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USA Contiguous States Most Prominent Peaks

Mount Rainier from near the Sunrise Visitor Center

Mount Rainier from near the Sunrise Visitor Center

After starting my mountain climbing activities in the Cascades Range in the Pacific Northwest I became interested in exploring other mountain ranges in the western US States. This interest was initially channeled through my USA State Highpoints project, then expanded to my California Fourteeners project and my ongoing Colorado Fourteeners project. These projects emphasize the highest peaks in the the USA States.

Since starting those projects I have come to appreciate the allure of topographic prominence. I have since visited many peaks specifically to experience that property from their summits.

There are 57 "ultra prominence" peaks in the contiguous (conterminous) United States having at least 5000 feet of topographic prominence. I list these peaks below and indicate which I have visited. While they are all compelling destinations I confess I will not visit them all. I have extended this list to include other peaks I have visited with at least 4000 feet of topographic prominence. Their summit views have been impressive as well.

 

 

The USA Contiguous States Most Prominent Peaks

climbed = Climbed,   unclimbed = Next,   unclimbed = No Current Plans

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The Peak List

Washington
Rank Peak Prominence
(feet)
Elevation
(feet)
Year
1 Mount Rainier
(Cascade Range HP)
13210 14410 1980
5 Mount Baker 8812 10781 1983
9 Mount Adams 8116 12276 1977
10 Mount Olympus
(Olympic Mtns HP)
7838 7969 1992
13 Glacier Peak 7498 10520+ 1985
45 Mount Stuart
(Wenatchee Mtns HP)
5354 9415 1982
53 Abercrombie Mountain 5168 7308 2014
70 Mount Spickard 4779 8979 1982
72 Copper Butte
(Kettle River Range HP)
4740 7140 2014
80 Mount Saint Helens 4573 8333 1977
96 Mount Shuksan 4411 9131 1993

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Oregon
Rank Peak Prominence
(feet)
Elevation
(feet)
Year
11 Mount Hood 7706 11239 1977
18 Sacajawea Peak
(Wallowa Mtns HP)
6388 9838 1989
31 Mount Jefferson 5777 10497 1978
35 South Sister 5588 10358 1976
89 Rock Creek Butte
(Blue Mtns HP)
4466 9106 2008
91 Mount McLoughlin 4455 9495 1980
101 Steens Mountain 4373 9733 2012
127 Strawberry Mountain
(Strawberry Mtns HP)
4080 9040+ 1985

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Idaho
Rank Peak Prominence
(feet)
Elevation
(feet)
Year
27 Borah Peak
(Lost River Range HP)
5982 12662 2011
43 Diamond Peak
(Lemhi Range HP)
5377 12197  
52 She Devil
(Seven Devils Mtns HP)
5200 9400+ 2014
76 Scotchman Peak 4649 7009 2015

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Montana
Rank Peak Prominence
(feet)
Elevation
(feet)
Year
33 Crazy Peak
(Crazy Mtns HP)
5709 11209  
34 McDonald Peak
(Mission Range HP)
5640 9820  
39 Snowshoe Peak
(Cabinet Mtns HP)
5418 8738  
50 Mount Cleveland
(Lewis Range HP)
5226 10466  
71 Granite Peak
(Beartooth Mtns HP)
4759 12799 1979

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Wyoming
Rank Peak Prominence
(feet)
Elevation
(feet)
Year
15 Gannett Peak
(Wind River Range HP)
7076 13804 1986
16 Cloud Peak
(Bighorn Mtns HP)
7067 13167  
17 Grand Teton
(Teton Range HP)
6530 13770 1987

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California
Rank Peak Prominence
(feet)
Elevation
(feet)
Year
2 Mount Whitney
(Sierra Nevada HP)
10075 14495 1986
3 Mount Shasta 9762 14162 1986
6 San Jacinto Peak
(San Jacinto Mtns HP)
8319 10075  
7 San Gorgonio Mountain
(San Bernardino Mtns HP)
8294 11499  
14 White Mountain Peak
(White Mtns HP)
7196 14246 1988
21 Mount San Antonio
(San Gabriel Mtns HP)
6224 10064  
22 Telescope Peak
(Panamint Range HP)
6168 11048 2014
49 Lassen Peak 5229 10457 1986
56 Mount Eddy
(Klamath Mtns HP)
5105 9025 2015
63 South Yolla Bolly Mountain 4814 8094 2015

