The 50 Finest Mountains in the USA ranked by primary factor.

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).

RankHeightNamePrimary factorCountry
1**6194 Denali 6149 Alaska
2**4205 Mauna Kea 4205 Hawaii
3**4392 Mount Rainier 4034 Washington
44671 Mount Fairweather 3951 Alaska/BC
5**4996 Mount Blackburn 3548 Alaska
64216 Mount Hayes 3507 Alaska
75489 Mount Saint Elias 3429 Alaska/Yukon
84016 Mount Marcus-Baker 3277 Alaska
9**4421 Mount Whitney 3077 California
103055 Red Hill 3055 Hawaii
11**4317 Mount Shasta 2979 California
122869Shishaldin2869 Alaska
133108 Mount Redoubt 2788 Alaska
14**4401 Mount Elbert 2772 Colorado
15**3286 Mount Baker 2707 Washington
163479 Mount Torbert 2648 Alaska
17**3304 San Jacinto Peak2542 California
18**3506 San Gorgonio2527 California
19**3633 Charleston Peak2517 Nevada
202515 Pavlof 2507 Alaska
212507 Mount Veniaminof 2499 Alaska
22**3742 Mount Adams2474 Washington
234557 Mount Hubbard 2457 Alaska/BC
242749 Mount Chamberlin 2429 Alaska
253053 Iliamna 2398 Alaska
26**2429 Mount Olympus2386 Washington
274194 Mount Cook 2350 Alaska/BC
28**3426 Mount Hood2347 Oregon
294949 Mount Sanford 2343 Alaska
303417 Mount Tom White 2335 Alaska
31**3982 Wheeler Peak2307 Nevada
32**3213 Glacier Peak2285 Washington
333155 Mount Kimball 2263 Alaska
342332 Mount Griggs 2225 Alaska
355304 Mount Foraker 2210 Alaska
36**4344 White Mountain Peak2193 California
373879 Mount Crillon 2187 Alaska
384169 Mauna Loa 2164 Hawaii
392164 Mount Vsevidof 2164 Alaska
404209 Gannett Peak2158 Wyoming
414013 Cloud Peak2157 Wyoming
422996 Mount Hesperus 2127 Alaska
435045 Mount Bona 2104 Alaska
443661 Mount Drum 2061 Alaska
452111 Mount Chiginagak 2035 Alaska
******** End 2000 meter **** **
464199 Grand Teton1996 Wyoming
47**2999 Sacajawea Peak1949 Oregon
482873 HP Neacola Mountains1943 Alaska
49**4123 Kings Peak1938 Utah
50**3269 Mount Graham1932 Arizona
******** 50 Finest in the USA **** **
512739 Kichatna Spire1908 Alaska
52**3068 Mount San Antonio1903 California
532464 Point 80841900 Alaska

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