As you look around from Mission Valley you are ringed by mountains.
Most of the mountains you see from the Ronan area in the Mission Valley lie within the boundaries of the Flathead Reservation, the reservation of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT).
Looking east from the Mission Valley you can't miss the spectacular Mission Mountains. These rugged snowy peaks - average height of 7000 feet - are known as one of the wildest mountain ranges in the west and consist partly of National Forest Wilderness Area and partly of tribal wilderness owned and managed by the CSKT. The side facing Mission Valley is the tribally owned portion - with the boundary between the two wildernesses running along the crest of this north-south range. If you have one of the Retriever Paradise tee-shirts from the 2015 National Amateur you have a picture of the highest peak of the Mission Mountains, McDonald Peak. The 2019 Retriever Paradise tee-shirt features another peak from this range, Mt. Harding, which is also known by its tribal name of Mt. Calowahcan.
Now swinging to the north and following the Mission Range with your eyes until it drops down, on a clear day you see the snow-capped peaks of the Swan Range. Glacier Peak National Park is in this area but is not visible from the Mission Valley.
Turning to the west you are seeing yet more mountains, these are the Salish Mountains. The part you can see lies within the Flathead Reservation.
Looking south and south west gives a view of the much closer Bison Range. This range holds the National Bison Range, a National Wildlife Refuge managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Here you can take one of the most popular driving tours in the area and view bison herds - often from up close - as well as having the opportunity to see pronghorn antelope and other wildlife.
Looking to the south you see snowy mountain crests. These are the Coeur d'Alene mountains and all of the part that you can see lies within the Flathead Reservation, with the reservation boundary running along the crest of this east-west range.
This completes our circular visual tour of the mountains that surround the Mission Valley.
