Coming from the East, where does the “Mountain West” begin?

[Citykid3785]

Having spent a lot of time in the Black Hills, it very much feels a part of the mountain west. It has the big open spaces, bison, american frontier feel to it that can't be denied.

If one hasn't been to the Black Hills, the region is very unique and can somewhat shock you. Black Elk Peak (formerly Harney Peak) is 7,244 ft. It's the highest point east of the Rockies (although TX has a peak that is taller and further east, though considered a part of the Rockies).

[bluescreen73]

Out of the ones on this list I'd probably go Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Cheyenne in that order.

Cheyenne really doesn't have much for mountain views, but it sits at 6,000' and it's just east of the Laramie Mountains (which are decidedly low by Rocky Mountain standards, but visible nonetheless).

I love the Black Hills, but Rapid City is an odd duck given that the Black Hills are a bit of an outpost. Go southwest of Rapid and once you get past Newcastle, WY, you're back to geography that looks similar to the Eastern Plains of Colorado.

Originally Posted by walker1962

What's funny about this is people don't realize that when traveling west from Dallas-Fort Worth to Amarillo/Lubbock, you are constantly going up in elevation:
1. Lubbock is 3,200 feet above sea level
2. Amarillo is 3,600 feet above sea level

All the Central Plains states do that. In Nebraska, Omaha is at 1,100 feet, and Kimball is at 4,700'. For Kansas, KCK is at 869' and Kanorado is at 3,900'.

[councilor j]

I grew up in Eastern New Mexico, it’s flat as can be, no trees, no hills and views as far as the eye can see. While New Mexico is most definitely a Mountain West state, I don’t think anyone in Eastern New Mexico or Lubbock would consider their areas gateways to the Mountain West.
I say it starts in Pueblo or Albuquerque or El Paso, I’m not familiar with the up North Western areas so I can’t speak on that.