Tallest Mountains In California: List Of Highest Mountain Peaks

Let’s Look the tallest mountains in california (List Of Top 50 Highest Summits Of California and Top 10 List Of California’s 14,000 Foot Summits (Peaks). California, one of the 50 states making up the US, is the most populous state in the country. Located in the western part of the country, California is bordered by the states of Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona. California is divided into two major regions: Northern California, comprising 48 counties, and Southern California, comprising 10 counties. California Central Valley, which lies in the state’s central region, is the state’s productive agricultural heartland. 

Most of the state is under a Mediterranean climate characterized by cool winters and hot summers. The Northern part of the state experiences more rain than the southern part. The mountain ranges also influence the state’s climate, with the west-facing mountain slopes receiving a lot of rainfall.

List Of Top 50 Highest Summits Of California

Rank	Mountain peak	Mountain range	Elevation	Prominence	Isolation	Location
1	Mount Whitney	Sierra Nevada	14,505 ft	10,080 ft	1,646 mi	36.5786°N 118.2920°W
2	Mount Williamson	Sierra Nevada	14,379 ft	1,676 ft	5.41 mi	36.6559°N 118.3111°W
3	White Mountain Peak	White Mountains	14,252 ft	7,196 ft	67.4 mi	37.6341°N 118.2557°W
4	North Palisade	Sierra Nevada	14,248 ft	2,894 ft	32.2 mi	37.0943°N 118.5145°W
5	Mount Shasta	Cascade Range	14,179 ft	9,772 ft	335 mi	41.4092°N 122.1949°W
6	Mount Humphreys	Sierra Nevada	13,992 ft	2,563 ft	14.71 mi	37.2705°N 118.6730°W
7	Mount Keith	Sierra Nevada	13,982 ft	1,936 ft	3.09 mi	36.7001°N 118.3436°W
8	Mount Darwin	Sierra Nevada	13,837 ft	1,891 ft	7.13 mi	37.1669°N 118.6721°W
9	Mount Kaweah	Sierra Nevada	13,807 ft	2,027 ft	10.73 mi	36.5261°N 118.4785°W
10	Mount Morgan	Sierra Nevada	13,758 ft	2,648 ft	9.86 mi	37.4053°N 118.7329°W
11	Mount Gabb	Sierra Nevada	13,747 ft	2,601 ft	4.28 mi	37.3769°N 118.8025°W
12	Mount Tom	Sierra Nevada	13,657 ft	1,992 ft	4.77 mi	37.3385°N 118.6570°W
13	Mount Dubois	White Mountains	13,565 ft	2,339 ft	9.63 mi	37.7834°N 118.3432°W
14	Mount Pinchot	Sierra Nevada	13,500 ft	2,110 ft	4.71 mi	36.9473°N 118.4054°W
15	Mount Ritter	Sierra Nevada	13,149 ft	3,990 ft	22 mi	37.6891°N 119.1996°W
16	Red Slate Mountain	Sierra Nevada	13,129 ft	1,736 ft	8.31 mi	37.5075°N 118.8693°W
17	Mount Lyell	Sierra Nevada	13,120 ft	1,926 ft	5.26 mi	37.7394°N 119.2716°W
18	Mount Dana	Sierra Nevada	13,063 ft	2,437 ft	11.4 mi	37.8999°N 119.2211°W
19	Mount Conness	Sierra Nevada	12,649 ft	2,650 ft	7.18 mi	37.9670°N 119.3213°W
20	Needham Mountain	Sierra Nevada	12,545 ft	1,840 ft	5.93 mi	36.4545°N 118.5373°W
21	Twin Peaks	Sierra Nevada	12,329 ft	2,143 ft	4.78 mi	38.0836°N 119.3588°W
22	Olancha Peak	Sierra Nevada	12,132 ft	3,103 ft	14.84 mi	36.2652°N 118.1182°W
23	Eagle Peak	Sierra Nevada	11,853 ft	2,358 ft	6.16 mi	38.1799°N 119.4086°W
24	Tower Peak	Sierra Nevada	11,760 ft	2,183 ft	7.96 mi	38.1445°N 119.5477°W
25	Mount Patterson	Sweetwater Mountains	11,679 ft	4,173 ft	18.5 mi	38.4366°N 119.3052°W
26	San Joaquin Mountain	Sierra Nevada	11,608 ft	1,706 ft	5.1 mi	37.7190°N 119.1061°W
27	Leavitt Peak	Sierra Nevada	11,573 ft	2,069 ft	11.28 mi	38.2862°N 119.6513°W
28	Kern Peak	Sierra Nevada	11,520 ft	2,580 ft	9.83 mi	36.3085°N 118.2879°W
29	San Gorgonio Mountain	San Bernardino Mountains	11,503 ft	8,294 ft	162.5 mi	34.0992°N 116.8249°W
30	Sonora Peak	Sierra Nevada	11,464 ft	1,816 ft	4.75 mi	38.3538°N 119.6355°W
31	Waucoba Mountain	Inyo Mountains	11,128 ft	3,943 ft	20 mi	37.0220°N 118.0078°W
32	Glass Mountain	Glass Mountain Ridge	11,128 ft	3,210 ft	16.16 mi	37.7749°N 118.7085°W
33	Keynot Peak	Inyo Mountains	11,105 ft	3,064 ft	17.09 mi	36.7076°N 117.9626°W
34	Telescope Peak	Panamint Range	11,043 ft	6,188 ft	57.2 mi	36.1698°N 117.0892°W
35	Mammoth Mountain	Sierra Nevada	11,036 ft	1,680 ft	5.09 mi	37.6305°N 119.0326°W
36	Highland Peak	Sierra Nevada	10,942 ft	2,496 ft	12 mi	38.5437°N 119.7556°W
37	Freel Peak	Sierra Nevada	10,886 ft	3,146 ft	22.9 mi	38.8575°N 119.9001°W
38	Mount Hoffmann	Sierra Nevada	10,855 ft	2,310 ft	5.74 mi	37.8469°N 119.5105°W
39	San Jacinto Peak	San Jacinto Mountains	10,834 ft	8,339 ft	20.3 mi	33.8147°N 116.6794°W
40	Lassen Peak	Cascade Range	10,462 ft	5,229 ft	71.4 mi	40.4882°N 121.5050°W
41	Round Top	Sierra Nevada	10,390 ft	2,561 ft	14.43 mi	38.6636°N 120.0010°W
42	Mount San Antonio	San Gabriel Mountains	10,068 ft	6,244 ft	42.5 mi	34.2891°N 117.6463°W
43	Pyramid Peak	Sierra Nevada	9,985 ft	2,603 ft	12.2 mi	38.8450°N 120.1579°W
44	Peak 9980	Sierra Nevada	9,985 ft	1,680 ft	23.5 mi	35.9314°N 118.3311°W
45	Sugarloaf Mountain	San Bernardino Mountains	9,956 ft	1,972 ft	5.04 mi	34.1989°N 116.8146°W
46	Eagle Peak	Warner Mountains	9,895 ft	4,362 ft	87.4 mi	41.2835°N 120.2007°W
47	Mount Eddy	Klamath Mountains	9,037 ft	5,125 ft	14.58 mi	41.3196°N 122.4790°W
48	Thompson Peak	Klamath Mountains	8,999 ft	3,934 ft	37 mi	41.0006°N 123.0484°W
49	Tin Mountain	Panamint Range	8,961 ft	4,013 ft	28 mi	36.8867°N 117.4560°W
50	Mount Pinos	San Emigdio Mountains	8,847 ft	4,800 ft	82.9 mi	34.8128°N 119.1454°W

