Centennial Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Centennial Mountains are the southernmost sub-range of the Bitterroot Range
in the U.S. states of Idaho
and Montana
. The Centennial Mountains include the Western and Eastern Centennial Mountains. The range extends east from Monida Pass
along the Continental Divide to Henrys Fork 48 km (30 mi) NNW of Ashton, Idaho
; bounded on the west by Beaver Creek, on the north by Centennial Valley and Henrys Lake Mountains
, on the east by Henrys Lake Flat, and on the south by Shotgun Valley and the Snake River
Plain. The highest peak in the range is Mount Jefferson.
They are one of a only a few ranges within the Rocky Mountains
that trend west to east, and the Continental Divide runs along their ridge line.
The Western Centennial Mountains extends west from the Eastern Centennial Mountains along the Continental Divide to Monida Pass, 25 mi NE of Dubois, Idaho
; Snake River Plain, on the north by Centennial Valley, and the east by a line connecting Odell Creek and an unnamed tributary, in Montana, to Ching Creek in Idaho.
About 100,000 acres of the Centennials are roadless. This includes National Forest lands, the BLM
Centennial Mountains Primitive Area, a portion of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
, state and private land, and part of a USDA Agricultural Research Station for sheep. Around 326 vascular plant species have been identified in the Centennials, an unusual plant diversity for the Yellowstone Region. Grizzly bears inhabit the area, as nearly all species indigenous to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
are present. The north slope of the Centennials rises abruptly 3,000 feet above the Centennial Valley.
Bitterroot Range
The Bitterroot Range runs along the border of Montana and Idaho in the northwestern United States. The range spans an area of 62,736 square kilometers and is named after the bitterroot , a small pink flower that is the state flower of Montana.- History :In 1805, the Corps of Discovery,...
in the U.S. states of Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
and Montana
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,...
. The Centennial Mountains include the Western and Eastern Centennial Mountains. The range extends east from Monida Pass
Monida Pass
Monida Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of the northwestern United States, at an elevation of 6870 feet above sea level on Interstate 15....
along the Continental Divide to Henrys Fork 48 km (30 mi) NNW of Ashton, Idaho
Ashton, Idaho
Ashton is a city in Fremont County, Idaho, United States. It is part of the Rexburg, Idaho Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,129 at the 2000 census. The district is noted for seed potato production and bills itself as the world's largest seed potato growing area.-Geography and...
; bounded on the west by Beaver Creek, on the north by Centennial Valley and Henrys Lake Mountains
Henrys Lake Mountains
The Henrys Lake Mountains, el. , is a small mountain range northwest of West Yellowstone, Montana in Madison County, Montana....
, on the east by Henrys Lake Flat, and on the south by Shotgun Valley and the Snake River
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
Plain. The highest peak in the range is Mount Jefferson.
They are one of a only a few ranges within the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
that trend west to east, and the Continental Divide runs along their ridge line.
The Western Centennial Mountains extends west from the Eastern Centennial Mountains along the Continental Divide to Monida Pass, 25 mi NE of Dubois, Idaho
Dubois, Idaho
Dubois is a city in Clark County, Idaho, United States. The population was 647 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Clark County.The city was named for U.S. Senator Fred Dubois....
; Snake River Plain, on the north by Centennial Valley, and the east by a line connecting Odell Creek and an unnamed tributary, in Montana, to Ching Creek in Idaho.
About 100,000 acres of the Centennials are roadless. This includes National Forest lands, the BLM
BLM
BLM may stand for: Saint Barthélemy using ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 country code*Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren, a railway in Switzerland, part funicular, part adhesion*Bilayer lipid membrane*Black Mage, a job in Final Fantasy XI...
Centennial Mountains Primitive Area, a portion of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is a remote refuge located in the high altitude of the Centennial Valley, in the southwestern region of the U.S. state of Montana. Adjacent to Gallatin National Forest and near Yellowstone National Park, the refuge is an integral part of the Greater...
, state and private land, and part of a USDA Agricultural Research Station for sheep. Around 326 vascular plant species have been identified in the Centennials, an unusual plant diversity for the Yellowstone Region. Grizzly bears inhabit the area, as nearly all species indigenous to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is one of the last remaining large, nearly intact ecosystems in the northern temperate zone of the Earth and is partly located in Yellowstone National Park. Conflict over management has been controversial, and the area is a flagship site among conservation groups...
are present. The north slope of the Centennials rises abruptly 3,000 feet above the Centennial Valley.