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THE CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN ATLAS

HOMEPAGE

New Edition:  June 25, 2006

email webmaster for more information

Skip down to the introduction to P2000s, the P1000s, the P500s

Skip down to the following Group:  Charleston, Eddy, Lassen, Piños, Shasta, Southern California, Telescope-White, Whitney.

About the Mountain Atlas:

The California Mountain Atlas is a compendium of all summits in the state with 500' of prominence.  This Atlas lists 4,106 summits (as of 6/25/06).

In order to appreciate the work in this atlas it helps to understand a few key concepts about topographic prominence and orometry.  The data is organized in a logical manner that takes some getting used to.  All mountains referenced in these pages include a precise name, elevation, prominence, and coordinate.   Lists are organized by orometric groups, and by lineage cell.  Most lists are further sorted by prominence value.  None of these concepts are particularly hard to grasp, but it can seem a bit counter-intuitive first.  Prominence and orometric groupings are purely geographical functions, so you will not find many lists in these pages sorted by political subdivision.

If you have difficulty navigating this site, I suggest you do three things:  1)  Look at the California Introduction Page, which describes the different sets of mountains based on prominence cutoffs,  2)  take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the 167 lineage cells by examining the
graphical map of the Lineage cells,  and 3)  read the theory section of Peaklist.


The California P2000s:    "eagles"

Cailfornia has 163 summits with 2000' of clean prominence, which represent an interesting assortment of hiking challenges that are well-distributed across the different geographies of the state.

In 2002, I researched and completed the first listing of the California P2000s.  This was based on extensive prior research by Andy Martin (for the Top 50) and Edward Earl.  In 2003 this project was extended to include all of the United States.  Information about the 1234 US P2000 summits is on the US P2000 homepage.

It is important to orient yourself to the California P2000s by way of understanding the organization of the California Mountain Atlas. 

The California P2000 list

Map of the California P2000s

California P2000 Lineage Cell Map

Several hikers are making significant progress toward hiking all of the summits on the list (7 are more than half way).  You can track your own progress by registering (free) at listsofjohn.com, and track the leaders on the Prominence Front Runner List


The California P1000s:    "half eagles"      

California has 972 summits with 1000' of clean prominence.   I have created custom lists and maps for the P1000s, which are separated by lineage group, similar to the P500s below.

Introduction to the P1000s

The California P500s

Data Summary:  

There are 4106 summits in California with 500' or more of interpolated prominence (error range peaks with less than 500' of interpolated prominence are not tracked).   This atlas provides lists and maps to all of the summits. Lineage Groups

Organization of this data is based on two divisions for ease of use:  Firstly, the data is organized around eight groups of summits, each named after their highpoint (Southern California is grouped together.)   The map on the right should serve as a guide.

Secondly, the lists of P500s  all derive from the P2000 Lineage Cell.  Every P2000 summit (167) has a specific lineage area of lesser summits around it.  This is based on some non-arbitrary rules that are described in the theory section.  It is really not necessary to understand the theory - take a look at some of the cell maps (generated with Topo! software) for a visual understanding of the hierarchical organization.

Within each lineage cell below, I have listed the number of corresponding summits with 500' prominence or greater, and the links to the corresponding maps.

The Eight Groups:

