn Mountains ; Jefferson County, Montana ; 46°28′50″N 111°52′34″W ; 4,944 feet (1,507 m) [36]
Flathead Alps ; Powell County, Montana ; 47°30′40″N 113°09′24″W ; 8,337 feet (2,541 m) [37]
Flathead Range ; Flathead County, Montana ; 48°16′00″N 113°44′03″W ; 6,102 feet (1,860 m) [38]
Flattops ; Carter County, Montana ; 45°19′00″N 104°41′23″W ; 3,835 feet (1,169 m) [39]
Flint Creek Range ; Granite County, Montana ; 46°22′00″N 113°06′33″W ; 6,542 feet (1,994 m) [40]
Franklin Hills ; Sweet Grass County, Montana ; 46°03′13″N 109°53′27″W ; 4,879 feet (1,487 m) [41]
Gallatin Range ; Gallatin County, Montana ; 45°18′49″N 111°04′44″W ; 9,737 feet (2,968 m) [42]
Gallatin Range ; Park County, Wyoming ; 44°55′00″N 110°53′03″W ; 9,003 feet (2,744 m) [43]
Garnet Range ; Powell County, Montana ; 46°43′18″N 112°57′33″W ; 6,014 feet (1,833 m) [44]
Granite Range ; Stillwater County, Montana ; 45°15′36″N 109°49′49″W ; 11,092 feet (3,381 m) [45]
Gravelly Range ; Madison County, Montana ; 45°05′21″N 111°51′25″W ; 8,258 feet (2,517 m) [46]
Greenhorn Range ; Madison County, Montana ; 45°06′32″N 111°58′05″W ; 8,622 feet (2,628 m) [47]
Henrys Lake Mountains ; Madison County, Montana ; 44°46′52″N 111°24′00″W ; 10,148 feet (3,093 m) [48]
Highland Mountains ; Madison County, Montana ; 45°43′34″N 112°28′44″W ; 9,081 feet (2,768 m) [49]
Highwood Mountains Chouteau County, Montana ; 47°27′47″N 110°33′39″W ; 5,148 feet (1,569 m) [50]
Honeycomb Hills ; Powder River County, Montana ; 45°36′07″N 105°00′21″W ; 3,094 feet (943 m) [51]
Horn Mountains ; Madison County, Montana ; 44°44′28″N 111°30′01″W ; 7,638 feet (2,328 m) [52]
Horseshoe Hills ; Gallatin County, Montana ; 46°01′25″N 111°16′21″W ; 6,673 feet (2,034 m) [53]
Humbolt Hills ; Carter County, Montana ; 45°49′29″N 104°06′24″W ; 3,314 feet (1,010 m) [54]
John Long Mountains ; Granite County, Montana ; 46°26′16″N 113°26′52″W ; 7,923 feet (2,415 m) [55]
Judith Mountains in winter
Judith Mountains ; Fergus County, Montana ; 47°13′08″N 109°13′43″W ; 6,017 feet (1,834 m) [56]
Larb Hills ; Phillips County, Montana ; 48°20′45″N 107°23′02″W ; 2,549 feet (777 m) [57]
Lewis Range ; Glacier County, Montana ; 48°53′00″N 113°51′03″W ; 8,172 feet (2,491 m) [58]
Lewis and Clark Range ; Powell County, Montana ; 47°30′01″N 113°08′03″W ; 7,109 feet (2,167 m) [59]
Limestone Hills ; Broadwater County, Montana ; 46°14′59″N 111°37′34″W ; 4,977 feet (1,517 m) [60]
Little Belt Mountains ; Meagher County, Montana ; 46°50′17″N 110°43′06″W ; 8,195 feet (2,498 m) [61]
Little Rocky Mountains ; Blaine County, Montana ; 48°00′34″N 108°36′07″W ; 4,531 feet (1,381 m) [62]
Little Snowy Mountains ; Fergus County, Montana ; 46°45′27″N 109°09′36″W ; 5,978 feet (1,822 m) [63]
Little Wolf Mountains ; Big Horn County, Montana ; 45°50′33″N 106°54′39″W ; 4,800 feet (1,500 m) [64]
Livingston Range ; Glacier County, Montana ; 48°57′47″N 114°01′26″W ; 9,321 feet (2,841 m) [65]
Long Pines ; Carter County, Montana ; 45°41′20″N 104°13′42″W ; 4,094 feet (1,248 m) [66]
Madison Range ; Madison County, Montana ; 45°15′00″N 111°30′03″W ; 9,308 feet (2,837 m) [67]
Milk River Hills ; McCone County, Montana ; 48°01′43″N 106°18′07″W ; 2,644 feet (806 m) [70]
Mission Range ; Lake County, Montana ; 47°48′40″N 113°55′30″W ; 6,063 feet (1,848 m) [71]
