93 Mountain Peaks to Explore in California

Checkout places to visit in California

California

The most populous U.S. state and the third-largest by area.

Activities Around

Mountain Peaks to Explore in California

Mount Williamson

Mount Williamson is one of the great peaks of the Sierra Nevada. It is truly awe-inspiring: rising 9,000 ft from the Owens Valley. It is the second-highest mountain in both the Sierra Nevada range and the state of California, and the sixth-highest peak in the contiguous United States. The standard ascent route is the West Side Route, accessed from Shepherd's Pass. From the pass, one travels across the Williamson Bowl, which lies between Mount Williamson and Mount Tyndall.

Ontario Peak

A majestic peak in the San Gabriel Mountains of California. It is in the San Bernardino National Forest, and in the Cucamonga Wilderness. The most accessible trailhead for hiking Ontario Peak is in Icehouse Canyon. Forest Service Trail 7W07 leads from here to Icehouse Saddle, from which the Ontario Peak Trail leads to the summit.

Palisade Glacier

Palisades Glacier is one of the southernmost glaciers in North America, and it sits right around 12,4000 feet. The glacier descends from the flanks of four fourteeners, or mountain peaks over 14,000 ft in elevation, including North Palisade , the highest peak of the Palisades group and the third highest peak in the Sierra Nevada overall.

Palisades

These are a group of peaks in the central part of the Sierra Nevada in the U.S. state of California. The peaks in the group are particularly steep, rugged peaks and "contain the finest alpine climbing in California. It spans from Taboose Pass south of Cardinal Mountain to Bishop Pass north of Mount Agassiz. Much of the west side of the range is only accessible by cross-country hiking.

Potato Chip Rock

Potato Chip Rock is a nature attraction at the top of Mt. Woodson that is known for resembling the shape of the popular snack food.The hike to the rock takes approximately one to two hours. Potato Chip Rock sits 100 feet below the summit. There is no drinking water, toilet facilities, or rangers along any route to Potato Chip Rock. At least 400,000 hikers visit this San Diego open preserve each year.

Red Lake Peak

Red Lake Peak is believed to be the vantage point from which John C. Fremont and Charles Preuss made the first recorded sighting of Lake Tahoe by Europeans. The peak lies just north of the pass and generally northwest of the small lake east of the pass for which the peak is named. Lake Tahoe is visible to the north from the peak.

Red Peak

A majestic mountain summit at an elevation of 11,699-foot. It second-highest peak in the Clark Range, which is a subset of the Sierra Nevada. This geographical feature's brilliant color is caused by iron-bearing minerals weathered to an iron rust which colors the granite. A good trekking destination and also a beautiful view point.

Red Peak

Red Peak is an 11,699-foot-elevation mountain summit located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It is the second-highest peak in the Clark Range, which is a subset of the Sierra Nevada. A good trekking destination and also there are so many things to see and do here.

Rodgers Peak

Rodgers Peak is a mountain in the Sierra Nevada in United States. The peak features commanding views over the drainage of the North Fork of the San Joaquin to nearby Davis, Banner, and Ritter, as well as towards its Yosemite neighbours Lyell and Maclure.Mount Davis, Banner Peak, and Mount Ritter are visible from the summit, as well as the Yosemite peaks Mount Maclure and Mount Lyell. Electra Peak is quite close, and Foerster Peak is also near.

San Bruno Mountain

San Bruno Mountain is an elevated fault block, created by the buckling of the earth's crust starting about 1 million years ago. It is near the southern boundary of San Francisco, surrounded by the cities of Brisbane, Colma, Daly City, and South San Francisco.

San Gorgonio Mountain

This is the highest peak in Southern California which was in the San Bernardino Mountains. It is one of the most topographically prominent peaks in the United States. The mountain has a pyramid shape, with a steep north face and a slightly shallower south face.

Sandstone Peak

This Peak is the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains at an elevation of 3,111 feet. Views from the trail stretch from the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands and inland to the Conejo/Simi Valleys. The summit can be reached via a 6.25-mile loop with 1,075 feet of elevation gain that offers expansive views of the range. It is one of the iconic attraction in this area and attracts so many adveurte lovers.

Sandstone Peak Trailhead

Sandstone Peak is the tallest point in the Santa Monica Mountains. The summit can be reached via a 6.25-mile loop with 1,075 feet of elevation gain that offers expansive views of the range. Just ahead on the trail, enters a riparian forest and crosses a stream to arrive at Split Rock Picnic Area. After hiking nearly two miles, this is a good spot for a break. The picnic area offers plenty of shade, which is otherwise elusive on this hike.

Santa Teresa County Park

Santa Teresa County Park is an 1,674-acre park in the Santa Teresa neighborhood of San Jose. It is rich in history, offers spectacular views from its trails above the Almaden and Santa Clara Valleys. The secluded upland valleys of the park provide a quiet interlude for exploring the natural environment minutes away from the surrounding developed areas.The park offers over 17 miles of unpaved trails for equestrian, hiking and bicycle use.

Shuteye Peak

A majestic mountain located in the Sierra National Forest in Madera County, California. It is known for its panoramic views of the San Joaquin Valley, Mammoth Mountain, Bass Lake, and North Fork areas and is home to one of the last active fire lookouts in California. The peak is accessible by a main trailhead which begins north of Central Camp used by the United States Forest Service to supply the Shuteye Peak Fire Lookout by off-road vehicle.

Sidewinder Canyon

Sidewinder Canyon is located at the base of the Black Mountains on the east side of Death Valley National Park south of Badwater Basin. The canyon is fairly wide with a gravel bottom and forty-foot stone walls on both side. The trailhead is unmarked and the trail only has occasional cairns along the way for guidance, creating a remote trek in a Death Valley canyon. The mouth of the canyon is difficult to spot from the trailhead. Begin hiking south toward the gravel fan exiting the canyon.

Skyline Bear Valley Resort

Bear Valley is a friendly and relaxing High Sierra escape located in the beautiful Central Sierra Mountains. The alpine ski area and a portion of the real estate in the village of Bear Valley was owned by an investment partnership led by a Canadian company. Winter activities include downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and backcountry adventures.

Soledad Mountain

Soledad Mountain is a prominent landmark in the city of San Diego, California, United States. The mountaintop is the site of the Mount Soledad Cross, the subject of a 25-year controversy over the involvement of religion in government which concluded in 2016. The 823-foot mountain[1] lies between Interstate 5 to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

Solstice Canyon

Solstice Canyon is a picturesque, shaded, classic Santa Monica Mountains canyon hike on a popular, well-maintained trail with opportunities for less-traveled spurs.Before becoming a park, the land was known as Roberts Ranch and, from 1961 to 1973, hosted a space research facility.

Map of Mountain Peaks to explore in California