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Nevada
Rank Peak Prominence
(feet)
Elevation
(feet)
Year
8 Charleston Peak
(Spring Mtns HP)
8241 11916 1988
12 Wheeler Peak
(Snake Mtns HP)
7563 13063 1985
28 Mount Jefferson
(Toquima Range HP)
5861 11941  
32 Pilot Peak
(Pilot Range HP)
5726 10716  
40 North Schell Peak
(Schell Creek Range HP)
5403 11883  
41 Star Peak
(Humboldt Range HP)
5400 9836  
42 Hayford Peak
(Sheep Range HP)
5392 9912  
51 Arc Dome
(Toiyabe Range HP)
5213 11773  

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Utah
Rank Peak Prominence
(feet)
Elevation
(feet)
Year
19 Kings Peak
(Uinta Range HP)
6348 13528 2013
23 Mount Peale
(La Sal Mtns HP)
6161 12721 2015
29 Mount Ellen
(Henry Mtns HP)
5842 11522 2015
30 Deseret Peak
(Stansbury Mtns HP)
5812 11031 2015
38 Mount Nebo
(Wasatch Range HP)
5488 11928 2015
44 Flat Top Mountain
(Oquirrh Mtns HP)
5370 10620  
47 Mount Timpanogos 5269 11749  
48 Ibapah Peak
(Deep Creek Range HP)
5247 12087  
82 Abajo Peak
(Abajo Mtns HP)
4550 11360 2015

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Colorado
Rank Peak Prominence
(feet)
Elevation
(feet)
Year
4 Mount Elbert
(Sawatch Range HP)
9073 14433 1991
37 Pikes Peak 5510 14110 2017
46 Blanca Peak
(Sangre de Cristo Range HP)
5326 14345 1982
109 Uncompahgre Peak
(San Juan Mtns HP)
4277 14309 2010

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Arizona
Rank Peak Prominence
(feet)
Elevation
(feet)
Year
20 Mount Graham
(Pinaleno Mtns HP)
6320 10720 2014
26 Humphreys Peak
(San Francisco Peaks HP)
6039 12633 2011
54 Mount Lemmon
(Santa Catalina Mtns HP)
5157 9157 2013
55 Chiricahua Peak 5139 9759 2014
57 Miller Peak
(Huachuca Mtns HP)
5006 9466 2015
73 Mount Baldy
(White Mtns HP)
4723 11403 2017
78 Mount Wrightson
(Santa Rita Mtns HP)
4578 9453 2015
77 Mica Mountain
(Rincon Mtns HP)
4608 8664 2015
93 Hualapai Peak
(Hualapai Mtns HP)
4439 8417 2019
115 Baboquivari Peak
(Baboquivari Mtns HP)
4194 7734 2017
125 Pinal Peak
(Pinal Mtns HP)
4090 7850 2014

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New Mexico
Rank Peak Prominence
(feet)
Elevation
(feet)
Year
36 Sierra Blanca Peak
(Sacramento Mtns HP)
5533 11973  
123 Sandia Crest
(Sandia Mtns HP)
4098 10678 2013

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Texas
Rank Peak Prominence
(feet)
Elevation
(feet)
Year
87 Emory Peak
(Chisos Mtns HP)
4485 7825 2020

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Eastern States
Rank Peak State Prominence
(feet)
Elevation
(feet)
Year
24 Mount Washington
(White Mtns HP)
NH 6148 6288 2018
25 Mount Mitchell
(Black Mtns HP)
NC 6089 6684 2005
58 Mount Marcy
(Adirondack Mtns HP)
NY 4914 5344 2018
85 Clingmans Dome
(Great Smoky Mtns HP)
TN 4503 6643 2018
105 Katahdin
(Longfellow Mtns HP)
ME 4288 5268 2018

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General Information

Peakbagger.com: Paul's USA Lower 48 Peaks with 5000 feet of Prominence
Peakbagger.com: Paul's USA Lower 48 Peaks with 4000 feet of Prominence

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