7 Tallest Mountains In The US

Although Asia claims the world’s tallest peaks, the United States also contains significant elevations, primarily in Alaska. This article examines the ten highest American mountains, each reaching substantial heights and presenting notable challenges for mountaineers. Their glacial settings and alpine climates draw both seasoned climbers and curious observers. While none surpass 7,000 meters, these summits still rank among the continent’s most important natural landmarks.

7. Mount Fairweather - 15,325 ft

Mount Fairweather, located 20 km east of the Pacific Ocean on the Canada–United States border, stands at 4,671 meters, making it the tallest peak in British Columbia and the seventh-highest in Alaska. Primarily within Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in Yakutat, Alaska, its summit also borders British Columbia's Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park. Named by Captain James Cook in 1778 during a spell of good weather, the mountain has various names in multiple languages reflecting its stunning visibility. Despite its inviting name, Mount Fairweather typically experiences severe weather, receiving over 100 inches of annual precipitation and enduring temperatures around −50 °F. Its challenging conditions didn't see a successful ascent until 1931 by Allen Carpé and Terris Moore via the Southeast Ridge, marking a significant event in its climbing history.

6. Mount Sanford - 16,237 ft

Mount Sanford, located in eastern Alaska near the Copper River, is the sixth-highest mountain in the United States and the third-highest volcano, part of the Wrangell Volcanic Field. Known for its steep south face rising 8,000 feet over one mile, it is one of North America's most drastic gradients. Composed mainly of andesite, Mount Sanford is an ancient Pleistocene volcano with some Holocene features. Noteworthy geological events include a large rhyolite flow and a more recent basaltic flow from a flank rift zone, marking its most recent activity. The mountain, named in 1885 by Lieutenant Henry T. Allen, was first climbed in 1938 by Terris Moore and Bradford Washburn. Despite minimal technical difficulty, the climb remains a formidable challenge due to the mountain's remote location and extreme conditions.

5. Mount Blackburn - 16,390 ft

Mount Blackburn, located in Alaska's Wrangell Mountains, stands as the highest peak in the range and the fifth-highest in the United States. It is an ancient shield volcano, ranking as the second-highest volcano in the U.S. and fifth in North America. Named in 1885 after Senator Joseph Clay Stiles Blackburn, it dominates the landscape within Wrangell – St. Elias National Park, the largest national park in the U.S. The mountain is primarily covered by icefields and glaciers, feeding significant glaciers like Kennicott, Nabesna, and Kuskulana. Mount Blackburn's west summit, only recognized in the 1960s as the highest point, was first ascended on May 30, 1958. The standard climbing route remains the North Ridge, considered a moderate climb by Alaskan standards.

4. Mount Bona - 16,550 ft

Mount Bona, located in eastern Alaska's Saint Elias Mountains, ranks as the fifth-highest independent peak in the United States and either the tenth or eleventh in North America. It stands out as the highest volcano in the U.S. and the fourth-highest in North America, surpassed only by three Mexican peaks. Mount Bona, covered almost entirely by icefields and glaciers, is a major source of ice for the Klutlan Glacier, flowing over 40 miles into Canada's Yukon Territory. Named in 1897 by Prince Luigi Amedeo after his yacht, its first ascent was in 1930 via the Russell Glacier. The standard climbing route now is the East Ridge, with Mount Churchill also accessible from this path. Elevation estimates vary, with the most recent suggesting about 16,550 feet.

3. Mount Foraker - 17,400 ft

Mount Foraker, standing at 17,400 feet, is the second-highest peak in the Alaska Range and the third-highest in the United States. It is located 14 miles southwest of Denali within Denali National Park, rising near the Kahiltna Glacier's standard base camp. Named in 1899 by Lt. J. S. Herron after Senator Joseph B. Foraker, it is also known to the Koyukon as Sultana or "Denali's wife." The mountain's more challenging north peak was first climbed on August 6, 1934, by Charles Houston, T. Graham Brown, and Chychele Waterston via the west ridge. Mount Foraker is noted for its severe climbing conditions and significant ascents, including the first solo and fastest ascent of the Infinite Spur by Colin Haley in 2016.

2. Mount Saint Elias - 18,009 ft

Mount Saint Elias, standing on the Yukon and Alaska border, is the second-highest mountain in both Canada and the United States. It is located within Kluane National Park and Reserve in Canada and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in the U.S. Known to the Tlingit as Yasʼéitʼaa Shaa, meaning "mountain behind Icy Bay," it features a legendary rift with Mount Fairweather, from which it purportedly separated after a dispute. First sighted by Europeans in 1741 during Vitus Bering's expedition, its notable for its extreme vertical relief, rising 18,008 feet over a horizontal distance of just 10 miles. The mountain's formidable nature and frequent bad weather make it a challenging climb, rarely attempted today despite its prominence.

1. Mount Denali (Mount McKinley) - 20,310 ft

Denali, also known as Mount McKinley, is North America's highest peak, with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet above sea level. It is recognized for its significant vertical rise from base to peak, measuring 18,000 feet, making it the tallest mountain in the world from base to peak on land. Denali is part of the Alaska Range and serves as the centerpiece of Denali National Park and Preserve. The mountain was officially named "Mount McKinley" from 1917 until 2015 when it was renamed Denali. However, in 2025, the name was reverted back to Mount McKinley by the Trump administration. Denali's climbing history includes the first successful ascent in 1913 by a team led by Hudson Stuck. The mountain's geology is characterized by a granitic pluton formation, primarily pink quartz monzonite, lifted by tectonic pressures. Denali is also known for its severe weather conditions, contributing to its climbing challenges.