California peaks
California summits
First Ascent Awards
4387 of 9,256 peaks 47%
Top climbing months
July 11%
August 10%
June 9%
California mountains highlights
- The Sierra Nevada is the most famous California mountain range, stretching over 400 miles from north to south. In it lies the highest mountain in the lower 48 US States, Mount Whitney at 14,505 ft / 4,421 m.
- California contains many mountainous National Parks, the most well-known being Yosemite National Park. The other national parks include Pinnacles, Lassen Volcanic, Kings Canyon, Joshua Tree, Redwood, Channel Islands, and Death Valley.
- California boasts 12 peaks over 14,000 ft elevation, concentrated in the Eastern Sierras.
- The massive Cascade volcano Mount Shasta 14,180 ft dominates the northern California landscape and can be seen from over 100 miles away.
Latest summits
"In recent nostalgic fashion, I revisited two peaks from over 20 years ago. In this case, I visited both on a single hike, which is a new way for me to visit them. I headed up Apache first, then took the PCT to the Spitler Peak use trail. Found a register on Apache, but nothing atop Spitler." — MikeTeeples • Jun 1, 2024
"In recent nostalgic fashion, I revisited two peaks from over 20 years ago. In this case, I visited both on a single hike, which is a new way for me to visit them. I headed up Apache first, then took the PCT to the Spitler Peak use trail. Found a register on Apache, but nothing atop Spitler." — MikeTeeples • Jun 1, 2024
"Memorial Day 2024 Desert Divide trip. Fobes Ranch road is super bumpy and not in good shape.
Fobes trail up to PCT was easy. Steady climb up from Fobes Saddle to Spitler. Great views of San Jacinto and south to Rabbit Peak. I passed about a dozen PCTers returning to the saddle.
From the saddle up to Palm view the vegetation is encroaching the trail in a number of places. I clipped the worst areas on the lower switchbacks. Palm View is a flat, wooded, overgrown summit; I don't know why the Sierra Club chooses to include peaks like this.
From Palm View, the descent to Cone is well-ducked but requires paying close attention to not get off route. I clipped another section through here. I climbed the wrong spire at the summit before realizing that the south block was higher. Fun class 2/3 summit blocks.
I was fairly tired at this point and wanted to avoid the 700' XC climb back to the PCT, so I took a gamble on descending the draw on the west face of Cone peak. This went easily for the upper half. There's a spring (not on map) about half way down and water in the creek which meant the vegetation got much thicker. I ended up staying in the creekbed directly most of the way. Th..." — edg • May 27, 2024
"Been 21 years since my last visit. Quite a bit of fire damage from the 2020 Bobcat Fire. Glad I was able to get it in before the summer heat arrives. Managed to complete the Devil’s Punchbowl loop as well." — MikeTeeples • May 27, 2024
"Memorial Day 2024 Desert Divide trip. Fobes Ranch road is super bumpy and not in good shape.
Fobes trail up to PCT was easy. Steady climb up from Fobes Saddle to Spitler. Great views of San Jacinto and south to Rabbit Peak. I passed about a dozen PCTers returning to the saddle.
From the saddle up to Palm view the vegetation is encroaching the trail in a number of places. I clipped the worst areas on the lower switchbacks. Palm View is a flat, wooded, overgrown summit; I don't know why the Sierra Club chooses to include peaks like this.
From Palm View, the descent to Cone is well-ducked but requires paying close attention to not get off route. I clipped another section through here. I climbed the wrong spire at the summit before realizing that the south block was higher. Fun class 2/3 summit blocks.
I was fairly tired at this point and wanted to avoid the 700' XC climb back to the PCT, so I took a gamble on descending the draw on the west face of Cone peak. This went easily for the upper half. There's a spring (not on map) about half way down and water in the creek which meant the vegetation got much thicker. I ended up staying in the creekbed directly most of the way. Th..." — edg • May 27, 2024