Kinbasket Lake, Columbia River, British Columbia

The Columbia Mountains are a group of

mountain range A mountain range or hill range is a series of mountains or hills arranged in a line and connected by high ground. A mountain system or mountain belt is a group of mountain ranges with similarity in form, structure, and alignment that have arise ...

s along the upper Columbia River in

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

Montana Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columb ...

Idaho Idaho ( ) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Montana and Wyomi ...

and

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...

. The mountain range covers 135,952 km² (52,491 sq mi). The range is bounded by the Rocky Mountain Trench on the east, and the Kootenai River on the south; their western boundary is the edge of the

Interior Plateau The Interior Plateau comprises a large region of the Interior of British Columbia, and lies between the Cariboo and Monashee Mountains on the east, and the Hazelton Mountains, Coast Mountains and Cascade Range on the west.''Landforms of British C ...

. Seventy-five percent of the range is located in Canada and the remaining twenty-five percent in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

; American geographic classifications place the Columbia Mountains as part of the

Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in straight-line distance from the northernmost part of western Canada, to New Mexico ...

complex, but this designation does not apply in Canada (despite a British Columbia government tourism campaign to rebrand their southern portion as the "Kootenay Rockies"). Mount Sir Sandford is the highest mountain in the range, reaching .

Mountain ranges

The Columbia Mountains are made up of four large ranges containing many subranges: *

Cariboo Mountains The Cariboo Mountains are the northernmost subrange of the Columbia Mountains, which run down into the Spokane area of the United States and include the Selkirks, Monashees and Purcells. The Cariboo Mountains are entirely within the province of ...

Lunn Icefield Lunn is a surname, and may refer to: * Agnes Cathinka Wilhelmine Lunn (1850–1941), Danish artist * Arnold Lunn (1888–1974), British mountaineer * Billy Lunn (footballer) (1923–2000), Northern Ireland * Bob Lunn (born 1945), American golfer ...

Mowdish Range The Mowdish Range is a mountain range in east-central British Columbia, Canada. It has an area of 303 km2 and is a subrange of the Cariboo Mountains which in turn form part of the Columbia Mountains. It is often called Mawdish Range with the ...

Premier Range The Premier Range is a group of mountains within the Cariboo Mountains of east-central British Columbia, Canada. The range (also known as the Premier Group) is bounded by the Raush River and Kiwa Creek to the north, the North Thompson River on th ...

Vimy Ridge The Battle of Vimy Ridge was part of the Battle of Arras, in the Pas-de-Calais department of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the four divisions of the Canadian Corps in the First Army, against three divisions of ...

Wavy Range The Wavy Range is a small mountain range east of Murtle Lake in east-central British Columbia, Canada. It has an area of 102 km2 and is a subrange of the Cariboo Mountains which in turn form part of the Columbia Mountains.Monashee Mountains The Monashee Mountains are a mountain range lying mostly in British Columbia, Canada, extending into the U.S. state of Washington. They stretch from north to south and from east to west. They are a sub-range of the Columbia Mountains. The highes ...

Anstey Range The Anstey Range is a mountain range in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, located east of the Seymour Arm of Shuswap Lake, south of Ratchford Creek and between the Perry River on the east. It has an area of 507 km2 and is a subrange of ...

Christina Range The Christina Range is a mountain range in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, located roughly north of Grand Forks, between Lower Arrow Lake and the Granby River. It has an area of 2442 km2 and is a subrange of the Monashee Mountains, w ...

Gold Range The Gold Range is a subrange of the Monashee Mountains in the southern British Columbia Interior. This range originally applied to all of the Monashees between the Arrow Lakes and the Okanagan but today only applies to a narrow stretch of the Mo ...

Jordan Range The Jordan Range is a mountain range in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, located northwest of Revelstoke, between the Columbia River and the Perry River, to the north of Three Valley Gap (the summit of Eagle Pass). It has an area of 634& ...

Kettle River Range The Kettle River Range, often called the Kettle Range, is the southernmost range of the Monashee Mountains, located in far southeastern British Columbia, Canada and Ferry County, Washington, in the United States. Most of the northern half of the ...

Malton Range The Malton Range is a mountain range in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, located southwest of the Canoe Reach of Kinbasket Lake and east of the Albreda River, north of Dominion Mountain. It has an area of 451 km2 and is a subrange of ...

