Gravelly Range facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gravelly Range |
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Black Butte Gravelly Range July 2013
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Black Butte |
| Elevation | 10,542 ft (3,213 m) |
| Geography | |
 Gravelly Range
Location in Montana
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| Country | United States |
| State | Montana |
The Gravelly Range is a cool mountain range located in Montana, USA. It sits southwest of a town called Cameron. The highest point in this range is a peak named Black Butte. This mountain stands super tall at about 10,542 feet (3,213 meters) high!
Contents
Wild Spaces and Roadless Areas
The Gravelly Range has many special "roadless" areas. These are wild places where cars and roads are not allowed. There are about 310,000 acres of these roadless lands in total. They are divided into nine smaller parts by some existing roads. The biggest roadless section is about 66,000 acres in size.
Most of the Gravelly Range is part of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. This means it's a protected area managed by the government.
Axolotl Lakes Wilderness Study Area
In the northern part of the range, you'll find the Axolotl Lakes Wilderness Study Area. This area is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. It covers 7,804 acres and is part of an even larger roadless area of 47,000 acres.
This special area is home to a unique type of tiger salamander. These salamanders are native to this specific place. The Axolotl Lakes area has open foothills that lead up to forests with different kinds of pine trees. These forests are mixed with open grassy areas called meadows.
Amazing Wildlife Habitat
The Gravelly Range is also home to some of the highest-elevation pronghorn habitat in Montana. Pronghorn are fast animals that look a bit like deer. They love living in these high, open spaces.
Exploring the Gravelly Range
On the eastern side of the Gravelly Range, there's a place called Cave Mountain. This mountain has special untouched grasslands and cool caves. These caves attract people who love to explore them, known as spelunkers.
The most rugged part of the range is a 52,870-acre roadless area. This area is centered around a mountain called Big Horn Mountain, which is 10,281 feet tall. Here, you can find deep canyons, tall cliffs, steep benches, and rolling basins.
Native American History and Fish
The largest roadless area in the Gravelly Range has rolling basins cut by rocky canyons. You can find old Native American campsites along the Gravelly Divide. The remote canyons of the Elk River are home to westslope cutthroat trout, a type of fish.
Lakes and Bird Sanctuaries
The southeastern part of the range is near the Continental Divide. This area features a chain of lakes. These lakes are important homes for nesting trumpeter swans and bald eagles. These large birds build their nests and raise their young here.
Recently, it has been confirmed that grizzly bears are also living in the Gravelly Range. This shows how wild and natural this area still is.
Images for kids
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Gravelly Range July 2013
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Wildflowers July 2013
