Mount Sheridan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Sheridan |
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Mount Sheridan from Heart Lake
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 10,313 ft (3,143 m) |
| Prominence | 2,308 ft (703 m) |
| Geography | |
 Mount Sheridan
Location in Wyoming
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| Parent range | Red Mountains |
| Topo map | Shoshone |
Mount Sheridan is a tall mountain peak in Yellowstone National Park. It stands about 10,313 feet (3,143 m) high. This impressive mountain looks over Heart Lake and is part of the Red Mountains.
The mountain is named after General Philip H. Sheridan. He was a general in the U.S. Army. General Sheridan was one of the first people to help protect Yellowstone National Park.
What is the History of Mount Sheridan's Name?
Mount Sheridan has had a few different names over the years! In 1870, a group of explorers called the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition visited the area. They first called this mountain Brown Mountain. Another member of that group, Lieutenant Gustavus Cheyney Doane, called it Yellow Mountain.
In 1871, during the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871, explorer Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden named the peak Red Mountain. Also in 1871, a military officer named Captain John W. Barlow climbed the mountain. He reached the top on August 10, 1871. Captain Barlow decided to name it Mount Sheridan to honor General Sheridan. Years later, the name Red Mountain was given to the entire mountain range where Mount Sheridan is located.
How Can You Hike Mount Sheridan?
You can reach the top of Mount Sheridan by hiking the Mount Sheridan Trail. This trail is about 3.9 miles (6.3 km) long. It starts from the Heart Lake Trail, near the northwest side of Heart Lake.
The hike up Mount Sheridan is quite steep. You will climb about 2,700 feet (820 m) in just 3 miles (4.8 km). But the effort is worth it! From the summit, you get amazing views of Yellowstone National Park. You can also see the Teton Range to the southwest.
Images for kids
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Heart Lake and Mountain Sheridan, 1878, by William Henry Jackson
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Heart Lake and Mount Sheridan, around 1890
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Mount Sheridan from the southeast, 1973
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Mount Sheridan and the Teton Mountains, 1989
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Mount Sheridan from West Thumb, Yellowstone Lake, June 2011
