1. Home
  2. Mountain Peaks
  3. California

Mountain Peaks in California

164 mountain peaks in California with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Inyo County has the most (19). The darkest skies are at Brushy Butte (Bortle 1).

Top mountain peaks

Lassen PeakMountain Peak
Lassen PeakShasta County · 3,150 m
Half DomeMountain Peak
Half DomeMariposa County · 2,694 m
Mount WhitneyMountain Peak
Mount WhitneyTulare County · 4,412 m
Mount ShastaMountain Peak
Mount ShastaSiskiyou County · 4,303 m
Mount DiabloMountain Peak
Mount DiabloContra Costa County · 1,173 m
Mammoth MountainMountain Peak
Mammoth MountainMono County · 3,355 m
Mount DanaMountain Peak
Mount DanaMono County · 3,976 m
Twin PeaksMountain Peak
Twin PeaksCity and County of San Francisco · 279 m
Mount LyellMountain Peak
Mount LyellMadera County · 3,993 m
Mount San AntonioMountain Peak
Mount San AntonioSan Bernardino County · 3,062 m
San Jacinto PeakMountain Peak
San Jacinto PeakRiverside County · 3,288 m
San Gorgonio MountainMountain Peak
San Gorgonio MountainSan Bernardino County · 3,502 m

Mountain Peaks by county

All mountain peaks (164)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Lassen PeakLassen VolcanicShasta County3,150 mChester2
Half DomeYosemiteMariposa County2,694 mYosemite Valley3
Mount WhitneyTulare County4,412 mLone Pine2
Mount ShastaSiskiyou County4,303 mMount Shasta2
Mount DiabloContra Costa County1,173 mDiablo6
Mammoth MountainDevils PostpileMono County3,355 mMammoth Lakes4
Mount DanaYosemiteMono County3,976 mMammoth Lakes2
Twin PeaksCity and County of San Francisco279 mNoe Valley9
Mount LyellYosemiteMadera County3,993 mYosemite Valley2
Mount San AntonioSan Bernardino County3,062 mWrightwood6
San Jacinto PeakRiverside County3,288 mIdyllwild-Pine Cove5
San Gorgonio MountainSan Bernardino County3,502 mBig Bear Lake5
Mount WilliamsonInyo County4,384 mLone Pine2
Mount LeeLos Angeles County521 mUniversal City9
Mount WilsonLos Angeles County1,737 mSierra Madre7
Matterhorn PeakYosemiteTuolumne County3,653 mYosemite Valley2
Mount RitterMadera County3,943 mMammoth Lakes2
Mount ConnessYosemiteMono County3,825 mYosemite Valley2
White Mountain PeakMono County4,338 mDixon Lane-Meadow Creek2
Nob HillCity and County of San Francisco104 mChinatown8
Mount Saint HelenaSonoma County1,319 mMiddletown4
Mount Baden-PowellLos Angeles County2,860 mWrightwood5
Telegraph HillSan Francisco MaritimeCity and County of San Francisco90 mChinatown8
Moro RockSequoia & Kings CanyonTulare County1,985 mThree Rivers3
North PalisadeFresno County4,348 mBig Pine2
Mount MuirInyo County4,262 mLone Pine2
Telescope PeakDeath ValleyInyo County3,369 mDeath Valley2
Mount LangleyInyo County4,261 mLone Pine2
Mount HumphreysFresno County4,081 mWest Bishop2
Mount EddySiskiyou County2,751 mWeed2
Mount HamiltonSanta Clara County1,279 mEast Foothills5
Mount SillInyo County4,312 mBig Pine2
Mount TyndallSequoia & Kings CanyonTulare County4,259 mLone Pine2
Mount GibbsYosemiteMono County3,893 mMammoth Lakes2
Mount DavidsonCity and County of San Francisco283 mNoe Valley9
Mount TamalpaisMuir WoodsMarin County—Kentfield7
Red Slate MountainMono County4,005 mMammoth Lakes2
Mount AgassizInyo County4,220 mBig Pine2
Mount SutroCity and County of San Francisco278 mNoe Valley8
