This list identifies and ranks the 100 mountains in California
with the largest primary factor. The primary factor is also called
the "prominence" of a mountain in the USA.
The primary factor of a mountain is the minimal vertical drop from its summit before one can ascend a higher peak.
The primary factors (or prominence) has almost in all cases been computed using interpolation based on 40 feet contours. That is, the highest contour encircling the peak without containing any higher peaks inside its closed curve is approcximately 6 meters (20 feet) higher than the value used to compute the primary factor. A few interpolations are based on smaller contour intervals as noted under "Remarks". (Some lists use this lower value when they list prominence.)
The saddle name provided is either the actual name of the pass or saddle or the name of the area (the Saddle Quad name).
This list is based on work by several people, with good initial data provided by Andy Martin, Edward Earl and others. This list is metric as a service to those more comfortable with these units.
Corrections to this list are highly appreciated.
Confirmed or suspected corrections/updates are most welcome by email to: petter@ii.uib.no
Two stars behind the rank means that I have climbed it. (10/50, 16/100)
Rank | Height | Name | Primary factor | Saddle name | Saddle location | Remarks |
1** | 4421 | Mount Whitney | 3072 | TBD | TBD | California HP |
2** | 4317 | Mount Shasta | 2979 | TBD | TBD | |
3** | 3305 | San Jacinto Peak | 2539 | TBD | TBD | |
4** | 3506 | San Gorgonio | 2527 | TBD | TBD | |
5** | 4344 | White Mountain Peak | 2193 | TBD | TBD | |
6** | 3068 | Mount San Antonio | 1903 | TBD | TBD | |
7** | 3366 | Telescope Peak | 1886 | TBD | TBD | |
8** | 3189 | Lassen Peak | 1594 | TBD | TBD | |
9** | 2751 | Mount Eddy | 1571 | TBD | TBD | |
***** | **** | End California Ultras | **** **** | ********** | ********** | ********** |
10** | 2467 | South Yolla Bolly | 1479 | TBD | TBD | |
11** | 2692 | Mount Pinos | 1463 | TBD | TBD | |
12** | 1787 | Junipero Serra Peak | 1363 | TBD | TBD | |
13** | 1733 | Santiago Peak | 1362 | TBD | TBD | |
14 | 3015 | Eagle Peak | 1330 | TBD | TBD | |
15 | 2417 | Clark Mountain | 1307 | TBD | TBD | |
16 | 3558 | Mount Patterson | 1272 | TBD | TBD | |
17 | xxxx | Mount Goosenest | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
18 | xxxx | Mount Thompson | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
19 | xxxx | Mount Bully Choop | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
20 | xxxx | Mount Freel | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
21 | xxxx | Mount Glass | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
22 | xxxx | Mount Ritter | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
23** | 1597 | San Benito | 1064 | TBD | TBD | |
24** | 1154 | Loma Prieta | 1044 | TBD | TBD | |
25 | xxxx | Mount Dry | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
26 | xxxx | Mount Tin | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
27 | xxxx | Mount Pyramid | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
28 | xxxx | Mount Keynot | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
29 | xxxx | Mount Funeral | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
***** | **** | End 1000m prominence | **** **** | ********** | ********** | ********** |
30** | 1443 | Cobb Mountain | 974 | TBD | TBD | |
31 | xxxx | Mount Kingston | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
32 | xxxx | Mount New York | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
33 | xxxx | Mount Avawatz | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
34 | xxxx | Mount Olancha | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
35** | 1172 | Mount Diablo | 951 | TBD | TBD | |
36** | 1330 | Copernicus Peak | 951 | TBD | TBD | |
37 | xxxx | Mount Waucoba | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
38 | xxxx | Mount Maturango | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
39 | xxxx | Mount Nopah | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
40 | xxxx | Mount Piute | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
41 | xxxx | Mount Breckenridge | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
42 | xxxx | Mount Granite | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
43** | xxxx | Mount Toro | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
44 | xxxx | Mount Ord | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
45 | xxxx | Mount Double | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
46 | xxxx | Mount Hines | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
47** | 2151 | Mount Snow | 767 | TBD | TBD | |
48 | 2399 | Mount Butt | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
49 | 2399 | Bald Eagle Mountain | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
50 | 2399 | King Peak | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
***** | **** | 50 Finest | **** **** | ********** | ********** | ********** |
51 | 2399 | Iron Peak | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
56** | 1571 | Cone Mountain | 888 | TBD | TBD | |
57** | 1985 | Cuyamaca Peak | 872 | TBD | TBD | |
58 | 2399 | Black Butte | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
59 | 2399 | Mount Hull | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
60 | 2399 | Big Signal Mountain | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
61 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
62 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
63 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
64 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
65 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
66 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
67 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
68 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
69 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
70 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
71 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
72 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
73 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
74 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
75 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
76 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
77 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
78 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
79 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
80 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
81 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
82 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
83 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
84 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
85 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
86 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
87 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
88 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
89 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
90 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
91 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
92 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
93 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
94 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
95 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
96 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
97 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
98 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
99 | 2399 | Mount YYYY | yyyy | TBD | TBD | |
100 | xx | YY | xxx | TBD | TBD | |
103** | 1290 | Cahto Peak | 735 | TBD | TBD | |
112** | 1310 | Mount Konocti | 719 | TBD | TBD | |
113** | 751 | Sonoma Mountains HP | 614 | TBD | TBD | |
114** | 832 | Hood Mountain | 606 | TBD | TBD | |
***** | **** | ***************** | **** **** | ********** | ********** | ********* |
8d> |