What is the Highest Point in California?

The tallest mountain in California is Mount Whitney! It stands at a majestic 14,505 feet (4,421 meters) above sea level, making it not only the highest peak in the state but also the highest peak in the contiguous United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii).

Located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, on the border between Inyo and Tulare counties, Mount Whitney is a popular destination for experienced hikers and climbers. The challenging trails to the summit offer breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

Read Also: Tallest Mountains In The US

Top 10 List Of California’s 14,000 Foot Summits (Peaks)

The tallest peaks in california hold their ground, unchanged in their towering ranks. From the regal crown of Mount Whitney at 14,505 feet to the rugged challenge of Tyndall at 14,018 feet, these ten titans continue to dominate the Golden State’s skyline. While their heights remain constant, the stories around them may be evolving.

New trails for intrepid climbers might snake through granite faces, conservation efforts could paint vibrant pictures of protected ecosystems, or improved accessibility might beckon hikers toward breathtaking panoramas. If your heart beats for the call of the mountains, don’t hesitate to ask for specific updates – these Californian giants have many tales yet to unfold.

Rank	Name	Height (ft)	Range
1	Mount Whitney	14,505 ft	Sierra Nevada
2	Williamson, Mount	14,373 ft	Sierra Nevada
3	White Mountain Peak	14,246 ft	White Mountain
4	North Palisade	14,242 ft	Sierra Nevada
5	Shasta, Mount	14,162 ft	Cascade
6	Sill, Mount	14,153 ft	Sierra Nevada
7	Russell, Mount	14,088 ft	Sierra Nevada
8	Split Mountain	14,058 ft	Sierra Nevada
9	Langley, Mount	14,026 ft	Sierra Nevada
10	Tyndall, Mount	14,018 ft	Sierra Nevada

1. Mount Whitney – Highest Peak in California

• Name: Mount Whitney
• Height: 14,505 feet
• Range: Sierra Nevada Range
• First Ascent Summit Of Mount: August 18, 1873
• First Climber: Charles Begole, Albert Johnson & John Lucas

Mount Whitney is the highest point in california under the list of top 10 tallest mountains in California, standing at 14,505 feet high. It’s part of the Sierra Nevada Range and sits on the border of Inyo and Tulare counties. The summit is on the Great Basin Divide and Sierra Crest, overlooking Owens Valley. This highest peak has a chilly climate, and near the top, you’ll find only a few plants like the sky pilot. 