Because of the peculiar geography of California these groupings are largely intuitive.  Eddy and Piños represent the Coast Ranges north and south of San Francisco Bay.  Lassen and Shasta comprise the northeast corner of the state including the Cascades, the Warners and the northern end of the Sierra north of the Feather River.  Virtually the entire Sierra Nevada is included under Whitney, which also includes a few Trans-Sierra and High Desert Ranges.  White/Telescope includes the Inyo, Panamints, and other Trans-Sierra ranges west of Death Valley.  Gorgonio on the list below includes Antonio and Jacinto - i.e. all of Southern California.
  1. Charleston and Jefferson Group  these are the California fragments of the lineage for Charleston Peak, NV and Mt. Jefferson, NV.   This includes all ranges east of Death Valley and in the east Mojave.
  2. Eddy Group:  Coast ranges north of San Francisco Bay and West of I-5 to the Oregon Border
  3. Gorgonio Group:  The combined lineage areas for San Gorgonio, San Jacinto and San Antonio Mtns., including all of Southern California south of Soledad Pass (Antelope Freeway.) 
  4. Lassen Group:  The Northernmost edge of the Sierra - north of Beckwourth Pass, the Lassen region and the Warner Mtns., and basin and range country of extreme Northeastern CA.
  5. Piños Group:  The Coast Ranges south of San Francisco Bay to Soledad Pass, and including the Tehachapi Mtns. as far as Tehachapi Pass.
  6. Shasta Group:  East of I-5 and NW of the Pit River, a comparatively small area.
  7. White/Telescope Groups   High desert ranges east of the Owens Valley and west of Death Valley., particularly the Inyo Mountains and the Panamint Range.
  8. Whitney Group:  The entire Sierra Nevada south of Beckwourth Pass and north of Tehachapi Pass.   Group also includes Trans-Sierra ranges (east of US-395 and west of CA-6) and a large section of the High Mojave around China Lake and the Avawatz Mtns.
Piños Group
Group Finished - Dec. 23, 2003: 504 mountains

The Coast ranges south from San Francisco Bay to Tehachapi Pass and Soledad Pass.   To find a mountain in the Coast Ranges first identify a Lineage Group on the California Lineage Cell Map.  Then click on the name of the lineage cell below for the table, or to the right for a Topo! generated lineage map.  Click here for the California Lineage Cell Guide Map.

ALAMO
11
see Reyes Map
BEAR
5
see Piños Map
BIG PINE
58
MAP ONLINE
BURNT/LIEBRE
26
see Piños Map
CALIENTE
52
MAP ONLINE
CHEWS
24 see Junipero Map
CONE
37
see Junipero Map
COPERNICUS
44
MAP ONLINE
(DEVILS) - Northern Channel Is.
7
MAP ONLINE
DIABLO
18
MAP ONLINE
DOUBLE
17 see Piños Map
FRAZIER
1
see Piños Map
HINES
8
see Reyes Map
JOHNSON
14
see San Benito Map
JUNIPERO SERRA
14
MAP ONLINE
LOMA PRIETA
23
MAP ONLINE
(ORIZABA) - Southern Channel Is.
7
MAP ONLINE
PALO ESCRITO
8
see Junipero Map
PIÑOS
19
MAP ONLINE
REYES
19
MAP ONLINE
SAN BENITO
77
MAP ONLINE
SANTA YNEZ
11 see Big Pine Map
Southern California Groups (San Gorgonio, San Antonio, San Jacinto)
Group Finished - January 21, 2004:  635 mountains

The Southern California Groups include California mountains in the P5000 cells of San Antonio, San Gorgonio, and San Jacinto.  This comprises everything south of Soledad Pass (the Antelope Freeway) near Palmdale, including many desert ranges in the low Mojave and Colorado Deserts.  The cells average 27 peaks each. 

AQUA (COXCOMB) 15
see Granite Map
BADEN-POWELL
60
MAP ONLINE
BIG MARIA
14
see Granite Map
BLACK BUTTE (Gorgonio)
67
MAP ONLINE
CADY
5
see Rodman Map
CUYAMACA
89 MAP ONLINE
EAGLE
10
see Quail Map
GRANITE
17 MAP ONLINE
HOT SPRINGS
15
see San Jacinto Map
ORD
34
MAP ONLINE
OROCOPIA
4
see Black Butte Map
OTAY
2
see Cuyamaca Map
PALOMAR
11
see San Jacinto Map
QUAIL
34
MAP ONLINE
RED TOP (PALEN) 10
see Granite Map
RODMAN
42
MAP ONLINE
SAN ANTONIO (BALDY)
34
MAP ONLINE
SAN GORGONIO
69
MAP ONLINE
SAN JACINTO
34
MAP ONLINE
SANDSTONE 11
see Baden-Powell Map
SANTIAGO
18
MAP ONLINE
SHEEP HOLE
3
see Granite Map
TORO
24
see San Jacinto Map
WHALE
16 see Cuyamaca Map
Whitney Group
Group Finished - December 10, 2004:  1184 mountains

This group includes the Sierra Nevada from Beckwourth Pass south to Tehachapi Pass, including the trans-Sierra ranges, bounded on the East by Owens Valley, plus some of the High Mojave near China Lake and the Avawatz Mtns.