** Midway Range ** Ratchford Range **

Rossland Range The Rossland Range is a subrange of the Monashee Mountains of the Columbia Mountains, between the Columbia River and Big Sheep Creek in British Columbia, Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territ ...

** Scrip Range **

Whatshan Range The Whatshan Range is a subrange of the Monashee Mountains of the Columbia Mountains in southeastern British Columbia, Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocea ...

*** The Pinnacles * Selkirk Mountains ** Asulkan Range ** Battle Range **

Big Bend Ranges The Big Bend Ranges are a subrange of the Selkirk Mountains of the Columbia Mountains in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, located in Big Bend of the Columbia River north of the Illecillewaet River. Sub-ranges * Adamant Range * Sir Sandford ...

***

Adamant Range The Adamant Range is a subrange of the Big Bend Ranges of the Selkirk Mountains of the Columbia Mountains in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, located on the west side of Columbia Reach, Kinbasket Lake Kinbasket Lake (or Kinbasket Reservoir ...

***

Sir Sandford Range The Sir Sandford Range is a subrange of the Big Bend Ranges of the Selkirk Mountains of the Columbia Mountains in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, located between Gold (river) and Palmer Creek just southwest of the Gold Arm of Kinbasket La ...

***

Windy Range The Windy Range is a subrange of the Big Bend Ranges of the Selkirk Mountains of the Columbia Mountains in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, located on the west side of Columbia Reach, Kinbasket Lake Kinbasket Lake (or Kinbasket Reservoir) ...

** Bishops Range **

Bonnington Range The Bonnington Range is a subrange of the Selkirk Mountains of the Columbia Mountains in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, located between Salmo River and Columbia River south of Nelson Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nels ...

** Clachnacudainn Range ** Dawson Range **

Duncan Ranges The Duncan Ranges are a subrange of the Selkirk Mountains of the Columbia Mountains in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, located west of the Duncan River (British Columbia), Duncan River, southeast of Revelstoke, British Columbia, Revelstoke. ...

***

Badshot Range The Badshot Range is a subrange of the Duncan Ranges of the Selkirk Mountains of the Columbia Mountains in southeastern British Columbia, Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from ...

** Goat Range ** Hermit Range **

Kokanee Range The Kokanee Range is a subrange of the Selkirk Mountains in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia, Canada. It is located between the valley of the Slocan River (W) and that of Kootenay Lake (E), and to the north of the Kootenay ...

*** Slocan Ranges ** Lardeau Range ** Nelson Range ** Purity Range ** Sir Donald Range **

Valhalla Ranges The Valhalla Ranges are a subrange of the Selkirk Mountains of the Columbia Mountains in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, located between Lower Arrow Lake of the Arrow Lakes and Slocan River Slocan may refer to: Communities * Slocan, Briti ...

*** Ruby Range ** Valkyr Range *** Norns Range *

Purcell Mountains The Purcell Mountains are a mountain range in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. They are a subrange of the Columbia Mountains, which includes the Selkirk, Monashee, and Cariboo Mountains. They are located on the west side of the Rocky Mounta ...

(Percell Mountains in the

) **

The Bugaboos The Bugaboos are a mountain range in the Purcell Mountains of eastern British Columbia, Canada. The granite spires of the group are a popular mountaineering destination. The Bugaboos are protected within Bugaboo Provincial Park. Geography Th ...

Group **

Carbonate Range A carbonate is a salt of carbonic acid (H2CO3), characterized by the presence of the carbonate ion, a polyatomic ion with the formula . The word ''carbonate'' may also refer to a carbonate ester, an organic compound containing the carbonate g ...

Dogtooth Range Dogtooth or dog tooth may refer to: * Dogtooth (anatomy), a relatively long, pointed tooth * Dogtooth, North Dakota, United States * ''Dogtooth'' (film), a 2009 film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos * Dog-tooth, an ornament found in medieval arch ...

** Farnham Group ** MacBeth Group ** McGillivary Range ** Moyie Range **

Septet Range A septet is a formation containing exactly seven members. It is commonly associated with musical groups but can be applied to any situation where seven similar or related objects are considered a single unit, such as a seven-line stanza of poetry. ...

** Spillimacheen Range ** Starbird Ridge *** Commander Group ** Stockdale Group ** Toby Glacier ** Truce Group **

Yahk Range Yahk is an unincorporated hamlet in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, just north of the Canada-U.S. border. Yahk Provincial Park borders the village to the south. Yahk is located on the Moyie River. CBC Television talk show '' The Hour'' ...

