Sierra Madre Range (Wyoming)

Mountain in Colorado and Wyoming, United States

Sierra Madre Range[1]

Sierra Madre Mountains

A backcountry road in the Sierra Madre Range near Bridger Peak

Highest point
Peak| Bridger Peak
Elevation| 3,354 m (11,004 ft)
Coordinates| 41°11′21″N 107°02′50″W﻿ / ﻿41.1891667°N 107.0472222°W﻿ / 41.1891667; -107.0472222
Geography

Sierra Madre Range

Location of the Sierra Madre Range in Wyoming

Country| United States
State| Wyoming and Colorado
Parent range| Rocky Mountains

The Sierra Madre Range is a mountain range in the western United States, located in south-central Wyoming and north-central Colorado. Geologically, it may be considered an extension of the Park Range of Colorado. South of the Great Divide Basin, the US Continental Divide runs along the Sierre Madre high points. Its western basins drain into the Colorado River and its eastern into the North Platte River. Buck Mountain, elevation 11,396 feet (3,474 meters), is the highest peak in the range and lies within Colorado. Bridger Peak, elevation 11,004 feet (3,354 meters), is the range's highest elevation in Wyoming.[2]

Copper resources within the range were extracted during the late 19th and early 20th centuries by the Ferris-Haggarty Mine which lies about two miles west of Bridger Peak. Its operations were centered near Encampment 15 miles to the east.[3][4] Gold findings in the range during the 1890s sparked a short-lived gold rush that attracted thousands of prospectors.[5] The possibility of further discoveries renewed interest during the late 20th and early 21st centuries.[6]

Much of the range lies within the Medicine Bow – Routt National Forest. Protected areas include the Encampment River Wilderness, the Huston Park Wilderness,[7] and parts of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness. The range is traversed by Wyoming Highway 70, which (except in winter when the road is closed[8]) crosses the Continental Divide at an elevation of 9,915 feet (3,022 m) at Battle Pass near the old Battle mining site.[9]

The range supports a number of popular game species, including elk, mule deer, and grouse, along with other species mentioned in the state's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy Report.[10] In 2009 the state's Game and Fish Department, describing its wildlife as "world class", issued a report recommending that the area's natural values be analyzed and that energy development leases in the area be withdrawn.[10]

## Climate

[edit]

Climate data for Bridger Peak 41.1896 N, 107.0493 W, Elevation: 10,814 ft (3,296 m) (1991–2020 normals)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)  | 25.1
(−3.8)  | 25.7
(−3.5)  | 32.4
(0.2)  | 38.0
(3.3)  | 47.4
(8.6)  | 59.2
(15.1)  | 67.1
(19.5)  | 65.2
(18.4)  | 56.5
(13.6)  | 43.3
(6.3)  | 31.8
(−0.1)  | 24.7
(−4.1)  | 43.0
(6.1)
Daily mean °F (°C)  | 15.4
(−9.2)  | 15.3
(−9.3)  | 21.2
(−6.0)  | 26.5
(−3.1)  | 35.8
(2.1)  | 46.7
(8.2)  | 54.4
(12.4)  | 52.7
(11.5)  | 44.8
(7.1)  | 32.8
(0.4)  | 22.3
(−5.4)  | 15.3
(−9.3)  | 31.9
(−0.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)  | 5.8
(−14.6)  | 5.0
(−15.0)  | 9.9
(−12.3)  | 15.0
(−9.4)  | 24.1
(−4.4)  | 34.2
(1.2)  | 41.7
(5.4)  | 40.3
(4.6)  | 33.1
(0.6)  | 22.3
(−5.4)  | 12.8
(−10.7)  | 5.9
(−14.5)  | 20.8
(−6.2)
Average precipitation inches (mm)  | 7.89
(200)  | 6.28
(160)  | 6.15
(156)  | 6.43
(163)  | 4.75
(121)  | 2.30
(58)  | 1.72
(44)  | 1.77
(45)  | 3.08
(78)  | 4.97
(126)  | 6.54
(166)  | 7.32
(186)  | 59.2
(1,503)
Source: PRISM Climate Group[11]

## See also

[edit]

* List of mountain ranges in Wyoming

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Sierra Madre". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. December 31, 1981. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
2. ^ Bridger Peak, Wyoming, 7.5 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 1961 (revised 1983)
3. ^ Baggs, Wyoming–Colorado, 30x60 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 1983
4. ^ Saratoga, Wyoming–Colorado, 30x60 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 1982
5. ^ "Wyoming's Gold Fields" (PDF). New York Times. 1897-11-15. Retrieved 2010-10-21.
6. ^ "Sierra Madre / Encampment District". Wyoming State Geologic Survey. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
7. ^ "Sierra Madre" (PDF). US Forest Service. Retrieved 2010-10-21.
8. ^ Official State Highway Map of Wyoming (Map). Wyoming Department of Transportation. 2014.
9. ^ Red Mountain, Wyoming, 7.5 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 1961
10. ^ a b "Crucial Habitat Area Narrative - Region: Green River - Habitat Priority Area Name: Sierra Madre" (PDF). Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
11. ^ "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University. Retrieved December 6, 2023. "To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clicking Coordinates (under Location); copy Latitude and Longitude figures from top of table; click Zoom to location; click Precipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp; click 30-year normals, 1991-2020; click 800m; click Retrieve Time Series button."

