U.S. States High Points Project 2014-2025

PanShiBo

From the top of North America to the top of a trailer park in suburban Delaware, this collection of 50 mountains and otherwise obscure places quite possibly ranks as America's most unique peakbagging list.

https://www.summitpost.org/u-s-state-highpoints/171191

1	Alaska	Denali	6,190
2	California	Mount Whitney	4,419
3	Colorado	Mount Elbert	4,399
4	Washington	Mount Rainier	4,392
5	Wyoming	Gannett Peak	4,207
6	Hawaii	Mauna Kea	4,205
7	Utah	Kings Peak	4,123
8	New Mexico	Wheeler Peak	4,011
9	Nevada	Boundary Peak	4,005
10	Montana	Granite Peak	3,901
11	Idaho	Borah Peak	3,859
12	Arizona	Humphreys Peak	3,851
13	Oregon	Mount Hood	3,426
14	Texas	Guadalupe Peak	2,667
15	South Dakota	Black Elk Peak	2,204
16	North Carolina	Mount Mitchell	2,037
17	Tennessee	Clingmans Dome	2,025
18	New Hampshire	Mount Washington	1,917
19	Virginia	Mount Rogers	1,746
20	Nebraska	Panorama Point	1,655
21	New York	Mount Marcy	1,629
22	Maine	Katahdin	1,606
23	Oklahoma	Black Mesa	1,516
24	West Virginia	Spruce Knob	1,482
25	Georgia	Brasstown Bald	1,458
26	Vermont	Mount Mansfield	1,339
27	Kentucky	Black Mountain	1,262
28	Kansas	Mount Sunflower	1,231
29	South Carolina	Sassafras Mountain	1,083
30	North Dakota	White Butte	1,069
31	Massachusetts	Mount Greylock	1,063
32	Maryland	Backbone Mountain	1,024
33	Pennsylvania	Mount Davis	979
34	Arkansas	Magazine Mountain	839
35	Alabama	Cheaha Mountain	733
36	Connecticut	Mount Frissell-South Slope	726
37	Minnesota	Eagle Mountain	701
38	Michigan	Mount Arvon	603
39	Wisconsin	Timms Hill	595
40	New Jersey	High Point	550
41	Missouri	Taum Sauk Mountain	540
42	Iowa	Hawkeye Point	509
43	Ohio	Campbell Hill	472
44	Indiana	Hoosier Hill	383
45	Illinois	Charles Mound	376
46	Rhode Island	Jerimoth Hill	247
47	Mississippi	Woodall Mountain	246
48	Louisiana	Driskill Mountain	163
49	Delaware	Ebright Azimuth	137
50	Florida	Britton Hill	105

Map here: https://bit.ly/3xO7Dzl

PanShiBo

Mount Rainier (4,392 m) - 2014 - Our first peak from the List, 49 to go

..is the highest mountain in the U.S. state of Washington and the Cascade Range, the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States, and the tallest in the Cascade Volcanic Arc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Rainier

Route: Emmons Glacier
Dates: 2014.07.08 - 2014.07.10












Bivy at Camp Curtis


Moving to camp Schurman


Let's go!


On the summit!


Camp Schurman

vera

Ready to go....

PanShiBo

Mount Whitney, CA  (4,421 m) - 2015 - Our 2nd peak from the List, 48 to go

..the highest mountain in the contiguous United States..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Whitney

Route: The Mountaineer's Route
Dates: 2015.03.13 - 2015.03.16

Mount Whitney and US flag from Lone Pine



Ready to go!


Protect early, protect often.


Day 2 Leaving Lower Boyscout Lake


En route to Iceberg Lake


Moutnt Whitney as seen from trail








Day 3 sunrise


Alpenglow on Whitney






On the summit!




Going down

PanShiBo

Boundary Peak (4,007 m), Nevada 2022.07.01

.. is the tallest independent mountain within Nevada...

vera

Boundary Peak : 好事多磨, 一切尽是天意😁

vera

2022.07.04 0851hr
At the summit of Wheeler Peak(4,011m), New Mexico , our 11th US state high point. 39 to go.

PanShiBo

2022.07.08 Gannett Peak (4,210 m), the highest peak in Wyoming

* 100km round trip. 5 days /4 nights/ .
* 43lb+ 35lb backpacking and  climbing gear, no porters, no guides.
* Longer than WCT, harder than Rainier.
* Our 12th US State High Point, 38 to go.














The summit ridge with the peak at the back


From rock to snow



Back on easy grounds


Our High Camp


45 km still to go

vera

2022.7.19 1432hr

At the summit of Granite Peak, 3901m, the highest peak in Montana

PanShiBo

2022.07.19 Granite Peak, Montana,  our 13th U.S. State High Point, 37 to go.

50 km round trip, 3 days, 2nights

The highest natural point in the U.S. state of Montana, and the tenth-highest state high point in the nation..Granite Peak is often considered the second most difficult state high point to climb after Denali in Alaska, due to technical climbing, poor weather, and route finding.

Camped at Sandy camp on FTD, winds 65mph all night, subdued only late morning, so we left at 7:30a.m. just to check how far we could get, hoping as far as "the notch". We set turn back time 2pm. However the conditions were good we followed route research done prior, and were on top at 2:10pm. Blue sky, zero wind. Back at camp exactly at sunset. We saw no other people and also only 2 goats, who were after "the minerals". Perfect trip.


We have to cross this snow just before the rock part, and then once again, after


Chimneys, ledges, chutes, cracks and traverses on the way up








Five rappels down..

PanShiBo

2024.11.05 Our 14th U.S. States High Point.

Mauna Kea, Hawaii. 

Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world when measured from its base on the ocean floor to its summit, rising over 33,500 feet (10,210 meters). From sea level, its elevation is 13,796 feet (4,205 meters).

 

 

PanShiBo

2016-01-27

Humphreys Peak (3,851m), the highest peak in Arizona was our U.S. States 5th High Point.

PanShiBo

2016-01-29 Guadalupe Peak, Texas was our 6th U.S. States High Point

The highest natural point in Texas, United States. Here are some key details about it:
Elevation: 8,749 feet (2,667 meters)
Location: It is located in Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Culberson County, near the New Mexico border.
Geology: The peak is part of the Guadalupe Mountains, which are remnants of an ancient reef that existed 260 million years ago during the Permian period.
Hiking: There's a popular trail to the top, the Guadalupe Peak Trail. It's about 8.4 miles round trip with an elevation gain of approximately 3,000 feet. The hike is considered strenuous but offers spectacular views from the summit, including sights of El Capitan, another notable formation in the park.

PanShiBo

2015-09-17 Mount Elbert (4,401m), Colorado - was our 3rd U.S. States High Point.

• Tallest in Colorado – Mount Elbert stands at 14,440 feet (4,401 meters), making it the highest peak in Colorado and the second-highest in the contiguous U.S., after California’s Mount Whitney.

• Easier Than Most 14ers – Despite its height, Mount Elbert is considered one of the easier "14ers" (14,000+ foot peaks) to climb, with well-maintained trails and no technical climbing required.

 

 

PanShiBo

2015-09-24 Kings Peak (4,123m), Utah was our 4th U.S. States High Point

• Highest Point in Utah – Kings Peak is the highest mountain in Utah, standing at 13,534 feet (4,125 meters). It is part of the Uinta Mountains, which run east to west rather than the more common north-to-south orientation of most mountain ranges in North America.

• A Popular Backpacking Destination – The most common route to the summit is via the Henry's Fork Trail, a 28-mile round-trip hike that usually takes 2–3 days. It is one of the most sought-after peaks for hikers and backpackers in Utah.

• No Roads or Easy Access – Unlike some high points in other states, Kings Peak has no roads leading anywhere close to the summit. The hike requires a long trek through alpine meadows, forests, and rocky terrain, making it a true wilderness experience.

 

 

 

 

PanShiBo

2018-09-25 Borah Peak, Idaho was our 8th U.S. States High Point

• Tallest in Idaho – At 12,662 feet (3,859 meters), Borah Peak is the highest point in Idaho, making it a popular destination for peak baggers and hikers.
• "Chicken Out Ridge" – The most famous (or infamous) part of the climb is Chicken Out Ridge, a narrow and exposed section where many climbers decide to turn back.
• No Easy Route – There are no non-technical routes to the summit; even the "easiest" path involves scrambling and exposure to steep drop-offs.

 

 

 

 

PanShiBo

2017-05-26 Mount Hood, Oregon was our 7th U.S. States High Point

 

• Tallest Peak in Oregon – Standing at 11,239 feet (3,426 meters), Mount Hood is the highest mountain in Oregon and the fourth highest in the Cascade Range.

• Active Volcano – Mount Hood is a potentially active stratovolcano, though its last major eruption occurred in the 1780s. It still has active fumaroles (steam vents) near the summit.

• Home to the Only Year-Round Ski Resort in North America – Timberline Lodge operates the longest ski season in North America, with summer skiing on the Palmer Glacier.

• A Filming Location for "The Shining" – The Timberline Lodge, located on Mount Hood, was used for exterior shots of the Overlook Hotel in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (1980).

• Most Climbed Glaciated Peak in the U.S. – With over 10,000 summit attempts annually, Mount Hood is considered one of the most frequently climbed glaciated peaks in North America.

• 11 Named Glaciers and Snowfields – The mountain is home to eleven glaciers, including Eliot Glacier, the largest by volume, and Palmer Glacier, known for skiing.

• Part of the Cascade Volcanic Arc – Mount Hood is one of the major volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest’s Cascade Range, which also includes Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, and Mount Shasta.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PanShiBo

2025-01-16 Mount Rogers, Virginia was our 25th U.S. States High Point

• Highest Point in Virginia – At 5,729 feet (1,746 meters), Mount Rogers is the tallest peak in the state.

• No Panoramic Views – Unlike many other mountain summits, Mount Rogers’ peak is densely forested, so there are no sweeping views from the top.

• Named After a Geologist – The mountain is named after William Barton Rogers, the founder of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

• Wild Ponies! – The nearby Grayson Highlands State Park, which leads to Mount Rogers, is famous for its wild ponies that roam freely. 

• Part of the Appalachian Trail – A portion of the famous Appalachian Trail passes near Mount Rogers, making it a popular spot for hikers.

 

PanShiBo

2025-01-13 Brasstown Bald, Georgia was our 21st U.S. States High Point

 

• Tallest Point in Georgia – At 4,784 feet (1,458 meters) above sea level, Brasstown Bald is the highest natural point in the state.
• 360° Views – On a clear day, you can see four states from the summit: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PanShiBo

2025-01-14 Sassafras Mountain, South Carolina was our 22nd U.S. States High Point. 

 

The day before, we tried to drive the road to the top and almost lost our rental car on a steep, snowy road. Reason prevailed, and we went back to town. We returned the next day and, luckily, discovered a winter trail which we hiked up.

 

• Highest Peak in South Carolina: Sassafras Mountain is the tallest point in the state, reaching 3,553 feet (1,083 meters) above sea level.

• Sassafras Trees: The mountain is named after the sassafras tree, which is known for its aromatic leaves and bark that were once used for medicinal purposes and in the making of root beer.