The American West is rich with mountain ranges, from glacier-draped behemoths to classic snowy summits to rugged desert peaks.
Some of its mountain ranges– like the Tetons and the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades– are among the most iconic in the world.
However, there are so many others that are astoundingly beautiful but are on relatively few people’s radars, which also means better opportunities for adventure and solitude. Following are some of the best of them.
Trinity Alps, California
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This range in northern California gets overshadowed by Mt. Shasta and the incredible, world-famous Sierra Nevada. It’s a hiker’s wilderness, with plenty of backcountry peaks and lakes to discover and admire.
Grapevine Mountains, California
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In Death Valley National Park, the Panamint Range gets a lot of attention because it’s the highest and also visible from so many different places, including Death Valley. The Grapevines run along the northeastern border of the park. The two most distinctive peaks are Corkscrew Peak and Thimble Peak, both of which have rugged backcountry routes to their summits.
Ruby Mountains, Nevada
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Located near Elko, these mountains are unknown to most people not familiar with the area. An area of exceptional beauty there is Lamoille Canyon, and you can drive up it and then, when the road ends, hike to alpine passes and lakes.
White Cloud Mountains, Idaho
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Of the three mountain ranges in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, the Sawtooths get the most attention and the White Clouds are the hardest to appreciate from roads. To experience this breathtaking range, drive to the Fourth of July trailhead and do the mostly easy hike to the lake of the same name.
Sawtooth Range, Montana
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While the Idaho Sawtooths are justly famous, the Montana Sawtooths are relatively unknown. Part of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, this is a range of jagged peaks seen to the west in the vicinity of Choteau, Bynum, and Dupuyer. Roads lead from each of those towns into the mountains, with the most scenic being the road to Teton Canyon and its forks.
Crazy Mountains, Montana
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If you’ve driven on I-90 near Big Timber or on U.S. 89 north of Livingston, you’ve seen the Crazies. However, most people don’t even know their name and know little about them even if they do since there are no roads through these mountains. You can, however, get closer via hiking trails.
Wyoming Range, Wyoming
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The least-known and least-visited mountains in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the Wyoming Range is the reddish line of peaks seen way to the west of the Pinedale area. You can approach from the east in a number of ways, but the best way to appreciate these beauties is to drive the spectacular Greys River Road south from the town of Alpine.
Gore Range, Colorado
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Everyone driving I-70 around Silverthorne and Frisco or driving south from Rocky Mountain National Park sees the Gore Range, but it’s another of those ranges that has no roads penetrating it, so most people don’t know much about them. These are some of the most rugged peaks in the state even though they’re not among the highest.
Henry Mountains, Utah
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When you’re driving the Boulder Highway toward Capitol Reef National Park, those mountains far to the east, often snowy into early summer, are the Henrys. They’re also easily seen, again far to the distance, from high areas in Canyonlands National Park. To appreciate them up close, though, expect long drives on very rugged roads requiring four-wheel drive.
Sierra Blanca, New Mexico
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Meaning “white mountains” in Spanish, this small range in south-central New Mexico is high enough and gets enough snow to be a major ski destination in the state. The summit of Sierra Blanca Peak, highest in the range, is sacred to the local Native Americans.
Organ Mountains, New Mexico
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The Organ Mountains form a spectacular backdrop for Las Cruces, and there are also great views of them as you drive between that city and White Sands National Monument. Trailheads and campgrounds provide access, and approaches to the peaks themselves can be very long.
Davis Mountains, Texas
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Located south of I-10, the Davis Mountains are some of the most beautiful peaks in Texas. Unfortunately, they’re mostly on private lane, but a state park and some scenic drives let the public get a nice taste of them.
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