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White Cloud Mountains

Coordinates: 44°02′22″N 114°35′07″W / 44.039558°N 114.585266°W / 44.039558; -114.585266
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White Cloud Mountains
A photo of the White Cloud Mountains from Frog Lake
White Cloud Mountains
Highest point
PeakCastle Peak
Elevation11,815 ft (3,601 m)
Coordinates44°02′22″N 114°35′07″W / 44.039558°N 114.585266°W / 44.039558; -114.585266
Dimensions
Length25 mi (40 km) N/S
Width32 mi (51 km) E/W
Area461 sq mi (1,190 km2)
Geography
White Cloud Mountains is located in Idaho
White Cloud Mountains
White Cloud Mountains
CountryUnited States
StateIdaho
Parent rangeRocky Mountains
Borders onSawtooth Mountains and Boulder Mountains

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.[1]

The White Cloud Mountains are located on National Forest land, with numerous trails in the area. Camping is permitted anywhere on the national forest land and there are no fees to access the area.[2] Primary access to the area is via State Highway 75, the Salmon River Scenic Byway, which accompanies the main Salmon River as it descends along the range's western and northern perimeter.

The highest peak in the White Cloud Mountains, and the SNRA, is Castle Peak at 11,815 ft (3,601 m).[3] The Sawtooth Mountains are about twenty miles (32 km) west of the White Clouds, on the west side of the river and highway, and the Boulder Mountains are directly south of the White Clouds.

Peaks

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A photo of Castle and Merriam peaks from the west
Castle and Merriam Peaks
Peaks of the White Cloud Mountains[4][5]
Mountain Peak Elevation Prominence Isolation Location Easiest Route
Castle Peak 11,814 ft
3601 m
4,016 ft
1224 m
27.3 mi
43.9 km
44°02′22″N 114°35′07″W / 44.039558°N 114.585266°W / 44.039558; -114.585266 (Castle Peak) Class 3
Calkins Peak 11,486 ft
3501 m
1,247 ft
380 m
5.8 mi
9.33 km
44°07′11″N 114°37′12″W / 44.119646°N 114.620093°W / 44.119646; -114.620093 (Calkins Peak) Class 3
D. O. Lee Peak 11,342 ft
3457 m
541 ft
165 m
1.25 mi
2.01 km
44°06′10″N 114°37′43″W / 44.102674°N 114.628671°W / 44.102674; -114.628671 (D. O. Lee Peak) Class 3
Lonesome Lake Peak 11,302 ft
3445 m
801 ft
244 m
1.11 mi
1.78 km
44°04′31″N 114°36′43″W / 44.075396°N 114.612077°W / 44.075396; -114.612077 (Lonesome Lake Peak) Class 2
Peak 11,272 11,280 ft
3438 m
673 ft
205 m
1.24 mi
2 km
44°05′29″N 114°36′33″W / 44.09126°N 114.609296°W / 44.09126; -114.609296 (Peak 11272) Class 3
White Cloud Peak 9 11,263 ft
3433 m
463 ft
141 m
0.61 mi
0.98 km
44°06′41″N 114°37′36″W / 44.111383°N 114.626608°W / 44.111383; -114.626608 (White Cloud Peak 9) Class 2
Chinese Wall 11,237 ft
3425 m
197 ft
60 m
0.53 mi
0.86 km
44°07′38″N 114°37′07″W / 44.127324°N 114.618743°W / 44.127324; -114.618743 (Chinese Wall) unknown
White Cloud Peak 10 11,102 ft
3384 m
341 ft
104 m
0.53 mi
0.85 km
44°07′03″N 114°36′36″W / 44.117573°N 114.609906°W / 44.117573; -114.609906 (White Cloud Peak 10) Class 4
Merriam Peak 10,919 ft
3328 m
518 ft
158 m
0.57 mi
0.91 km
44°03′08″N 114°34′51″W / 44.052126°N 114.580744°W / 44.052126; -114.580744 (Merriam Peak) Class 3
Patterson Peak 10,873 ft
3314 m
252 ft
77 m
1.7 mi
2.74 km
44°02′56″N 114°37′04″W / 44.04880°N 114.61780°W / 44.04880; -114.61780 (Patterson Peak) Class 2
White Cloud Peak 7 10,778 ft
3285 m
677 ft
206 m
1.48 mi
2.38 km
44°07′21″N 114°39′13″W / 44.12254°N 114.65374°W / 44.12254; -114.65374 (White Cloud Peak 7) Class 3
Fourth of July Peak 10,712 ft
3265 m
1,133 ft
345 m
2.54 mi
4.09 km
44°01′48″N 114°38′06″W / 44.03010°N 114.63500°W / 44.03010; -114.63500 (Fourth of July Peak) Class 2
White Cloud Peak 5 10,597 ft
3230 m
977 ft
298 m
0.91 mi
1.46 km
44°08′08″N 114°39′29″W / 44.13550°N 114.65810°W / 44.13550; -114.65810 (White Cloud Peak 5) Class 4
White Cloud Peak 3 10,587 ft
3227 m
808 ft
246 m
1.44 mi
2.32 km
44°09′22″N 114°39′36″W / 44.15620°N 114.65990°W / 44.15620; -114.65990 (White Cloud Peak 3) Class 3
White Cloud Peak 8 10,558 ft
3218 m
457 ft
139 m
0.94 mi
1.51 km
44°06′18″N 114°38′49″W / 44.10503°N 114.64697°W / 44.10503; -114.64697 (White Cloud Peak 8) Class 3
Washington Peak 10,518 ft
3206 m
859 ft
262 m
2.37 mi
3.81 km
44°00′31″N 114°40′21″W / 44.00850°N 114.67260°W / 44.00850; -114.67260 (Washington Peak) Class 2
Ebony Peak 10,512 ft
3204 m
334 ft
102 m
1.13 mi
1.82 km
44°01′04″N 114°39′12″W / 44.01770°N 114.65320°W / 44.01770; -114.65320 (Ebony Peak) Class 3
Watson Peak 10,449 ft
3185 m
353 ft
108 m
0.68 mi
1.09 km
44°07′51″N 114°41′08″W / 44.130972°N 114.685666°W / 44.130972; -114.685666 (Watson Peak) Class 3
White Cloud Peak 4 10,449 ft
3185 m
810 ft
247 m
1.01 mi
1.63 km
44°08′20″N 114°40′40″W / 44.13890°N 114.67790°W / 44.13890; -114.67790 (White Cloud Peak 4) Class 3
Croseus Peak 10,387 ft
3166 m
188 ft
57 m
0.47 mi
0.76 km
43°59′53″N 114°39′06″W / 43.997965°N 114.651733°W / 43.997965; -114.651733 (Croseus Peak) unknown
White Cloud Peak 1 10,354 ft
3156 m
453 ft
138 m
0.88 mi
1.42 km
44°10′07″N 114°39′28″W / 44.16870°N 114.65777°W / 44.16870; -114.65777 (White Cloud Peak 1) Class 2
Blackmon Peak 10,308 ft
3142 m
400 ft
122 m
2.46 mi
3.96 km
44°03′30″N 114°39′05″W / 44.05820°N 114.65140°W / 44.05820; -114.65140 (Blackman Peak) Class 2
White Cloud Peak 2 10,272 ft
3131 m
491 ft
150 m
0.81 mi
1.3 km
44°09′31″N 114°40′32″W / 44.15860°N 114.67550°W / 44.15860; -114.67550 (White Cloud Peak 2) Class 3
White Cloud Peak 6 10,256 ft
3126 m
316 ft
96 m
0.37 mi
0.6 km
44°07′50″N 114°38′52″W / 44.13046°N 114.64765°W / 44.13046; -114.64765 (White Cloud Peak 6) Class 2
Peak 10,041 10,039 ft
3060 m
581 ft
177 m
0.73 mi
1.17 km
43°57′23″N 114°42′25″W / 43.956400°N 114.707000°W / 43.956400; -114.707000 (Peak 10041) Class 2
Lookout Mountain 9,954 ft
3034 m
1,854 ft
565 m
8.3 mi
13.36 km
44°11′34″N 114°45′32″W / 44.192659°N 114.758948°W / 44.192659; -114.758948 (Lookout Mountain) Class 1
Peak 9,988 9,954 ft
3034 m
728 ft
222 m
1.46 mi
2.35 km
43°56′42″N 114°40′02″W / 43.94510°N 114.66720°W / 43.94510; -114.66720 (Peak 9988) Class 2
Horton Peak 9,895 ft
3016 m
276 ft
84 m
0.83 mi
1.34 km
43°57′57″N 114°44′51″W / 43.96580°N 114.74750°W / 43.96580; -114.74750 (Horton Peak) Class 1
Bible Back Mountain 9,885 ft
3013 m
428 ft
130 m
1.15 mi
1.85 km
43°59′52″N 114°38′16″W / 43.997688°N 114.637843°W / 43.997688; -114.637843 (Bible Back Mountain) unknown
Potaman Peak 9,367 ft

