Dunraven Peak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dunraven Peak |
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Dunraven Peak (center), viewed from the Mount Washburn trail
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 9,869 ft (3,008 m) |
| Geography | |
 Dunraven Peak
Location in Wyoming
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| Parent range | Washburn Range |
| Topo map | Mount Washburn |
Dunraven Peak is a tall mountain peak located in the Washburn Range of Yellowstone National Park. It stands at an elevation of 9,869 feet (about 3,000 meters). This mountain has a special story behind its name, which connects to an important visitor who explored Yellowstone many years ago.
Dunraven Peak: A Mountain with a Story
Dunraven Peak is one of the many amazing natural features you can find in Yellowstone National Park. It's part of the beautiful Washburn Range, which offers stunning views and exciting trails for hikers. But how did this peak get its unique name? Let's find out!
Who Was Lord Dunraven?
In 1874, just two years after Yellowstone became the world's first national park, a man named The 4th Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl visited the area. He was an important nobleman from Ireland. Lord Dunraven came to the Northern Rockies on a trip that included hunting. He was joined by a famous guide named Texas Jack Omohundro.
Lord Dunraven was incredibly impressed by the beauty of Yellowstone. He loved the park so much that he wrote a book about his travels called The Great Divide. This book was published in London in 1874. It was one of the first books to really praise Yellowstone and help tell people all over the world how wonderful the park was.
How the Peak Got Its Name
A few years later, in 1878, a government team called the United States Geological Survey was mapping out Yellowstone National Park. A geographer working with this team, named Henry Gannett, decided to honor Lord Dunraven. He named a peak, located just two miles southwest of Mount Washburn, after him. This was a way to thank Lord Dunraven for his book, which had done so much to promote the park.
The next year, in 1879, Philetus Norris, who was the Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, also honored Lord Dunraven. He named a section of the Grand Loop Road between Tower and Canyon as Dunraven Pass. He chose this name because the pass was very close to Dunraven Peak. So, both the peak and a pass in the park carry the name of this Irish nobleman who helped share Yellowstone's beauty with the world.
