A range of mountains running North/South between Eriador and the Vale of Anduin. In Sindarin called the Hithaeglir.

Said to have been raised by Melkor to hinder the Great Journey, delaying the Elves and causing the Nandor to turn South, the Misty Mountains ran from Carn Dum and Mount Gundabad in the north to Methedras near Isengard in the South. The range was transected by two main passes; the High Pass from Rivendell, used by Thorin and Company during the Quest of Erebor and the Redhorn Pass further south which turned back the Fellowship in the Lord of the Rings.

In the region of the Redhorn Pass were three spectacular peaks, Caradhras, Celebdil and Fanuidhol. Beneath them, in former ages the dwarves had delved the great labyrinth of Khazad-dum, which later was known as Moria and infested with Orcs, who had established a number of other strongholds along the range during the Third Age.

The Misty Mountains were also the abode of Eagles.
Encyclopedia entry originally written by Hathaldir