Elk Mountain (Routt County, Colorado) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elk Mountain
The Sleeping Giant
The mountain as seen from Routt County Road 129.
Highest point
Elevation	2,660 m (8,730 ft)
Prominence	507 m (1,663 ft)
Isolation	20.55 km (12.77 mi)
Geography
Elk Mountain Location in Colorado
Parent range	Elkhead Mountains
Topo map	Mad Creek

Elk Mountain is a cool mountain peak located in Routt County, Colorado. It stands northwest of the town of Steamboat Springs. You can easily spot this mountain from many places in Steamboat Springs. It is especially visible from Lincoln Avenue, which is the main street there. You can also get a great view of Elk Mountain from Mount Werner, where the Steamboat Ski Resort is located.

This mountain is quite tall, reaching about 8,727 feet (2,660 meters) high. Near the base of Elk Mountain, the Elk River flows. This river soon joins the larger Yampa River in the beautiful Yampa Valley.

The Sleeping Giant: A Local Legend

Many people in the area call Elk Mountain "The Sleeping Giant." This special nickname comes from how the mountain looks. When you see it from Steamboat Springs or Mount Werner, its shape looks just like a person lying down and sleeping.

Local people have even made up fun stories and legends to explain why the mountain looks like a giant taking a nap. These stories help to make the mountain even more interesting and mysterious.

Elk Mountain's Place in Colorado

It can be a little confusing, but there are actually several mountains named Elk Mountain in Colorado! This particular Elk Mountain, the one in Routt County, is not part of the famous Elk Mountains range. That other range is located in a different part of Colorado, more towards the west-central area.

Instead, this Elk Mountain is one of the easternmost peaks in a different mountain range called the Elkhead Mountains. So, while it shares a name with other peaks, it has its own unique location and story within the Elkhead Mountains.