White Cloud Mountains


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 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

Mountain PeakElevationProminenceIsolationLocationEasiest 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 Peak9,367 ft
2,855 m		1,509 ft
460 m		7.7 mi
12.39 km		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.