Lost River Range facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lost River Range
Lost River Range, looking southwest from the Lemhi Range
Highest point
Peak	Borah Peak
Elevation	12,662 ft (3,859 m)
Dimensions
Length	79 mi (127 km) N/S
Width	67 mi (108 km) E/W
Area	1,799 sq mi (4,660 km2)
Geography
Country	United States
State	Idaho
Parent range	Rocky Mountains

The Lost River Range is a tall mountain range found in the Rocky Mountains. It's located in Central Idaho, which is in the Northwestern United States.

This mountain range stretches for about 75 miles (121 km) (that's about 120 kilometers) from the Salmon River near a town called Challis. It goes all the way southeast to the Snake River Valley near Arco. To the west of the range, you'll find the valleys of the Salmon and the Big Lost Rivers. To the east, there are the Little Lost River and Pashimeroi Valleys.

The Lost River Range begins at the east bank of the Salmon River, at a height of about 5,000 feet (1,500 m). It quickly rises to impressive peaks like Grouse Creek Mountain (11,085 ft, 3,378 m) and Dickey Peak (11,141 ft, 3,395 m). Then, it dips down to Double Springs Pass. This pass is one of only two roads that cross the entire mountain range.

Near Double Springs Pass, there's a special place where you can learn about the big Borah Peak earthquake. This earthquake happened on October 28, 1983, and was a magnitude 6.9! During the earthquake, the Big Lost River Valley dropped down, and the Lost River Range rose up. This created a visible fault scarp (a step in the ground) up to 14 ft (4.3 m) tall along the base of the mountains.

Borah Peak, Idaho, looking east (notice the fault line from the 1983 earthquake).

The range then climbs into its very tall central part. This area includes many of Idaho's highest mountains. Borah Peak, which is the tallest mountain in Idaho, reaches 12,662 ft (3,859 m) (about 3,859 meters) into the sky! Further south, you'll find other high peaks like Mount Idaho (12,065 ft, 3,677 m), Leatherman Peak (12,228 ft, 3,727 m), Mount Church (over 12,200 ft, 3,720 m), Mount Breitenbach (12,140 ft, 3,700 m), and Lost River Mountain (12,078 ft, 3,681 m). East of this high section are the wild and beautiful canyons of the Upper Pashimeroi Valley, including the scenic Merriam Lake.

Panorama of the Upper Pashimeroi Valley, including Leatherman Peak (center)

The mountains then get lower as they reach Pass Creek Summit. This is the second road that crosses the range. The range continues to King Mountain (10,612 ft, 3,235 m), which is a popular spot for people who enjoy hang gliding. Finally, the mountains drop sharply down to the Snake River Valley near the town of Arco, at a height of about 5,300 ft (1,600 m).

Merriam Lake, Idaho, in the Lost River Range.

Tallest Mountains in the Lost River Range

The Lost River Range is home to some of Idaho's highest peaks. Here are the ten tallest mountains in this range:

See also

In Spanish: Cordillera Lost River para niños