In 1864, it got its name from Josiah Whitney, California’s state geologist. Charles Begole and John Lucas were the first to climb it in 1873, initially calling it “Fisherman’s Peak.” Later, in 1891, the U.S. Geological Survey officially named it Mount Whitney. The Mount Whitney Trail is the most popular way to reach the summit, starting from Whitney Portal.

2. Williamson, Mount

• Name: Mount Williamson
• Height: 14,379 fee
• Range: Sierra Nevada Range
• First Ascent: 1884
• First Climber: W. L. Hunter and C. Mulholland

Mount Williamson is the second-highest peak in California under the list of top 10 of tallest mountains in California, standing at 14,379 feet. It’s also part of the Sierra Nevada Range in the John Muir Wilderness within Inyo National Park. This mountain is about 10 km north of Mount Whitney and is more challenging to access. 

Mount Williamson got its name from Robert Stockton Williamson, who surveyed the Pacific Railroad in California. The first time someone reached the top was in 1884 when W. L. Hunter and Mulholland took the Southeast Slope Route. Nowadays, the usual way to summit Mount Williamson is through the West Side Route, starting from Shepherd’s Pass.

3. White Mountain Peak

• Name: White Mountain Peak
• Height: 14,252 feet
• Range: White Mountain range
• First Ascent: Not Known
• First Climber: Not Known

The White Mountain Peak is the 3rd highest under the list of top 10 tallest mountains in California, towering at 14,252 feet, is the highest peak in the White Mountain. At its summit, you’ll experience a tundra climate with harsh winters. This peak gets substantial snow, reaching up to 400 cm each year. The area is marked by low moisture, dry air, and strong winds. White Mountain Peak is home to some of the oldest living things, including delicate plants and wildlife. If you plan to hike there, note that access is limited, and there’s a locked gate before Barcroft Station.

4. North Palisade

• Name: North Palisade
• Height: 14,000 feet
• Range: Sierra Nevada range
• First Ascent: July 25, 1903
• First Climber: James S. Hutchinson, Joseph N. LeConte, James K. Moffitt

The North Palisade is the third-highest mountain in California’s Sierra Nevada range, standing tall at over 14,000 feet, which earns it the title of a fourteener. It holds the highest position among the peaks in the Palisades group, located in the central Sierra range. This mountain features a small glacier called the Palisade Glacier and is well-known for its sought-after rock climbing routes on the northeast side.

Throughout the 19th century, North Palisade went by various names. The Wheeler Survey called it Northwest Palisade in 1878. Lilbourne A. Winchell named it Dusty’s Peak the following year after local rancher Frank Dusy. 

In 1895, Bolton Brown suggested another name, honoring David Starr Jordan. In 2009, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, with support from U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, proposed renaming the peak to “Browser Palisade” in tribute to environmentalist David Brower. However, this suggestion faced significant opposition.

5. Shasta, Mount

• Name: Mount Shasta
• Height: 14,162 feet
• Range: Cascade Range
• First Ascent: 1854
• First Climber: Elias Pearce

Mount Shasta, pronounced SHASS-tə, is a potentially active volcano located at the southern end of the Cascade Range in Siskiyou County, California. Standing at 14,162 feet (4,321.8 meters), it ranks as the second-highest peak in the Cascades and the fifth-highest in the state. With an estimated volume of 85 cubic miles (350 cubic kilometers), Mount Shasta is the most voluminous stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc. The mountain and its surrounding area are situated within the Shasta–Trinity National Forest.

Human settlement in the MT Shasta area dates back approximately 7,000 years. At the time of Euro-American contact in the 1820s, various Native American tribes, including the Shasta, Okwanuchu, Modoc, Achomawi, Atsugewi, Karuk, Klamath, Wintu, and Yana, lived within view of the mountain.

While there is a historical mention of a possible eruption in 1786 observed by Lapérouse, this event is disputed. The Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program discredits the 1786 eruption, stating that the last confirmed eruption of Mount Shasta occurred around 1250 AD, as evidenced by uncorrected radiocarbon dating.