North Hills ; Missoula County, Montana ; 46°54′50″N 114°00′23″W ; 3,556 feet (1,084 m) [72]
North Moccasin Mountains ; Fergus County, Montana ; 47°17′47″N 109°29′06″W ; 5,384 feet (1,641 m) [73]
Opheim Hills ; Valley County, Montana ; 48°52′55″N 106°30′45″W ; 3,304 feet (1,007 m) [74]
Papoose Hills ; Valley County, Montana ; 48°39′30″N 107°05′23″W ; 2,815 feet (858 m) [75]
Park Hills ; Meagher County, Montana ; 46°36′46″N 110°55′19″W ; 6,260 feet (1,910 m) [76]
Pike Creek Hills ; Petroleum County, Montana ; 46°50′06″N 108°36′39″W ; 3,707 feet (1,130 m) [77]
Piney Buttes ; Garfield County, Montana ; 47°27′30″N 106°47′02″W ; 2,651 feet (808 m) [78]
Pioneer Mountains ; Beaverhead County, Montana ; 45°29′55″N 112°58′25″W ; 10,065 feet (3,068 m) [79]
Pryor Mountains Big Horn County, Montana and Carbon County, Montana ; 45°15′00″N 108°30′02″W ; 6,417 feet (1,956 m) [80]
Purcell Mountains ; Lincoln County, Montana ; 48°57′48″N 115°58′06″W ; 7,707 feet (2,349 m) [81]
Rattlesnake Mountains (Montana) ; Lake County, Montana and Missoula County, Montana ; 47°05′42″N 113°55′22″W ; 8,620 feet (2,630 m) [82]
Rocky Hills ; Beaverhead County, Montana ; 45°04′13″N 112°58′44″W ; 6,916 feet (2,108 m) [83]
Ruby Range ; Madison County, Montana ; 45°17′03″N 112°14′04″W ; 8,727 feet (2,660 m) [84]
Salish Mountains ; Lincoln County, Montana ; 48°16′00″N 114°44′04″W ; 5,049 feet (1,539 m) [85]
Sapphire Mountains Ravalli County, Montana ; 46°15′00″N 113°45′03″W ; 7,582 feet (2,311 m) [86]
Sawtooth Range ; Teton County, Montana ; 47°48′00″N 112°47′37″W ; 7,877 feet (2,401 m) [87]
Smoky Range ; Flathead County, Montana ; 48°32′14″N 114°15′17″W ; 7,100 feet (2,200 m) [88]
Snowcrest Range ; Madison County, Montana ; 44°50′34″N 112°05′41″W ; 9,846 feet (3,001 m) [89]
South Hills ; Missoula County, Montana ; 46°49′30″N 114°00′53″W ; 3,592 feet (1,095 m) [90]
South Moccasin Mountains ; Fergus County, Montana ; 47°10′21″N 109°31′26″W ; 4,951 feet (1,509 m) [91]
Spear Hills ; Powder River County, Montana ; 45°00′55″N 105°52′46″W ; 3,694 feet (1,126 m) [92]
Spokane Hills ; Lewis and Clark County, Montana ; 46°37′02″N 111°46′14″W ; 4,058 feet (1,237 m) [93]
Swan Range ; Flathead County, Montana ; 47°43′30″N 113°37′35″W ; 7,385 feet (2,251 m) [94]
Sweet Grass Hills ; Liberty County, Montana and Toole County, Montana ; 48°50′50″N 111°22′31″W ; 6,309 feet (1,923 m) [95]
Taylor Hills ; Carter County, Montana ; 45°39′17″N 104°27′47″W ; 3,474 feet (1,059 m) [96]
Tendoy Mountains ; Beaverhead County, Montana ; 44°44′37″N 112°48′26″W ; 7,854 feet (2,394 m) [97]
The Pine Hills ; Custer County, Montana ; 46°25′27″N 105°34′42″W ; 3,202 feet (976 m) [98]
The Pinnacles ; Cascade County, Montana ; 47°02′53″N 111°38′35″W ; 6,545 feet (1,995 m) [99]
Thoeny Hills ; Phillips County, Montana ; 48°53′32″N 107°22′15″W ; 3,104 feet (946 m) [100]
Three Buttes ; Blaine County, Montana ; 48°10′34″N 108°45′00″W ; 3,848 feet (1,173 m) [101]
Tobacco Root Mountains Madison County, Montana ; 45°33′16″N 111°58′28″W ; 7,497 feet (2,285 m) [102]
Whitefish Range ; Flathead County, Montana ; 48°37′59″N 114°29′43″W ; 6,982 feet (2,128 m) [103]
Wilson Range ; Glacier County, Montana ; 48°59′00″N 113°50′03″W ; 7,119 feet (2,170 m) [104]
Wolf Mountains ; Big Horn County, Montana ; 45°11′46″N 107°08′27″W ; 4,842 feet (1,476 m) [105]