Sapphire Mountains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sapphire Mountains |
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The Sapphire Mountains as seen from the Bitterroot Valley
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Kent Peak |
| Elevation | 8,999 ft (2,743 m) |
| Geography | |
 Sapphire Mountains
Location in Montana
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| Location | Montana, United States |
| Country | United States |
| State | Montana |
| Nearest city | Missoula, MT |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
The Sapphire Mountains are a beautiful mountain range. You can find them in southwestern Montana, in the northwestern United States. These mountains stretch for about 60 miles (100 km). They form a natural border between Ravalli County and Granite County. To their west is the Bitterroot Valley, and to their east is Rock Creek. The southern part of the Sapphires connects with the larger Anaconda Range.
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Exploring the Sapphire Mountains
The Sapphire Mountains are home to many amazing places. The northern part of the range is within the Lolo National Forest. The southern part is in the Deerlodge National Forest.
Protected Areas
Several special areas are found here. These include the Threemile Wildlife Management Area. There is also the Welcome Creek Wilderness Area. The Skalkaho Game Preserve is another important spot. Part of the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness Area is also in the Sapphires. These areas help protect nature and wildlife.
Roads and Passes
Only two main roads cross the Sapphire Mountains. One is Route 38. It goes over Skalkaho Pass, which is 7,250 feet (2,210 meters) high. The other road is FS80 at Lutz Creek.
Highest Point
The tallest peak in the Sapphire Mountains is Kent Peak. It stands at 8,999 feet (2,743 meters) high. This makes it a very impressive part of the range.
Wildlife and Nature
The Sapphire Mountains are full of natural beauty. They have large areas where roads have not been built. These "roadless" areas are important for wildlife.
Northern Roadless Areas
One large roadless area is near Quigg Peak. It covers about 77,000 acres. This area has many rocky slopes and thick forests. You can find Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine trees here. Animals like Bighorn sheep and mountain goats live in these high places.
Southern Roadless Areas
South of the Welcome Creek Wilderness is another big roadless area. It is called "Stony Mountain" and is about 103,000 acres. The Skalkaho Game Preserve is located within this area. Fuse Lake is a special lake here. It is home to rare Arctic grayling fish.
Even further south, about 117,000 acres of roadless land connect to the Anaconda-Pintlar Wilderness. This part of the Sapphires has lower, rolling mountains. They are mostly covered in thick forests.
Precious Gems
The Sapphire Mountains are famous for their beautiful gems.
Sapphires
High-quality Sapphires are found in this region. They were first discovered near Rock Creek in 1892. This area is also known as Gem Mountain. It has produced more sapphires than any other place in Montana. Over 190 million carats of sapphires have been found here!
Garnets
Besides sapphires, another beautiful gem, Garnets, can also be found in the Sapphire Mountains.