2,855 m

1,509 ft

460 m

7.7 mi

12.39 km

44.22015°N 114.396944°W unknown

Lakes

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See List of lakes of the White Cloud Mountains

Mine proposal

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In 1970, it was proposed that the White Cloud Mountains be the site of an open-pit mine. The proposal became a major issue in Idaho's 1970 gubernatorial election. Incumbent Republican governor Don Samuelson favored the mine, as it would generate an estimated $4 million in revenue to the state. However, his Democratic opponent, Cecil Andrus, opposed the mine on conservation grounds. His stance was backed by many of the state's urban residents, who enjoyed vacationing at the mountains.[6] Andrus won the election by more than four points, and it has been suggested that Andrus's stance on the mine was a contributing factor to his victory, and in particular to his victories in the normally Republican-leaning urban parts of the state.[6][7]

Photos

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "White Clouds". Summitpost.org. Retrieved 2012-05-03.
  2. ^ "Sawtooth National Forest". U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved 2012-05-03.
  3. ^ "White Cloud Mountains". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2012-05-03.
  4. ^ Sawtooth National Forest. "Sawtooth National Forest" [map].1:126,720, 1"=2 miles. Twin Falls, Idaho: Sawtooth National Forest, United States Forest Service, 1998.
  5. ^ "White Cloud Peak List". Summitpost.org. Retrieved 2012-05-04.
  6. ^ a b Dumcombe, Herbert; Martin, Boyd (June 1971). "The 1970 Election in Idaho". The Western Political Quarterly. 24 (2): 292–300. doi:10.2307/446873. JSTOR 446873. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  7. ^ Barker, Rocky. "Andrus spent his life protecting this iconic Idaho wilderness; now it will carry his name". Idaho Statesman. The McClatchy Company. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
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