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57 peaks

Lower 48 Ultras

What are the Lower 48 Ultras?

An ultra, or ultra-prominent peak, is a mountain with at least 1,500 metres (about 4,921 feet) of topographic prominence, meaning it rises that far above the lowest point connecting it to any higher peak. In the contiguous United States there are 57 such peaks, and all of them clear 5,000 feet, the threshold traditionally used in the U.S. All but two are in the West. The eastern exceptions are Mount Washington in New Hampshire and Mount Mitchell in North Carolina. Mount St. Helens was once the 58th ultra but lost that status when its 1980 eruption removed about 1,300 feet from the summit.

Lower 48 Ultras list

  1. Mount Whitney, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount Whitney

    14,505 ft · California

  2. Mount Elbert, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount Elbert

    14,440 ft · Colorado

  3. Mount Rainier, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount Rainier

    14,411 ft · Washington

  4. Blanca Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Blanca Peak

    14,350 ft · Colorado

  5. White Mountain Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    White Mountain Peak

    14,252 ft · California

  6. Mount Shasta, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount Shasta

    14,179 ft · California

  7. Pikes Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Pikes Peak

    14,115 ft · Colorado

  8. Gannett Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Gannett Peak

    13,810 ft · Wyoming

  9. Grand Teton, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Grand Teton

    13,775 ft · Wyoming

  10. Kings Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Kings Peak

    13,528 ft · Utah

  11. Cloud Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Cloud Peak

    13,167 ft · Wyoming

  12. Wheeler Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Wheeler Peak

    13,065 ft · Nevada

  13. Mount Peale, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount Peale

    12,726 ft · Utah

  14. Borah Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Borah Peak

    12,662 ft · Idaho

  15. Humphreys Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Humphreys Peak

    12,633 ft · Arizona

  16. Mount Adams, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount Adams

    12,281 ft · Washington

  17. Diamond Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Diamond Peak

    12,197 ft · Idaho

  18. Ibapah Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Ibapah Peak

    12,087 ft · Utah

  19. Sierra Blanca, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Sierra Blanca

    11,981 ft · New Mexico

  20. Mount Jefferson, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount Jefferson

    11,941 ft · Nevada

  21. Mount Nebo, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount Nebo

    11,928 ft · Utah

  22. Charleston Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Charleston Peak

    11,916 ft · Nevada

  23. North Schell Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    North Schell Peak

    11,883 ft · Nevada

  24. Arc Dome, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Arc Dome

    11,773 ft · Nevada

  25. Mount Timpanogos, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount Timpanogos

    11,749 ft · Utah

  26. Mount Ellen, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount Ellen

    11,522 ft · Utah

  27. San Gorgonio Mountain, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    San Gorgonio Mountain

    11,503 ft · California

  28. Mount Hood, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount Hood

    11,249 ft · Oregon

  29. Crazy Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Crazy Peak

    11,214 ft · Montana

  30. Telescope Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Telescope Peak

    11,049 ft · California

  31. Deseret Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Deseret Peak

    11,031 ft · Utah

  32. San Jacinto Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    San Jacinto Peak

    10,834 ft · California

  33. Mount Baker, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount Baker

    10,781 ft · Washington

  34. Mount Graham, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount Graham

    10,724 ft · Arizona

  35. Pilot Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Pilot Peak

    10,716 ft · Nevada

  36. Flat Top Mountain, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Flat Top Mountain

    10,620 ft · Utah

  37. Glacier Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Glacier Peak

    10,541 ft · Washington

  38. Mount Jefferson, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount Jefferson

    10,497 ft · Oregon

  39. Mount Cleveland, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount Cleveland

    10,466 ft · Montana

  40. Lassen Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Lassen Peak

    10,457 ft · California

  41. South Sister, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    South Sister

    10,358 ft · Oregon

  42. Mount San Antonio, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount San Antonio

    10,064 ft · California

  43. Hayford Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Hayford Peak

    9,912 ft · Nevada

  44. Sacajawea Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Sacajawea Peak

    9,838 ft · Oregon

  45. Star Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Star Peak

    9,836 ft · Nevada

  46. McDonald Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    McDonald Peak

    9,820 ft · Montana

  47. Chiricahua Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Chiricahua Peak

    9,759 ft · Arizona

  48. Miller Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Miller Peak

    9,466 ft · Arizona

  49. Mount Stuart, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount Stuart

    9,415 ft · Washington

  50. She Devil, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    She Devil

    9,400 ft · Idaho

  51. Mount Lemmon, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount Lemmon

    9,159 ft · Arizona

  52. Mount Eddy, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount Eddy

    9,025 ft · California

  53. Snowshoe Peak, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Snowshoe Peak

    8,738 ft · Montana

  54. Mount Olympus, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount Olympus

    7,980 ft · Washington

  55. Abercrombie Mountain, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Abercrombie Mountain

    7,308 ft · Washington

  56. Mount Mitchell, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount Mitchell

    6,684 ft · North Carolina

  57. Mount Washington, a peak on the Lower 48 Ultras list

    Mount Washington

    6,288 ft · New Hampshire

Chasing prominence

Because ultras are defined by prominence rather than height, the list mixes famous high peaks with desert ranges and isolated summits many climbers have never heard of. California and Nevada hold the most. Finishing the list usually means years of road trips across the West. Yak keeps all 57 in one place as you work through them.

Frequently asked questions

How many ultra-prominent peaks are in the lower 48?

There are 57 ultras in the contiguous United States. Mount St. Helens was the 58th before its 1980 eruption.

What is topographic prominence?

Prominence is how far a summit rises above the lowest point on the highest ridge connecting it to a taller peak. It measures how independent a mountain is, not how high it is.

Which states have the most Lower 48 Ultras?

California has the most with 9, followed by Nevada with 8. Washington and Utah each have 7.

Are there any ultras in the eastern United States?

Only two. Mount Washington in New Hampshire and Mount Mitchell in North Carolina are the only ultras east of the Rockies in the lower 48.

How many Lower 48 Ultras are above 14,000 feet?

Seven of the 57 ultras rise above 14,000 feet. Many others are much lower but rise sharply from the surrounding land.

Is there an app to track the Lower 48 Ultras?

Yes. Yak: Mountain Tracker is a free app for iPhone and Android that includes the Lower 48 Ultras as a quest with all 57 peaks. Mark each peak as climbed, log the date with notes and photos, plan the peaks you have left and see how close you are to finishing the list.

Track the Ultras

Log each ultra you climb and follow your progress across the country.

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