The list below
identifies and ranks the 50 mountains in the USA
with the largest prominence or primary factor.
The primary factor of a mountain is the minimal vertical drop from its summit before one can ascend a higher peak. In terms of map contours, this vertical drop is defined by the first contour that encircles a higher peak and the preceeding (higher) contour line which has the peak in question as the highest point inside its closed curve. Between these two contour lines lies the (usually unique) defining saddle of the mountain.
USA consists of the 50 states, ie. the 48 contiguous states plus Hawaii and Alaska.
There are 4 island peaks among the top 50.
This list is based on my list of North Americas finest supplemented by
data compiled by Andy Martin, Edward Earl, John Roper, David Olson and Ken Jones.
All data are metric and interpolated (between map contours) values are used to determine prominence.
More information, in particular the relevant maps for peaks and
saddles can be seen here.
Confirmed or suspected corrections are most welcome by email to: petter@ii.uib.no
Copyright 2000-2009, Petter Bjørstad.
I appreciate that use of these data is acknowledged including a link to
my main mountain page.
Two stars behind the rank means that I have climbed it (20/50).
Rank | Height | Name | Primary factor | Country |
1** | 6194 | Denali | 6149 | Alaska |
2** | 4205 | Mauna Kea | 4205 | Hawaii |
3** | 4392 | Mount Rainier | 4034 | Washington |
4 | 4671 | Mount Fairweather | 3951 | Alaska/BC |
5** | 4996 | Mount Blackburn | 3548 | Alaska |
6 | 4216 | Mount Hayes | 3507 | Alaska |
7 | 5489 | Mount Saint Elias | 3429 | Alaska/Yukon |
8 | 4016 | Mount Marcus-Baker | 3277 | Alaska |
9** | 4421 | Mount Whitney | 3077 | California |
10 | 3055 | Red Hill | 3055 | Hawaii |
11** | 4317 | Mount Shasta | 2979 | California |
12 | 2869 | Shishaldin | 2869 | Alaska |
13 | 3108 | Mount Redoubt | 2788 | Alaska |
14** | 4401 | Mount Elbert | 2772 | Colorado |
15** | 3286 | Mount Baker | 2707 | Washington |
16 | 3479 | Mount Torbert | 2648 | Alaska |
17** | 3304 | San Jacinto Peak | 2542 | California |
18** | 3506 | San Gorgonio | 2527 | California |
19** | 3633 | Charleston Peak | 2517 | Nevada |
20 | 2515 | Pavlof | 2507 | Alaska |
21 | 2507 | Mount Veniaminof | 2499 | Alaska |
22** | 3742 | Mount Adams | 2474 | Washington |
23 | 4557 | Mount Hubbard | 2457 | Alaska/BC |
24 | 2749 | Mount Chamberlin | 2429 | Alaska |
25 | 3053 | Iliamna | 2398 | Alaska |
26** | 2429 | Mount Olympus | 2386 | Washington |
27 | 4194 | Mount Cook | 2350 | Alaska/BC |
28** | 3426 | Mount Hood | 2347 | Oregon |
29 | 4949 | Mount Sanford | 2343 | Alaska |
30 | 3417 | Mount Tom White | 2335 | Alaska |
31** | 3982 | Wheeler Peak | 2307 | Nevada |
32** | 3213 | Glacier Peak | 2285 | Washington |
33 | 3155 | Mount Kimball | 2263 | Alaska |
34 | 2332 | Mount Griggs | 2225 | Alaska |
35 | 5304 | Mount Foraker | 2210 | Alaska |
36** | 4344 | White Mountain Peak | 2193 | California |
37 | 3879 | Mount Crillon | 2187 | Alaska |
38 | 4169 | Mauna Loa | 2164 | Hawaii |
39 | 2164 | Mount Vsevidof | 2164 | Alaska |
40 | 4209 | Gannett Peak | 2158 | Wyoming |
41 | 4013 | Cloud Peak | 2157 | Wyoming |
42 | 2996 | Mount Hesperus | 2127 | Alaska |
43 | 5045 | Mount Bona | 2104 | Alaska |
44 | 3661 | Mount Drum | 2061 | Alaska |
45 | 2111 | Mount Chiginagak | 2035 | Alaska |
**** | **** | End 2000 meter | **** | ** |
46 | 4199 | Grand Teton | 1996 | Wyoming |
47** | 2999 | Sacajawea Peak | 1949 | Oregon |
48 | 2873 | HP Neacola Mountains | 1943 | Alaska |
49** | 4123 | Kings Peak | 1938 | Utah |
50** | 3269 | Mount Graham | 1932 | Arizona |
**** | **** | 50 Finest in the USA | **** | ** |
51 | 2739 | Kichatna Spire | 1908 | Alaska |
52** | 3068 | Mount San Antonio | 1903 | California |
53 | 2464 | Point 8084 | 1900 | Alaska |
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