The Mt. Whitney P2000 Lineage Cell is monstrous, with 187 peaks.  I have no idea why the highest peak gets the most P500s in its cell - its a peculiarity specific to the landform of the Southern Sierra. 

In future revisions I hope to add some of the data not on the USGS 7.5' maps, such as unofficial names provided by RJ Secor and others, and additional spot elevations.  Help from a Sierra buff would be appreciated.

Cells marked (Mojave) and (Trans) are not in the Sierra proper (see guide map above) all other cells are.

AVAWATZ (Mojave) 50

BABBITT
15
see Lola Map
BRECKENRIDGE
2
see Piute Map
BROWN (Mojave) 9

CONNESS
12
MAP ONLINE
DANA
3
see Conness Map
EAGLE
3
see Conness Map
EAGLE CRAGS (Mojave) 21
MAP ONLINE
FREEL
6
see Round Top Map
GABB or BEAR CREEK
59 see Humphreys Map
GLASS (Trans-Sierra) 13
see Patterson Map
HAWKINS
3
see Round Top Map
HIGHLAND
9 see Round Top Map
HOFFMANN
27
see Ritter Map
HUMPHREYS
6
MAP ONLINE
KAWEAH
6
see Whitney map
KERN
44
MAP ONLINE
LEAVITT
101 MAP ONLINE
LOLA
76
MAP ONLINE
MORGAN
3
see Humphreys Map   
NORTH PALISADE
130
MAP ONLINE
OLANCHA
25
MAP ONLINE
OWENS
17
see Olancha Map
PATTERSON (Trans-Sierra)
4
MAP ONLINE
PINCHOT
11
see Palisade Map
PIUTE
29
MAP ONLINE
POTATO (Trans-Sierra) 6
see Patterson Map
PYRAMID
48
MAP ONLINE
RED (Mojave)
11
see Eagle Crags Map
RITTER
95 MAP ONLINE
ROSE, NV
3
see Pyramid Map
ROUND TOP
18
MAP ONLINE
SCODIE
18
see Piute Map
SLATE
39
MAP ONLINE
TIEFORT (Mojave) 18

TOWER
24
see Conness Map
TWIN
27
see Conness Map
WARREN
4
see Conness Map
WHITNEY
187
MAP ONLINE!
GRANT, NV
2
see Patterson Map

White Mountain and Telescope Groups
Group Finished - Dec. 12, 2003:  184 mountains

The area East of Owens Valley and West of Death Valley, proceeding North to South, including the White Mountains, Inyo Mountains and Panamint Range, among others.

COSO
27

DRY
16

DUBOIS
5
see White Mtn. Map
KEYNOT (or INYO)
22

MANLY
12

MATURANGO
4

PINTO 1

STRAW
4

TELESCOPE
20

TIN
13

TOWNE
3

WAUCOBA
31

WHITE MOUNTAIN
20
MAP ONLINE

Lassen Group
Group Finished - Dec. 5, 2004:  286 mountains

The Lassen group includes most of Northeastern California, except the Shasta Region.  On the West side, the group extends from the Pit River, south to Lake Shasta and down the Sacramento River.  On the southern side, the border starts at Beckwourth Pass (the Mt. Lassen KS) and goes down the Middle Fork of the Feather River to the Sacramento Delta.  This group include the Sutter Buttes.  On the East Side, the group includes Modoc and Lassen Counties.  Logically extended, the Lassen Group would continue into Nevada, and include all of Central and Southeastern Oregon.

