The Crazy Mountains, often called the Crazies, are a mountain range in the northern Rocky Mountains in the U.S. state of Montana.

Geography

Spanning a distance of 40 miles (64 km), the Crazy Mountains are located between the Musselshell and Yellowstone rivers. The highest peak is Crazy Peak at . Rising over above the Great plains to the east, the Crazies dominate their surroundings and are plainly visible just north of Interstate 90.

The Crazy Mountains form an isolated island range east of the Continental Divide. Others include the Castle Mountains, Little Belt Mountains, Big Snowy Mountains, Little Snowy Mountains, Sweet Grass Hills, Bull Mountains and, in the southeastern corner of the state near Ekalaka, the Long Pines and Short Pines.

Features

Geological features of the Crazy Mountains include:

• Shields River
• South Fork Musselshell River
• Big Timber Creek
• Sweet Grass Creek
• Crazy Peak

Adjacent Counties

• Meagher County, Montana - north
• Sweet Grass County, Montana - east
• Park County, Montana - west, south

Wildlife

Due to the eastern location, these mountains are drier and less densely forested than other mountain ranges in Montana and consequently, there are also only about 15 lakes found in the mountain range. The Crazy Mountains sit in both Gallatin National Forest and Lewis and Clark National Forest. The Crazies support a healthy herd of mountain goats and the occasional elusive wolverine.

Crazy Peak (left background) rises above a relatively barren region

Trivia

• The Crazies are almost completely surrounded by private lands making access into the mountains somewhat difficult, especially in the southern section where the highest peaks are located.
• The name Crazy Mountains is said to be a shortened form of the name "Crazy Woman Mountains" given them, in compliment to their original Crow name, after a woman who went insane and lived in them after her family was killed in the westward settlement movement.

External links

• Crazy Mountains: Backdrop to Big Timber SweetgrassCounty.Com
• Fishing, Hiking and Camping in the Crazy Mountains BigSkyFishing.Com
• Crazy Mountains PeakBagger.Com - Includes information on elevations