Elk Mountain (Routt County, Colorado)
Elk Mountain | |
---|---|
The Sleeping Giant | |
Highest point | |
Elevation | 2,660 m (8,730 ft)[1] |
Prominence | 507 m (1,663 ft)[2] |
Isolation | 20.55 km (12.77 mi)[2] |
Coordinates | 40°34′09″N 106°58′06″W / 40.56917°N 106.96833°W |
Geography | |
Parent range | Elkhead Mountains |
Topo map | Mad Creek |
Elk Mountain is a summit in Routt County, Colorado. The mountain lies to the northwest of Steamboat Springs and is easily seen from the city, especially from along Lincoln Avenue (U.S. Route 40), Steamboat's main street. The mountain is also easily seen from Mount Werner, the home of the Steamboat Ski Resort.
The Elk River flows near the mountain just before its confluence with the Yampa River in the Yampa Valley.
Legends and names
Locals sometimes refer to the mountain as "The Sleeping Giant" and tell legends about it.[3]
There are at least six other summits also named Elk Mountain in Colorado. This Elk Mountain in Routt County is not part of the Elk Mountains in West Central Colorado. Instead, it is one of the easternmost peaks in the Elkhead Mountains.
References
- ^ "Elk Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ a b "Elk Mountain, Colorado". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
- ^ Visit Steamboat. The Legend of the Sleeping Giant. Viewed September 9, 2016.