Mount Jumbo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Jumbo |
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 Mount Jumbo
Location in Montana
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,768 ft (1,453 m) |
| Prominence | 808 ft (246 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Missoula County, Montana, U.S. |
| Parent range | Rattlesnake Mountains, Rocky Mountain Front |
| Topo map | USGS Northeast Missoula |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike via old logging roads |
Mount Jumbo (called 'Sin Min Koos' by the Salish people, meaning 'obstacle') is a famous mountain that looks over the city of Missoula, Montana. Some locals also call it "Mount Loyola." It sits northeast of the city's downtown area. Most of Mount Jumbo is public land. In 1996, it was bought from private owners to protect it from new buildings. Money for this came from a special fund, government groups, non-profit organizations, and thousands of local people. More land has been bought since then, making the protected area about 1,800 acres.
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The Story of Glacial Lake Missoula
About 15,000 to 13,000 years ago, a huge ice sheet blocked the Clark Fork River. This created a massive body of water called Glacial Lake Missoula. The ice dam would sometimes break, sending huge floods of water across Idaho, Washington, and Oregon all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
This ancient lake held about 2,100 cubic kilometers of water. That's half the size of Lake Michigan! These big drops in water levels left clear marks on the sides of Mount Jumbo. You can still see these old shorelines from the Missoula Valley floor. They are also visible on the nearby Mount Sentinel.
How Mount Jumbo Got Its Name
In 1812, David Thompson, a fur trader, climbed the hill. He ignored the Salish name and called it 'Brown Knowl.' Later, settlers from the east thought Mount Jumbo looked like a sleeping elephant. They saw the mountain as a reclining elephant. Its "rump" was near the Clark Fork River, and its "trunk" pointed north. So, the round, grassy mountain became known as 'Elephant Hill.'
Miners then named a nearby copper mine 'Jumbo Lode.' They did this to honor Barnum and Bailey's most famous attraction, Jumbo. Jumbo was the biggest elephant in the world, bought by Barnum in 1882. The mountain was later officially renamed Mount Jumbo.
In the 1800s, Jesuit priests settled in the Missoula Valley. They called the mountain Mount Loyola. This was in honor of St. Ignatius of Loyola. The Roman Catholic school, Loyola Sacred Heart, was founded by these priests in Missoula in 1873.
Protecting Mount Jumbo's Nature
In 1995, people in Missoula voted to approve a $5 million bond. This money was to save open, natural areas in the county. A year later, $2 million from that bond was used to buy most of the mountain. Another $1.5 million was raised by groups like Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the U.S. Forest Service, Five Valleys Land Trust, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Local residents also helped raise money.
This first purchase included 1,465 acres. Since then, more land has been bought. Now, a total of 1,800 acres on Mount Jumbo are open to the public. This land also helps protect wildlife. The main reason to protect Mount Jumbo in 1996 was that a large housing development was planned for the mountain's saddle.
Protecting Elk on Mount Jumbo
Mount Jumbo's saddle is a very important place for elk herds to feed in winter. The elk herd on Jumbo moves less than other elk herds near Missoula. Most parts of the mountain are closed during winter. This helps protect the elk. Elk are under more stress in winter due to bad weather and less food. The northern part of Mount Jumbo is closed from December 1 to May 1. The southern part is closed from December 1 to March 15. Since these winter closures started in 1997, the size of the elk herd on Jumbo has stayed steady.
Fighting Invasive Plants
Bad weeds like spotted knapweed and cheatgrass have spread across Mount Jumbo. Many programs are working to stop these invasive plants. A non-profit group called Working Dogs has trained dogs to find a weed called Dyer's Woad. After 10 years of the dogs working, the number of this plant has dropped a lot. It went from thousands to only about 7 plants per year.
Missoula City also organizes community weed-pulls. Students, conservation groups, and other private groups help. They remove thousands of pounds of weeds from the mountain every year. Sheep have also been used to eat the unwanted plants, but it's not clear how much they help.
Fun Activities on Mount Jumbo
Mount Jumbo offers many ways to enjoy nature.
Hiking Trails
- The "L" – The big letter “L” on Mount Jumbo stands for Loyola Sacred Heart Catholic High School. The trail to the “L” climbs 500 feet over 1.5 miles.
- U.S. West Trail – This trail starts at Cherry Street. It climbs the southwest side of Mount Jumbo. Then it goes east, next to Interstate 90, and connects to East Missoula.
- Lincoln Hills Trailhead – This trail gives you access to the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area.
Mountain Biking Trails
- Woods Gulch Loop
- Marshall Canyon Loop
Animals and Plants of Mount Jumbo
You can see many interesting animals on Mount Jumbo. These include whitetail deer, mule deer, black bears, elk, and mountain lions. You might also spot red foxes, swallowtail butterflies, Blue Grouse, Lazuli Buntings, blue birds, and falcons.
The main plants you'll find are service berry, hawthorn, ninebark, bluebunch wheatgrass, Ponderosa pine, and Douglas fir. Sadly, there's also been evidence of pine beetle damage to the pine trees on Mount Jumbo.
Images for kids
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Satellite view of Earth's mountain ranges.
