Little Snowy Mountains

Little Snowy Mountains
Little Snowy Mountains is located in Montana
Little Snowy Mountains
Little Snowy Mountains
Location of Bold Butte near the center of the range
Highest point
Elevation6,240 ft (1,900 m)
Coordinates46°45′8″N 109°10′24″W / 46.75222°N 109.17333°W / 46.75222; -109.17333
Dimensions
Length16 mi (26 km) E-W
Width6 mi (9.7 km) N-S
Geography
CountryUnited States
StateMontana
CountiesFergus, Golden Valley and Musselshell
Range coordinates46°47′N 108°59′W / 46.783°N 108.983°W / 46.783; -108.983

The Little Snowy Mountains[1] are a small mountain range in central Montana about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Lewistown. The range lies mostly in Fergus County, but the southern part of the range extends into Golden Valley and Musselshell counties.[2][3]

The range is a lower continuation of the Big Snowy Mountains which lie immediately to the west.[2] The small Pike Creek Hills are 12 miles (19 km) to the east.[3]

The mountain pass between the Big and Little Snowies is at 6,018 feet (1,834 m) where Red Hill Road crosses the range. The pass elevation is considerably lower than the peaks of the Big Snowy range, but only about 200 feet (61 m) lower than the highest of the Little Snowy Range which are just northeast of the pass.[4][5] Bold Butte, a named highpoint near the center of the range, has an elevation of 5,624 feet (1,714 m).[6]

The South Fork Flatwillow Creek runs from the north side of the pass near Red Hill and east along the north side of the range. Willow Creek and various tributaries drain most of the range to the south and flows into the Musselshell River on to the southeast.[2][3]

  1. ^ "Little Snowy Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ a b c Big Snowy Mountains, Montana, 30x60 Minute Quadrangle, USGS, 1993
  3. ^ a b c Musselshell, Montana, 30x60 Minute Quadrangle, USGS, 1993
  4. ^ Patterson Canyon, Montana, 7.5 Minute Quadrangle, USGS, 1995
  5. ^ Alaska Bench, Montana, 7.5 Minute Quadrangle, USGS, 1995
  6. ^ Bold Butte, Montana, 7.5 Minute Quadrangle, USGS, 1986