6. Sill Mount

• Name: Mount Sil
• Height: 14,153 feet
• Range: Sierra Nevada
• First Ascent: July 24, 1903
• First Climber: James S. Hutchinson, Joseph N. LeConte, James Moffitt, Robert Pike

Mount Sill is one of the fourteeners in the Sierra Nevada of California, situated in the Palisades—a group of prominent rock peaks with a few small glaciers. Found 0.6 miles (1 km) east of North Palisade, the highest point in the group, Mount Sill is connected to it by a high, rocky ridge featuring the Palisade Glacier on the north side. Positioned on the main Sierra Crest, Mount Sill marks a distinctive point where the crest sharply turns, offering remarkable summit views.

The surroundings showcase Kings Canyon National Park and Fresno County on one side and the John Muir Wilderness, Inyo National Forest, and Inyo County on the other. Mount Sill boasts routes on all sides, ranging in difficulty from scrambles (class 2-3) to moderately technical rock climbs (class 5.7).

Known as Nen-i-mish, meaning “the Guardian of the Valley,” by the indigenous Northern Paiute people, the mountain received its English name in 1904—Joseph LeConte, a renowned mountaineer, named it after American poet Edward Rowland Sill.

7. Russell Mount

• Name: Russell Mount
• Height: 14,088 feet
• Range: Sierra Nevada
• First Ascent: June 24, 1926
• First Climber: famed Sierra

The Russell Mount (1797 – January 19, 1834) was an important figure in Upper Canada during the early 19th century. He worked as a surveyor and was involved in politics as a Conservative. From 1830 to 1834, he represented Middlesex in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada.

Russell Mount was born to Moses Mount and Jane Burtch in Delaware Township, Upper Canada. He learned surveying under Mahlon Burwell and later settled in Delaware Township. He received substantial land grants for his surveying work. During the War of 1812, Mount served in the militia and eventually achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel. Unfortunately, he passed away while still in office in Toronto. His contributions as a surveyor, his role in the military, and his time in politics left a mark on the history of Upper Canada.

8. Split Mountain

• Name: Split Mountain
• Height: 14,058 feet
• Range: Sierra Nevada
• First Ascent: 1887
• First Climber: Frank Salque and his companions

The Split Mountain is a notable mountain in the Sierra Nevada of California, and it’s classified as a fourteener, meaning it reaches an elevation above 14,000 feet. It’s located near the southeast end of the Palisades group of peaks. The mountain stands at 14,058 feet, making it the eighth-highest peak in California. Interestingly, it is the only fourteener in the watershed of the South Fork Kings River.

The name “Split Mountain” comes from its distinctive double summit, and this name was given by artist and mountaineer Bolton Brown in 1896. While the Wheeler Survey referred to the mountain as Southeast Palisade, and others called it South Palisade, it’s important to note that Split Mountain is not technically part of the Palisade Mountains group to the north.

The first recorded ascent of Split Mountain was in 1887 by Frank Salque and his companions. However, some credit is given to Joseph LeConte, Helen LeConte, and Curtis M. Lindley, who reportedly summited from the westside in 1902.

9. Langley, Mount

• Name: Mount Langley
• Height: 14,026 ft
• Range: Split Mountain
• First Ascent: 1864
• First Climber: William Bellows

Mount Langley is a mountain on the Sierra Nevada crest, marking the border between Inyo and Tulare counties in eastern California, USA. To the east, you’ll find the Owens Valley, and to the west, there’s the Kern River Valley. It ranks as the ninth-highest peak in California and the seventh-highest in the Sierra range. Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the contiguous United States, is just 4.8 miles (7.7 km) northwest.

Mount Langley is unique for being the southernmost fourteener in the United States. The mountain is named after Samuel Pierpont Langley. In the early 1870s, there was some confusion with Mount Whitney, leading to mixed-up names. Initially called Mount Whitney, it was later known as Mount Corcoran, Cirque Peak, or Sheep Mountain. Eventually, Mount Langley became the recognized name, officially confirmed by the Board on Geographic Names in 1943.

10. Tyndall, Mount

• Name: Mount Tyndall
• Height: 14,025 feet
• Range: Sierra Nevada
• First Ascent: July 6, 1864
• First Climber: Clarence King and Richard Cotter

Mount Tyndall is the 10th highest peak under the list of top 10 tallest mountains in California stands proudly in the Mount Whitney region of the Sierra Nevada in California, USA. With an elevation of 14,025 feet (4,275 m), it holds the title of the tenth-highest peak in the state. The mountain is named after John Tyndall, an Irish scientist and mountaineer. On July 6, 1864, Mount Tyndall witnessed its first climbers Clarence King and Richard Cotter. 

They were part of the California Geological Survey and were working under the guidance of Josiah Whitney, with field leadership from William Brewer. Interestingly, King and Cotter were on a mission to be the first to climb Mount Whitney. After a long trek from Kings Canyon, they realized months later that they had unintentionally climbed Mount Tyndall instead of Mount Whitney.

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