Deer Lodge Pass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Deer Lodge Pass |
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|---|---|
| Elevation | 5,879 ft (1,792 m) |
| Traversed by | Interstate 15, Union Pacific Railroad (nearby) |
| Location | Silver Bow County, Montana, US |
| Range | Rocky Mountains |
| Coordinates | 45°52′58″N 112°40′21″W / 45.88278°N 112.67250°W |
| Topo map | USGS Buxton |
Deer Lodge Pass is an important mountain pass in southwestern Montana. A mountain pass is like a low spot or a "doorway" through a mountain range, making it easier to travel across. This pass sits on the Continental Divide. The Continental Divide is a high ridge that separates rivers. Rivers on one side flow towards the Pacific Ocean, while rivers on the other side flow towards the Atlantic or Arctic oceans.
Deer Lodge Pass is about 11 miles southwest of the city of Butte. It is 5,879 feet (about 1,792 meters) high.
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What Crosses Deer Lodge Pass?
This pass is used by a major highway called Interstate 15. Interstate 15 (or I-15) is a very long road that goes through several states. Deer Lodge Pass is one of only three places where I-15 crosses the Continental Divide in Montana. The other two crossings are Monida Pass, which is on the border with Idaho, and Elk Park Pass, which is north of Butte.
A Unique Landscape
Many mountain passes in western Montana are surrounded by thick forests. However, Deer Lodge Pass is different. It is located in an area with treeless, rolling hills. This landscape might remind you of parts of Interstate 80 in Wyoming. Because of these gentle hills, the highway grades (or slopes) on I-15 at Deer Lodge Pass are not very steep. This makes driving through the pass relatively easy.
The Railroad Crossing
Just a short distance away, about 0.7 miles (or 1.1 kilometers) west of the highway, there is another pass. This second pass is slightly lower, at 5,801 feet (about 1,768 meters) high. It carries a branch line of the Union Pacific Railroad across the Continental Divide.
History of the Railroad
Even though this railroad crossing is sometimes called Deer Lodge Pass, its official name for the railroad is Feely. This railroad line connects Silver Bow, Montana with Idaho Falls, Idaho. It is a part of what used to be the Utah and Northern Railway. This railway line was completed over the pass in 1881. Five years later, in 1886, it was changed to a standard gauge track. This means the distance between the rails was made wider to match most other railways.
