Sawtooth Ridge
# Sawtooth Ridge

Sawtooth Ridge is an 8,179-foot (2,493-metre) mountain ridge located in Lewis and Clark County, Montana.

## Description

Sawtooth Ridge is located along the Rocky Mountain Front, which is a subset of the Rocky Mountains. It is situated 45 miles west of Great Falls, in the Sun River Wildlife Management Area. Precipitation runoff from this landform drains into tributaries of the Sun River. Topographic relief is significant as the east aspect rises approximately 3,700 feet (1,100 meters) above the prairie. Castle Reef is 6.94 miles to the north, but Fairview Mountain is considered to be the nearest higher neighbor, 6.57 miles to the south-southwest.

## Geology

Sawtooth Ridge is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods. Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny. The Lewis Overthrust extends over 280 miles (450 km) from Mount Kidd in Alberta, south to Steamboat Mountain which is located 18 miles south of Sawtooth Ridge, which places Sawtooth Ridge within the southern extent of the Lewis Overthrust.

## Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Sawtooth Ridge has an alpine subarctic climate characterized by long, usually very cold winters, and mild to warm summers. Winter temperatures can drop below −10 °F with wind chill factors below −30 °F.

