What is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States?
Quick answer
Mount Whitney, in California’s Sierra Nevada, is the tallest mountain in the contiguous (lower 48) United States, at 14,505 ft (4,421 m). The tallest peak in the whole country is Denali in Alaska, at 20,310 ft (6,190 m). Amazingly, Whitney stands only about 135 km from Death Valley, the lowest point in North America.
Key facts
- Height
- 14,505 ft (4,421 m)
- Location
- Sierra Nevada, California
- First ascent
- 1873
- Named after
- Josiah Whitney, California state geologist
Whitney vs Denali
| Mount Whitney | Denali | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 14,505 ft (4,421 m) | 20,310 ft (6,190 m) |
| State | California | Alaska |
| Rank | Highest in the lower 48 | Highest in North America |
Denali was officially called Mount McKinley from 1917 to 2015 and renamed McKinley again by the federal government in 2025, while Alaska still uses Denali.
Highest to lowest in a day’s drive
Whitney’s summit and Badwater Basin in Death Valley, at 282 ft (86 m) below sea level, are about 135 km (85 mi) apart in a straight line, one of the most dramatic height differences in the US.
Climbing Whitney
- The Mount Whitney Trail is about 22 miles (35 km) round trip, with over 6,000 ft of elevation gain.
- No technical climbing is needed in summer, but altitude sickness, storms and snow are real risks.
- Hikers need a permit, given out by lottery because of high demand.
- The John Muir Trail ends at its summit, 211 miles from Yosemite.
The tallest peaks in the lower 48
| Rank | Mountain | State | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Whitney | California | 14,505 ft |
| 2 | Mount Elbert | Colorado | 14,440 ft |
| 3 | Mount Massive | Colorado | 14,428 ft |
| 4 | Mount Harvard | Colorado | 14,421 ft |
| 5 | Mount Rainier | Washington | 14,411 ft |
Colorado has more “fourteeners,” peaks over 14,000 ft, than any other state. For its capital, see the Mile High City.
For the world’s longest range, see the longest mountain range.
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