Mount TallacEl Dorado County2,965 mSouth Lake Tahoe4
Chaos CragsLassen VolcanicShasta County2,567 mShingletown2
Mount DarwinFresno County4,204 mWest Bishop2
Glass MountainMono County3,395 mMammoth Lakes2
Brushy ButteShasta County1,157 mBurney1
Loma PrietaSanta Clara County1,148 mDay Valley5
Mount RussellTulare County4,281 mLone Pine2
Mount TomInyo County4,049 mWest Bishop2
Cathedral PeakYosemiteTuolumne County3,308 mYosemite Valley2
Basket DomeYosemiteMariposa County2,315 mYosemite Valley3
North DomeYosemiteMariposa County2,296 mYosemite Valley3
Santiago PeakOrange County1,735 mTrabuco Canyon6
Mount RubidouxRiverside County405 mRubidoux8
Mount KonoctiLake County1,307 mSoda Bay4
Middle PalisadeFresno County4,124 mBig Pine2
Mount HoffmannYosemiteMariposa County3,283 mYosemite Valley3
Mount KeithSequoia & Kings CanyonInyo County4,249 mLone Pine2
Mount BurnhamLos Angeles County2,740 mWrightwood5
Mount ClarkYosemiteMariposa County3,512 mYosemite Valley3
Mount PinosVentura County2,686 mPine Mountain Club4
Mount Starr KingYosemiteMariposa County2,767 mYosemite Valley3
Mount MorrisonMono County3,731 mMammoth Lakes2
Mount SoledadSan Diego County250 mLa Jolla7
Clouds RestYosemiteMariposa County3,028 mYosemite Valley3
ShastinaSiskiyou County3,740 mMount Shasta2
Split MountainInyo County4,269 mBig Pine2
Cinder Cone and the Fantastic Lava BedsLassen VolcanicLassen County2,041 mChester2
Quail MountainJoshua TreeRiverside County1,772 mJoshua Tree4
Mount WinchellFresno County4,186 mBig Pine2
San Bruno MountainSan Mateo County371 mColma8
Sandstone PeakVentura County941 mCasa Conejo6
Bumpass MountainLassen VolcanicShasta County2,664 mChester2
Tresidder PeakYosemiteMariposa County3,231 mYosemite Valley2
Cuyamaca PeakSan Diego County1,979 mDescanso4
Frazier MountainVentura County2,442 mFrazier Park4
Liberty CapYosemiteMariposa County2,151 mYosemite Valley3
Merced PeakYosemiteMadera County3,534 mYosemite Valley3
Mono–Inyo CratersMono County—Mammoth Lakes2
Bodega HeadSonoma County77 mBodega Bay4
Mount AbbotInyo County4,176 mWest Bishop2
Mount BarnardTulare County4,234 mLone Pine2
Mount BrewerSequoia & Kings CanyonTulare County4,114 mLone Pine2
Mount KaweahSequoia & Kings CanyonTulare County4,205 mLone Pine2
Mount LukensLos Angeles County1,544 mLa Crescenta-Montrose7
Bernal Heights SummitCity and County of San Francisco132 mNoe Valley9
Banner PeakMadera County3,921 mMammoth Lakes2
Mount MorganInyo County4,135 mWest Bishop2
Sonora PeakAlpine County3,484 mTopaz Ranch Estates3
Mount MalloryInyo County4,148 mLone Pine2
Preston PeakSiskiyou County2,208 mHappy Camp1
Mount UmunhumSanta Clara County1,060 mLexington Hills6
Ring MountainMarin County185 mStrawberry7
San Gabriel PeakLos Angeles County1,868 mAltadena7
El Cajon MountainSan Diego County1,112 mAlpine5
San Miguel MountainSan Diego County780 mRancho San Diego7
Strawberry PeakLos Angeles County1,872 mAltadena7
Toro PeakRiverside County2,650 mLa Quinta4
Triple Divide PeakMadera County3,533 mYosemite Valley3
Olancha PeakInyo County3,634 mLone Pine2
Mount GabbInyo County4,168 mWest Bishop2
Castle PeakNevada County2,773 mTruckee3
Cerro CabrilloSan Luis Obispo County275 mMorro Bay5
Cowles MountainSan Diego County465 mLa Mesa7
