Along the remote northern edge of Yellowstone National Park (YNP), Crevice Mountain rises some 3,000 feet above the Yellowstone River. Until recently, Crevice was also home to a significant gold mining threat. For over a decade, Crevice Mining Group, LLC, invested heavily in developing a gold mine on Crevice, immediately adjacent to one of the world’s most iconic protected landscapes. In 2023, Greater Yellowstone Coalition raised $6.25 million to purchase the mineral rights, leases, and claims covering 1,598 acres on Crevice owned by Crevice Mining Group.
Protecting Crevice ensures the continuity of large, contiguous habitats. The biodiversity of Crevice is notable, with its various habitats ranging from alpine meadows to coniferous forests. People have enjoyed this area for its backcountry recreation opportunities like hiking, fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing, as well as its tremendous scenic values for generations.
Of the 1,598 acres, 1,208 represent unpatented mining claims on Forest Service land that are now permanently protected through the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act. As part of Phase 2 of this project, GYC is working with willing landowners to secure the remaining private in-holdings on Crevice Mountain.