Additionally lower areas to the west of the main ranges are sometimes included in the description of the Cariboo Mountains: *

Quesnel Highland The Quesnel Highland is a geographic area in the Central Interior of the Canadian province of British Columbia. As defined by BC government geographer in ''Landforms of British Columbia'', an account and analysis of British Columbia geography tha ...

** Gosse Range ** Palmer Range ** Goose Range ** Palmer Range *

Shuswap Highland The Shuswap Highland is a plateau-like hilly area of in British Columbia, Canada. It spans the upland area between the Bonaparte and Thompson Plateaus from the area of Mahood Lake, at the southeast corner of the Cariboo Plateau, southeast towards ...

** Hunters Range ** Mabel Range ** Park Range ** Sawtooth Range **

Seymour Range The Seymour Range is a low and small mountain range comprising the mountains/hills between the valley of Cowichan Lake and that of the San Juan River on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. It has an area of 888 km2 and is a ...

** Shuswap Range ** Silver Hills **

Trinity Hills The Trinity Hills are a range of hills in southeastern Trinidad. According to legend, it is after these hills that Christopher Columbus named the island of Trinidad. Columbus had promised to name the next land he discovered after the ''Holy Trinit ...

Okanagan Highland The Okanagan Highland is an elevated hilly plateau area in British Columbia, Canada, and the U.S. state of Washington (where it is spelled Okanogan Highlands). Rounded mountains with elevations up to above sea level and deep, narrow valleys are ...

Beaverdell Range The Beaverdell Range is a subrange of the Okanagan Highland in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, located between the West Kettle and Kettle Rivers, and running nearly due south from Big White Mountain, which is its highest summit, an ...

Some classification systems end the Columbia Mountains at the

North Thompson River The North Thompson River is the northern branch of the Thompson River, the largest tributary of the Fraser River, in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It originates at the toe of the Thompson Glacier in the Premier Range of the Cariboo ...

, such that the

are assigned to the

. Where the Columbia Mountains meet the

there are intermediary areas known as ''highlands'' - the Quesnel Highland (west flank of the Cariboos), the Shuswap Highland (south of the Cariboos and west of the northern

Monashees The Monashee Mountains are a mountain range lying mostly in British Columbia, Canada, extending into the U.S. state of Washington. They stretch from north to south and from east to west. They are a sub-range of the Columbia Mountains. The highes ...

), and the Okanagan Highland (west of the southern

). These are listed here but are often considered to be part of the

. Some geographic classifications also include the

Cabinet Mountains The Cabinet Mountains are part of the Rocky Mountains, located in northwest Montana and the Idaho panhandle, in the United States. The mountains cover an area of 2,134 square miles (5,527 km2). The Cabinet Mountains lie south of the Purcell M ...

and

Salish Mountains The Salish Mountains are located in the northwest corner of the U.S. State of Montana Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota ...

, which lie south of the Purcells between the Kootenai River and the Clark Fork of the Columbia, but in US classification systems they are generally considered to be part of the Rocky Mountains. Physiographically, they are a distinct province of the larger

Rocky Mountain System The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in straight-line distance from the northernmost part of western Canada, to New Mexico in ...

physiographic division.

Highest Mountains

The following mountains are the 10 highest mountains (in order) contained within the Columbian Mountains: * Mount Sir Sandford (3,519 m) (Selkirks) *

Mount Sir Wilfrid Laurier Mount Sir Wilfrid Laurier is the highest peak of the Cariboo Mountains in the east-central interior of British Columbia, Canada. The mountain is part of the Premier Range, which is located just west of Valemount. The name honours the seventh Pri ...

(3,516 m) (Cariboos) *

Mount Farnham Mount Farnham is British Columbia's 17th highest peak, and 21st most prominent. It was named after Paulding Farnham from New York. It is the highest peak in the Purcells (a subset of the larger Columbia mountain range). See also * Geography of ...

(3,493 m) (Purcells) *

Jumbo Mountain Jumbo MountainBeckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008. is a summit near the western edge of the North Cascades, in Snohomish County of Washington (U.S. state), Washington state. I ...

(3,437 m) (Purcells) *

Howser Spire Howser Spire, or Howser Spire Massif, is a group of three distinct granite peaks, and the highest mountain of the Canadian Bugaboo Spires. The mountain is located at the southwest corner of the Vowell Glacier, within the Bugaboo mountain range ...