Schonchin ButteLava BedsSiskiyou County1,597 mAltamont1
Cobb MountainLake County1,440 mCobb4
Mount MaclureYosemiteTuolumne County3,869 mYosemite Valley2
University PeakSequoia & Kings CanyonInyo County4,105 mLone Pine2
Figueroa MountainSanta Barbara County1,378 mLos Olivos3
Dunderberg PeakMono County3,774 mYosemite Valley2
Junction PeakSequoia & Kings CanyonTulare County4,224 mLone Pine2
Kolana RockYosemiteTuolumne County1,760 mYosemite Valley3
Laurel MountainMono County3,604 mMammoth Lakes3
Leavitt PeakTuolumne County3,516 mTopaz Ranch Estates3
Lone MountainCity and County of San Francisco128 mSan Francisco8
Modjeska PeakOrange County1,641 mTrabuco Canyon6
Montgomery PeakMono County4,098 mDixon Lane-Meadow Creek2
Twin PeaksYosemiteTuolumne County3,718 mYosemite Valley2
Mount AllisonAlameda County793 mMilpitas7
Mount DavisMadera County3,726 mMammoth Lakes2
Mount HopkinsFresno County3,721 mMammoth Lakes2
Mount HarwoodSan Bernardino County2,907 mWrightwood6
Mount HoodSonoma County812 mKenwood5
Mount LinnTehama County2,468 mRancho Tehama Reserve2
Mount LoweLos Angeles County1,699 mAltadena7
Clark MountainSan Bernardino County2,390 mSandy Valley3
Aguereberry PointDeath ValleyInyo County1,916 mDeath Valley2
Albany HillAlameda County91 mAlbany8
Alta PeakSequoia & Kings CanyonTulare County3,437 mThree Rivers3
Angora PeakEl Dorado County2,592 mSouth Lake Tahoe4
Anthony PeakMendocino County2,115 mCovelo2
Bald Rock DomeButte County1,022 mBerry Creek3
Double MountainKern County2,430 mTehachapi4
Mount StanfordSequoia & Kings CanyonTulare County4,253 mLone Pine2
Birch MountainInyo County4,134 mBig Pine2
Bishop PeakSan Luis Obispo County455 mSan Luis Obispo6
Black ButteSiskiyou County1,903 mMount Shasta3
Black HillSan Luis Obispo County182 mMorro Bay5
Silver PeakEl Dorado County2,709 mTahoma3
Slover MountainSan Bernardino County361 mColton8
Sonoma MountainSonoma County697 mEldridge5
Mount MillsFresno County4,035 mWest Bishop2
Pyramid PeakEl Dorado County3,035 mSouth Lake Tahoe3
Mount ThayerSanta Clara County1,060 mLexington Hills6
Sawmill MountainVentura County2,684 mPine Mountain Club4
Sawtooth PeakTulare County3,759 mThree Rivers2
Cahuenga PeakLos Angeles County553 mUniversal City9
Tahquitz PeakRiverside County2,658 mIdyllwild5
The GrandstandInyo County1,150 mLone Pine2
The NeedlesTulare County2,500 mKernville3
Thompson PeakTrinity County2,725 mWeaverville2
Throop PeakLos Angeles County2,779 mWrightwood5
Thunder MountainAmador County2,865 mSouth Lake Tahoe3
Thunderbolt PeakFresno County4,247 mBig Pine2
Owens PeakKern County2,574 mInyokern3
Pilot KnobImperial County252 mDonovan Estates4
Cerro San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo County387 mSan Luis Obispo7
Chumash PeakSan Luis Obispo County241 mSan Luis Obispo5
Koip PeakMono County3,954 mMammoth Lakes2
Cucamonga PeakSan Bernardino County2,695 mSan Antonio Heights6
Schroeder MountainSierra County2,116 mPortola3
Temple CragInyo County3,907 mBig Pine2
Twin ButtesShasta County1,484 mBurney2
Florence PeakTulare County3,789 mThree Rivers3
Frog Woman RockMendocino County268 mCloverdale3
Grizzly PeakAlameda County531 mBerkeley8

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

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.