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Colter Peak

Named for mountain man John Colter

Peak in Yellowstone NP, Rocky Mountains near Lake, WY

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Colter Peak el. 10,640 feet (3,240 m) is a mountain peak in the Absaroka Range in the southeastern section of Yellowstone National Park. The peak is named for mountain man John Colter, reputedly the first white man to visit the Yellowstone region. Colter Peak was first ascended in 1870 by Lt. Gustavus Cheyney Doane and Nathaniel P. Langford during the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition. Henry D. Washburn, the expedition leader named the peak for Langford and Doane. For unknown reasons, geologist Ferdinand V. Hayden moved those names to peaks farther north in 1871 during the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871. In 1888, Philetus Norris the second park superintendent, named the peak Mount Forum for unknown reasons. In 1885, geologist Arnold Hague gave the peak its official name: Colter…

Colter's Route in 1807

John Colter is widely credited as the first white man to explore Yellowstone National Park. An interpretation and representation of Colter’s Route in 1807 through MT, WY, and ID is depicted on Natural Atlas.

Scenic Photographs

South Boundary Trail: Colter Peak viewed near the Yellowstone River and Thorofare Creek confluence, Jacob W. Frank (NPS) photograph above.

South Boundary Trail: Yellowstone River and Thorofare Creek confluence reflections of a sunlit Colter Peak and Turret Mountain, the lone pinnacle to the right. Jacob W. Frank (NPS) photograph above.

Colter Peak (left of center) and Turret Mountain (far right, small protruding pillar in background) from the Yellowstone River inlet to Yellowstone Lake, two photographs above.

Colter Peak (below the GrandTeton) and the Teton Range (in the distance) framed by the saddle between Mt. Humphreys and Mt. Schutz, Jacob W. Frank (NPS) photograph above.