(3,412 m) (Purcells) * Mount Delphine (3,406 m) (Purcells) * Mount Sir John Abbott (3,398 m) (Cariboos) * Mount Hammond (3,387 m) (Purcells) * Mount Dawson (3,377 m) (Selkirks) *

Eyebrow Peak Eyebrow Peak is a prominent glaciated mountain summit located in the Purcell Mountains in southeast British Columbia, Canada. It is the ninth-highest peak in the Purcells. It is situated south of The Bugaboos, west of Invermere, north of ...

(3,362 m) (Purcells)

Passes

The following passes are located within or on the perimeter of the Columbia Mountains: * Cedarside Pass (Fraser and Columbia Rivers 800m) *

Canal Flats Canal Flats is a village municipality in the East Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. This Columbia Valley community lies between the southern end of Columbia Lake and the northwest shore of the Kootenay River. The locality, on High ...

(Columbia and Kootenay Rivers) * Rogers Pass (between Revelstoke and Golden) *

Kootenay Pass Kootenay Pass, known locally as "the Salmo–Creston" is a mountain pass in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. The pass summit divides the drainage basin of the Pend d'Oreille River on the west (via tributaries Stagleap Cr ...

(between Trail and Creston) * Eagle Pass (between Revelstoke and Sicamous) * Monashee Pass (BC Hwy 6) * Bonanza Pass (Christina Lake to Castlegar/Rossland)

National and provincial parks

Snowmelt Pool in Valhalla Provincial Park

* Ansty Hunakwa Protected Area *

Bowron Lake Provincial Park Bowron Lake Provincial Park is a provincial park located in northern British Columbia, Canada, roughly east of the city of Quesnel. Other nearby towns include Wells and the historic destination of Barkerville. Once a popular hunting and fishin ...

* Bugaboo Provincial Park *

Cariboo Mountains Provincial Park Cariboo Mountains Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, located northeast of Likely. Comprising 113,469 ha., the park is located in the Cariboo Mountains between Bowron Lakes Provincial Park (NW) and Wells Gray Prov ...

* Dunn Peak Protected Area * Glacier National Park *

Gladstone Provincial Park Gladstone Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, surrounding and north of the north end of Christina Lake in that province's Boundary Country The Boundary Country is a historical designation for a district in southern ...

Goat Range Provincial Park Goat Range Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. The park was established to protect unique species such as the (protected) Gerrard Rainbow Trout (the largest in the world-up to 50 lb) and the distinct color group of ...

Granby Provincial Park Granby Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. It is located north of Grand Forks Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the state of North Dakota (after Fargo and Bismarck) and the county seat of Grand Forks Co ...

* Graystokes Provincial Park * Kianuko Provincial Park *

Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park is one of the oldest provincial parks in British Columbia, established in 1922. The park has an area of and is located in the Selkirk Mountains in the West Kootenays region of BC. The park has three glaciers (Kok ...

* Monashee Provincial Park *

Mount Revelstoke National Park Mount Revelstoke National Park is a national park located adjacent to the city of Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada. The park is relatively small for a national park, covering . It is located in the Selkirk Mountains and was founded in 1914. ...

Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, located in the Okanagan Highland east of Kelowna. It was established to protect the full elevational range of the North Okanagan Basin and North Okanagan Highlands ec ...

Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park is a provincial park within the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District of British Columbia, Canada, focused on the mountain of the same name and located on the east side of Okanagan Lake, opposite Peachland and ...

* Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Provincial Park and Protected Area * St. Mary's Alpine Provincial Park * Silver Star Provincial Park *

Valhalla Provincial Park Valhalla Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. It was established on March 3, 1983, in the mountains above the Western shores of Slocan Lake, in the west Kootenays. The park consists of most of the Valhalla Ranges of ...

Wells Gray Provincial Park Wells Gray Provincial Park is a large wilderness park located in east-central British Columbia, Canada. The park protects most of the southern, and highest, regions of the Cariboo Mountains and covers 5,250 square kilometres (524,990 hectares or ...

* West Arm Provincial Park * West Twin Provincial Park and Protected Area

References

Sources

* *
Columbia Mountains on Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia
{{Authority control Physiographic provinces Lists of mountain ranges of Canada Mountain ranges of British Columbia Mountain ranges of Idaho Mountain ranges of Montana Mountain ranges of Washington (state)