ADAMS
26

BALD EAGLE
14

BURNEY
3

BUTT
16

CRATER
33

DIXIE
12

EAGLE
23

INGALLS
11

FREDONYER
9

HOT SPRINGS
5

KEDDIE
8

BM KETTLE
5

LASSEN
95

OBSERVATION
7

SHAFFER
1

SOUTH BUTTE
5

CRANE, OR (partial)
4

GEARHART, OR (partial)
7

PETERSEN, NV (partial)
1

STATE LINE, NV (partial)
1


Shasta Group
Group Finished - Feb. 5, 2004:  137 mountains

The Shasta group is a smallish region of Northern California around Mt. Shasta to the Oregon border.  The area is bounded on the west by the Sacramento River and I-5, on the north by the Klamath River, and on the south by the Pit River and Lake Shasta.  The area is mostly volcanic, with a few areas of high-density summits especially in the foothills north of Lake Shasta and to the east of Mt. Shasta.  Because of the frequency of prominent cinder cones north of Mt. Shasta, there are several small cells in the region. 


ASH CREEK BUTTE 9
available
BLACK
3
available
GOOSENEST
6
available
HOFFMAN
66
available
SALT CREEK 6
available
SHASTA
7
available
TOMBSTONE 22 available
WHALEBACK
4
available
WILLOW CREEK 12
available
HAMAKER, OR (partial) 2
available
Charleston, NV and Jefferson, NV Groups (partial)
Group Finished January 25, 2005:  295 mountains

The Eastern Mojave and ranges north and east of Death Valley.


CHARLESTON GROUP

CLARK 45
MAP ONLINE
CLIPPER 4
see Edgar Map
EDGAR 4
MAP ONLINE
GRANITE 26
see Edgar Map
KINGSTON 17
MAP ONLINE
NEW YORK 12
MAP ONLINE
NOPAH 6
see Kingston Map
OLD WOMAN 42 MAP ONLINE
PROVIDENCE 2
see Edgar Map
RESTING SPRING 8
see Kingston Map
TURTLE 30
see Old Woman Map
WHIPPLE 23
see Old Woman Map
MCCULLOUGH, NV
6
see New York Map
SPIRIT, NV
2
see New York Map

JEFFERSON GROUP

FUNERAL
30
see Pyramid Map
PYRAMID 11
MAP ONLINE
BLUE DICK, NV 4
see Last Chance Map
GRAPEVINE, NV
20
see Pyramid Map
LAST CHANCE
3 MAP ONLINE
Eddy Group
Group Finished - June 25, 2006:  888 mountains

The Eddy Group includes the Coast Ranges west of Interstate 5 from near the Oregon Border to the San Francisco Bay.  Included at the end of this set are the cells north of the Klamath River (McLoughlin, OR Group).


BIG SIGNAL
6

BLACK BUTTE
6

BLACK LASSIC
16

BONANZA KING
3
see Eddy Map
BOULDER 49
BRUSHY 2

BULLY CHOOP
15
MAP ONLINE
CAHTO 23

CHANCHELULLA
9
see Bully Choop Map
COBB 73
MAP ONLINE
EDDY 51
MAP ONLINE
HAYFORK BALLY
17
see Bully Choop Map
HOOD
8
see Tamalpais Map
HULL
3

INDIAN CREEK
15
MAP ONLINE
IRON
27

KING
17

KONOCTI 1
see Cobb Map
NORTH YOLLA BOLLY
23
see Bully Choop Map
RAINBOW
24

RUSSIAN 32

SALMON
26

SNOW
146

SONOMA 4
see Tamalpais Map
SOUTH YOLLA BOLLY (LINN)
88

TAMALPAIS
31 Map Online (standard)
Marin Map  (P300s)
THOMPSON
46

THURSTON
16


MCLAUGHLIN, OR Group (fragment)

BEAR
48
PRESTON 19

COTTONWOOD 4

ASHLAND, OR 9

GRAYBACK, OR 12

PEARSOLL, OR 9