Quoted By:
Depends entirely on the objective metrics to be measured, and separately entirely upon your own personal interests.
Snowiest (by average and total snowfall in places): All above at least 400" average winter snowfall (above 500-700" for UT)
-UT
-CO
-WY
Close ties (all above 250" average winter snowfall)
-MT
-ID
-AZ
-NM
-NV
Most forest (by total area rather than percent land area covered in forest): Rank by percent listed on the right.
-MT (~40k sq mi) #5
-NM (~39k sq mi) #4
-CO (36k sq mi) #3
-ID (~34k sq mi) #1
-AZ (~30k sq mi) #6
-UT (~29k sq mi) #2
-WY (~18k sq mi) #7
-NV (~17k sq mi) #8
Total number of cataloged mountain peaks listed by minimum prominence of 300 ft (91m); US mountaineering standard (subject to change over time)
-AZ (7,505)
-NV (7,063)
-MT (6,062)
-ID (5,897)
-UT (4,540)
-CO (4,384)
-NM (3,251)
-WY (3,143)
Total number of listed geographically/geologically recognized mountain ranges (primary-secondary-tertiary-stand alone), different from total named mountains of which each state has more than 3,000 each.
-NV (300 +)
-AZ (210 +)
-ID (115 +)
-NM (110 +)
-WY (100 +)
-MT (100 +)
-UT (80 +)
-CO (70 +) [clustering leads to lower counts often]
Mean peak elevation with minimum 300 ft (91m) prominence by mean county peak list mean elevations: (not the same as mean peak elevation as a whole).
CO - 10,335 ft
WY - 9,106 ft
NM - 7,458 ft
UT - 7,384 ft
ID - 7,357 ft
MT - 7,212 ft
NV - 6,919 ft
AZ - 4,475 ft
By # peaks above 6k ft (1829m) with 300 ft prominence
NV - 5,201
ID - 4,483
MT - 4,438
CO - 4,332
UT - 3,559
WY - 2,923
NM - 2,603
AZ - 1,889
Wettest mountains (at least 35-40" + precipitation, 40%+ falling as rain in warm seasons)
AZ
NM
UT
ID
Every state is at least 30-40% + mountainous or hilly terrain (1k ft + change in 10 NM), every state is over 50% except for CO, WY, NM and MT.
