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Mountain Peaks to Photograph in the USA

1,300 mountain peaks in 49 states, each with computed light, night-sky and weather data for planning. Pick a state, or start with the most documented locations below.

Top mountain peaks

Lassen PeakMountain Peak
Lassen PeakShasta County, CA · 3,150 m
Half DomeMountain Peak
Half DomeMariposa County, CA · 2,694 m
Mount ForakerMountain Peak
Mount ForakerDenali Borough, AK · 5,270 m
Mount MazamaMountain Peak
Mount MazamaKlamath County, OR · 1,885 m
Mount FairweatherMountain Peak
Mount FairweatherYakutat City and Borough, AK · 4,620 m
KatahdinMountain Peak
KatahdinPiscataquis County, ME · 1,603 m
Mount MarcyMountain Peak
Mount MarcyEssex County, NY · 1,626 m
Grand TetonMountain Peak
Grand TetonTeton County, WY · 4,200 m
Mount RushmoreMountain Peak
Mount RushmorePennington County, SD · 1,725 m
Mount WrangellMountain Peak
Mount WrangellCopper River Census Area, AK · 4,157 m
Mount RainierMountain Peak
Mount RainierPierce County, WA · 4,392 m
Mount WhitneyMountain Peak
Mount WhitneyTulare County, CA · 4,412 m
Mount AdamsMountain Peak
Mount AdamsYakima County, WA · 3,745 m
Mount HoodMountain Peak
Mount HoodHood River County, OR · 3,425 m
Devils TowerMountain Peak
Devils TowerCrook County, WY · 1,559 m
Mount WashingtonMountain Peak
Mount WashingtonCoos County, NH · 1,916 m
Mount BakerMountain Peak
Mount BakerWhatcom County, WA · 3,176 m
Stone MountainMountain Peak
Stone MountainDeKalb County, GA · 514 m
Mount MitchellMountain Peak
Mount MitchellYancey County, NC · 2,037 m
Mount ElbertMountain Peak
Mount ElbertLake County, CO · 4,396 m
Pikes PeakMountain Peak
Pikes PeakEl Paso County, CO · 4,303 m
Mount ShastaMountain Peak
Mount ShastaSiskiyou County, CA · 4,303 m
Mount Saint EliasMountain Peak
Mount Saint EliasYakutat City and Borough, AK · 5,489 m
Mount ClevelandMountain Peak
Mount ClevelandAleutians West Census Area, AK · 1,652 m

By state

Map

How to photograph mountain peaks

Summits catch first and last light — alpenglow can turn rock pink or orange minutes before sunrise and after sunset while valleys stay in shadow.

  • Photograph the peak from a lake, meadow or ridge at sunrise when the face that looks east lights up first.
  • Long lenses compress ridgelines; shoot the peak from several miles away to make it look massive.
  • Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer at high elevations — plan summit hikes for early morning.
  • Snow on the summit holds detail best when you expose for the highlights and lift shadows later.
  • Alpenglow lasts only a few minutes; set up and focus beforehand.

Season: Early summer keeps snow on the peaks with green valleys below; autumn adds aspen or larch color in many ranges.