White Cloud Mountains

Template:Short description Template:Infobox mountain The White Cloud Mountains are part of the Rocky Mountains of the western United States, located in central Idaho, southeast of Stanley in Custer County. The range is located within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) and partially within the Cecil D. Andrus–White Clouds Wilderness.

The White Cloud Mountains are located on National Forest land, with numerous trails in the area. Camping is permitted anywhere on the national forest land and there are no fees to access the area. Primary access to the area is via State Highway 75, the Salmon River Scenic Byway, which accompanies the main Salmon River as it descends along the range's western and northern perimeter.

The highest peak in the White Cloud Mountains, and the SNRA, is Castle Peak at . The Sawtooth Mountains are about west of the White Clouds, on the west side of the river and highway, and the Boulder Mountains are directly south of the White Clouds.

Peaks

A photo of Castle and Merriam peaks from the west

Castle and Merriam Peaks

Peaks of the White Cloud Mountains

Mountain Peak	Elevation	Prominence	Isolation	Location	Easiest Route
Castle Peak		Class 3
Calkins Peak		Class 3
D. O. Lee Peak		Class 3
Lonesome Lake Peak		Class 2
Peak 11,272		Class 3
White Cloud Peak 9		Class 2
Chinese Wall		unknown
White Cloud Peak 10		Class 4
Merriam Peak		Class 3
Patterson Peak		Class 2
White Cloud Peak 7		Class 3
Fourth of July Peak		Class 2
White Cloud Peak 5		Class 4
White Cloud Peak 3		Class 3
White Cloud Peak 8		Class 3
Washington Peak		Class 2
Ebony Peak		Class 3
Watson Peak		Class 3
White Cloud Peak 4		Class 3
Croseus Peak		unknown
White Cloud Peak 1		Class 2
Blackmon Peak		Class 2
White Cloud Peak 2		Class 3
White Cloud Peak 6		Class 2
Peak 10,041		Class 2
Lookout Mountain		Class 1
Peak 9,988		Class 2
Horton Peak		Class 1
Bible Back Mountain		unknown
Potaman Peak	9,367 ft 2,855 m	1,509 ft 460 m	7.7 mi 12.39 km	44.22015°N 114.396944°W	unknown

Lakes

See List of lakes of the White Cloud Mountains

Mine proposal

In 1970, it was proposed that the White Cloud Mountains be the site of an open-pit mine. The proposal became a major issue in Idaho's 1970 gubernatorial election. Incumbent Republican governor Don Samuelson favored the mine, as it would generate an estimated $4 million in revenue to the state. However, his Democratic opponent, Cecil Andrus, opposed the mine on conservation grounds. His stance was backed by many of the state's urban residents, who enjoyed vacationing at the mountains. Andrus won the election by more than four points, and it has been suggested that Andrus's stance on the mine was a contributing factor to his victory, and in particular to his victories in the normally Republican-leaning urban parts of the state.

Photos

• White Cloud Mountains viewed from Sawtooth Mountains
  White Cloud Mountains viewed from Sawtooth Mountains
• Washington Lake in the White Cloud Mountains
  Washington Lake in the White Cloud Mountains
• Castle Peak to left of center
  Castle Peak to left of center
• Fourth of July Lake in the White Cloud Mountains
  Fourth of July Lake in the White Cloud Mountains
• Castle Peak
  Castle Peak
• White Cloud Mountains
  White Cloud Mountains
• Warm Spring Creek in White Cloud Mountains
  Warm Spring Creek in White Cloud Mountains
• Warm Springs Meadow in White Cloud Mountains
  Warm Springs Meadow in White Cloud Mountains
• White Cloud Mountains
  White Cloud Mountains
• White Cloud Mountains across Sawtooth Valley
  White Cloud Mountains across Sawtooth Valley
• Hikers leaving Quiet Lake, which sits at the base of Castle Peak and Merriam Peak.
  Hikers leaving Quiet Lake, which sits at the base of Castle Peak and Merriam Peak.
• Hikers eating lunch at Shallow Lake with the Devil's Staircase on the horizon.
  Hikers eating lunch at Shallow Lake with the Devil's Staircase on the horizon.

External links

• Peak Bagger.com - White Cloud Mountains
• Visit Idaho.org - official state tourism site
• Idaho Summits.com - Castle Peak - 11,815 ft.