* v
* t
* e

Mountains of Wyoming

Absaroka Range|

* Abiathar Peak
* Atkins Peak
* Barronette Peak
* Breccia Peak
* Clayton Mountain
* Colter Peak
* Druid Peak
* Eagle Peak
* Fortress Mountain
* Francs Peak
* Index Peak
* Mount Chittenden
* First Peoples Mountain
* Mount Hornaday
* Mount Langford
* Mount Norris
* Mount Schurz
* Mount Stevenson
* Pilot Peak
* Sheep Mesa
* The Thunderer
* Washakie Needles
* Younts Peak

Bighorn Mountains|

* Bighorn Peak
* Black Tooth Mountain
* Bomber Mountain
* Cloud Peak
* Darton Peak
* Hallelujah Peak
* The Innominate
* Mather Peaks
* Mount Woolsey
* Penrose Peak

Black Hills|

| Bear Lodge Mountains|

* Inyan Kara Mountain

|

Others|

* Missouri Buttes

Gallatin Range|

* Antler Peak
* Bannock Peak
* Bunsen Peak
* Clagett Butte
* Dome Mountain (Park County)
* Echo Peak
* Gray Peak
* Joseph Peak
* Mount Everts
* Mount Haynes
* Mount Holmes
* Mount Jackson
* Purple Mountain
* Quadrant Mountain
* Sepulcher Mountain
* Terrace Mountain
* Three Rivers Peak
* Trilobite Point
* White Peaks

Gros Ventre Range|

* Darwin Peak
* Doubletop Peak
* Sheep Mountain

Laramie Mountains|

* Casper Mountain
* Laramie Peak
* Muddy Mountain

Medicine Bow Mountains|

* Elk Mountain (Carbon County)
* Medicine Bow Peak

Salt River Range|

* Mount Fitzpatrick

Teton Range|

* Albright Peak
* Battleship Mountain
* Bivouac Peak
* Buck Mountain
* Cathedral Group
* Cleaver Peak
* Cloudveil Dome
* Disappointment Peak
* Doane Peak
* Dry Ridge Mountain
* Eagles Rest Peak
* Elk Mountain (Teton County)
* Forellen Peak
* Fossil Mountain
* Grand Teton
* Green Lakes Mountain
* Housetop Mountain
* The Jaw
* Littles Peak
* Maidenform Peak
* Middle Teton
* Moose Mountain
* Mount Bannon
* Mount Glory
* Mount Hunt
* Mount Jedediah Smith
* Mount Meek
* Mount Moran
* Mount Owen
* Mount Saint John
* Mount Wister
* Mount Woodring
* Mount Woodrow Wilson
* Nez Perce Peak
* Owl Peak
* Prospectors Mountain
* Rammell Mountain
* Ranger Peak
* Raynolds Peak
* Red Mountain
* Rendezvous Mountain
* Rendezvous Peak
* Rock of Ages
* Rockchuck Peak
* Rolling Thunder Mountain
* Shadow Peak
* South Teton
* Spearhead Peak
* Static Peak
* Survey Peak
* Symmetry Spire
* Table Mountain
* Teepe Pillar
* Teewinot Mountain
* Temple Peak
* Thor Peak
* Traverse Peak
* Veiled Peak
* The Wall
* Window Peak

Uinta Mountains|

* Humpy Peak
* Medicine Butte

Wind River Range|

* American Legion Peak
* Atlantic Peak
* Bair Peak
* Bastion Peak
* Bastion Peak-Northeast Peak
* Bears Ears Mountain
* Big Sandy Mountain
* Block Tower
* Bow Mountain
* Brown Cliffs North
* Cathedral Peak
* Desolation Peak
* Dog Tooth Peak
* Dome Mountain (Hot Springs County)
* Doublet Peak
* Downs Mountain
* East Temple Peak
* Flagstone Peak (Fremont County)
* Fremont Peak
* Gannett Peak
* Harrower Peak
* Henderson Peak
* Jackson Peak
* Klondike Peak
* Knife Point Mountain
* Lander Peak
* Lizard Head Peak
* Mitchell Peak
* Mount Bonneville
* Mount Chauvenet
* Mount Febbas
* Mount Helen
* Mount Hooker
* Mount Koven
* Mount Lander
* Mount Nystrom
* Mount Owen
* Mount Sacagawea
* Mount Warren
* Mount Washakie
* Mount Whitecap
* Overhanging Tower
* Payson Peak
* Pingora Peak
* Pylon Peak
* Raid Peak
* Rampart Peak
* Roaring Fork Mountain
* Roberts Mountain
* Shale Mountain
* Sharks Nose
* South Downs Mountain
* The Sphinx
* Split Mountain
* Sunbeam Peak
* Three Waters Mountain
* Torrey Peak
* Turret Peak
* Twin Peaks
* Union Peak
* Valentine Mountain
* Valentine Peak
* War Bonnet Peak
* Warrior Peaks
* Watch Tower
* Whiskey Mountain
* Wind River Peak
* Wolfs Head

Wyoming Range|

* Wyoming Peak

Others|

* Amethyst Mountain
* Aspen Mountain
* Barlow Peak
* Bridger Mountains
* Cook Peak
* Copper Mountain
* Dirty Mountain
* Douglas Knob
* Dunraven Peak
* Factory Hill
* Ferris Mountains
* Folsom Peak
* Garfield Peak
* Granite Mountains
* Granite Peak
* Heart Mountain
* Hedges Peak
* Hoyt Peak
* Jelm Mountain
* Mansface Hill
* Mount Hancock
* Mount Leidy
* Mount Sheridan
* Mount Washburn
* National Park Mountain
* Owl Creek Mountains
* Prospect Peak (Park County)
* Rawhide Buttes
* Roaring Mountain
* Sierra Madre Range
* Signal Mountain
* Snake River Range
* Specimen Ridge
* Sublette Mountain
* Tongue Butte
* Trischman Knob
* White Mountain
* Wilkins Peak

Authority control databases: National |

* United States
* Israel

|

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template