The basin was eventually buried and later re-exposed through the collision of several tectonic plates around 80 million years ago.

[2] The features of the Mission Mountains strongly reflect work of the last few ice ages, the latest of those being just over 10,000 years ago.

[3] Three million years ago, at the end of the Cenozoic Era, western Montana would have been full of tall mountains, but it was the next geologic process that made them what they are today.

Large glaciers began to form in the area 2–3 million years ago; this was the beginning of the Pleistocene Epoch.

[3] The formation of the Flathead Lobe of the Alberta Cordilleran ice sheet is what set this history into motion.

The glacier reached hundreds of miles down the Rocky Mountain Trench, ending as far south as St. Ignatius, Montana.

[2] A view of the area at that time would have been majestic, with large glaciers flowing around both sides and partially over the range.

The northern half of the range was largely rolled over by the Flathead Lobe, which was much like a huge moving ice sheet.

Rain, snow, ice, wind, and other forces continue to work at the alpine landscape of the Missions.

Recorded human contact with the Mission Mountains began with the native peoples thousands of years ago and runs up to the present.

The Salish and Kootenai people have traditionally used the mountains as a place for fishing, hunting, berry-picking, and for performing sacred ceremonies.

As most of the Mission Mountains fall under special protection, land use is limited largely to recreation.

People wishing to take horses into the range need to consult the Flathead National Forest requirements, which include hay restrictions and other rules.

[5] Non-tribal members passing through land belonging to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are required to carry a valid tribal lands-usage permit, which can easily be obtained at local sporting goods stores.

The pass is good for one year and allows access to the east side of the Mission Range, stretches of the Flathead River, and other areas.

The southern end of the Mission Mountains includes a large grizzly bear protection area which is usually closed to hikers from July thru September.

This allows the bears to feed on lady bugs and cut worms, and attempts to keep bear-human contact to a minimum.

[5] Western Montana's famous huckleberry is also found all over the slopes of the Mission Mountains in the mid-to-late summer.