Family RVing Magazine
  • FMCA.COM
  • CONTACT US
familyRVing
  • in this issue
  • tech
    • Tech talk e-newsletter archives
    • more tech talk
  • Digital editions
  • towable guides
  • Classifieds
  • contact
    • contact us
    • advertise with us
    • media room
  • FMCA

Family RVing Magazine

Premier Peaks

October 1, 2007

Baker’s Dozen
By Lowell & Kaye Christie, F47246
September 2007

Head to the western United States, where you’ll have your altitude adjusted by these lofty peaks.

As lifelong mountain lovers, we decided to investigate the tallest mountains in the United States. If we were altitude purists, our focus would be limited to just Alaska, which boasts the 16 highest peaks in the country. Instead, we set our sights on finding the tallest mountain in 13 individual states.

1. Mount McKinley, Alaska, 20,320 feet
Awe-inspiring Mount McKinley, the loftiest mountain in the country, is located in Denali National Park and Preserve. Its magnificent landscape supports a wide diversity of wildlife, including grizzly bears, caribou, wolves, and moose. In summer the slopes contain garlands of birds and flowers covering 6 million acres of beauty. Denali Park Road is the only road in the park and, with few exceptions, private vehicles aren’t allowed. To see the park, hop aboard a bus.

2. Mount Whitney, California, 14,496 feet

As the tallest mountain in the continental United States, Mount Whitney towers high over Death Valley, the lowest point in North America. Part of the Sierra Nevadas, on the west side it’s easily viewed from Sequoia National Park; on the east, you’ll see it while driving U.S. 395, but you’ll want to stop in Lone Pine for a longer, safer look. Hikers might want to know that Mount Whitney is the southern terminus of the John Muir Trail, which runs 212 miles between this peak and the Yosemite Valley.

3. Mount Elbert, Colorado, 14,433 feet

Colorado’s tallest mountain is located southwest of Leadville, its highest town. Even in a state rich in mountains, Mount Elbert dominates the view. This mountain is just one of the peaks reaching more than 14,000 feet into the Colorado sky. It’s easy to understand why Mount Elbert is a favorite of hikers. In spite of its size, it is reputed to be easy to climb. Unfortunately, when we were there we didn’t know that it’s only 4½ miles each way on a good trail. Darn!

4. Mount Rainier, Washington, 14,411 feet
Imagine an active volcano encased in 35 square miles of snow and ice. Down below you’ll find dense, old-growth forest and spectacular subalpine meadows. No wonder it’s a national park! What’s more, Mount Rainier is just a 54-mile drive from Seattle.

5. Gannett Peak, Wyoming, 13,804 feet
This is the highest mountain in the state “” taller than Grand Teton “” and it straddles the Continental Divide. Nine-hundred-acre Gannett Glacier, said to be the largest single glacier in the Rockies, flows down Gannett’s northern slopes. Grand Teton National Park to the northwest occupies most of the valley, preserving those awesome peaks and glacial lakes. Wildlife abounds, including deer, moose, pronghorn antelope, elks, grizzly and black bears, bison, and trumpeter swans. Many of the larger animals roam across the valley floor.

6. Mauna Kea, Hawaii, 13,796 feet

Depending on how you measure it, Mauna Kea is 13,796 feet tall, but purists insist the entire Big Island of Hawaii is actually a mountain, stretching an estimated 33,000 feet from the sea floor. That would make it the world’s tallest mountain. Still, it would be tough to hike the underwater part. Besides, motorhomes don’t float, or fit into an airliner, so we’ll move on.

7. Kings Peak, Utah, 13,528 feet

Utah is a desert state, the second most arid in the country. It also has tall mountains woven in and among the plains and lowlands. Kings Peak, located in Ashley National Forest, is part of the Uinta Mountain range. This mountain is approximately 80 miles east of Salt Lake City. The peak is a good 12 miles from the nearest road and is surrounded by a huge wilderness area filled with pristine lakes, flat alpine meadows, and easy summits.

8. Wheeler Peak, New Mexico, 13,161 feet
The Sangre de Cristo mountain range in northern New Mexico offers a series of high summits and unusually high treelines. Few other places can claim to have forests above 12,000 feet. Alpine trails lead past colorful wildflowers, cascading waterfalls, and rushing waters up to the top of New Mexico’s tallest mountain, Wheeler Peak.

9. Boundary Peak, Nevada, 13,140 feet
Located entirely within the state of Nevada, Boundary Peak rises approximately a mile east of the California border, thus its name. It is one of the most remote peaks on the list, surrounded by the Boundary Peak Wilderness Area.

10. Granite Peak, Montana, 12,799 feet

Located in the Beartooth Range of the Rockies, Granite Peak is a tough climb for hikers. It involves rock climbing, long hikes, snow climbing, exposed camping, sudden severe thunderstorms, and a journey through the Froze-To-Death Plateau. This one is definitely for those who take their summiting seriously. The mountain is approximately 60 miles southwest of Billings. Yellowstone National Park is just southwest of the mountain. The park also has trails to Granite’s summit.

11. Borah Peak, Idaho, 12,662 feet
This peak, named for Idaho Senator William Borah, is located in the Salmon-Challis National Forest, 45 miles north of Arco. This area also contains the Wild & Scenic Salmon River and the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, making it a desirable destination for hunting, fishing, whitewater rafting, and other outdoor recreation activities. A 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit the area in 1983, causing damage to the surrounding towns and changing the landscape of the mountain.

12. Humphreys Peak, Arizona, 12,633 feet

The highest point in Arizona, located approximately 11 miles north of Flagstaff, is the highest of a group of ancient volcanic peaks. On days when it’s 105 degrees in Phoenix, it can be 60 degrees cooler on top of Humphreys. Not the entire state is desert, as some people assume. The summit can be most easily reached by hiking the 4.5-mile Humphreys Trail. If you do go hiking up the peak, watch out for thunderstorms during the summer.

13. Mount Hood, Oregon, 11,239 feet

The tallest mountain in Oregon lies 45 miles southeast of Portland. Mount Hood is made of lava flows, domes, and volcaniclastic deposits. The main cone formed approximately 500,000 years ago, but it has erupted only four times in the last 15,000 years. The most recent episode ended shortly before the arrival of Lewis and Clark in 1805. There will be more bursts of energy from Mount Hood, but not without warning.

previous post
Fleetwood 2008 American Eagle
next post
A Family Affair

You may also like

Answers To Frequently Asked Questions

August 1, 2007

A New Look Is Coming To Family Motor...

February 1, 2007

RV Fire Safety

May 1, 2019

Broken Drain Plug Removal

March 1, 2007

From Yard Line To Mile Marker

June 1, 2007

Winter Warm-Ups

January 1, 2008

Optima Industries

January 1, 2008

RV Products: February 2007

March 1, 2007

Army Corps Considers Cutbacks At Twin Lakes

January 1, 2008

Tech & Travel Tips: November 2007

May 1, 2009




Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Youtube

FMCA on Social Media

  • Hit ♥️ if you think campfires in the morning don
  • "We were stranded along a narrow road near Bryce Canyon, Utah. The location was not a good place for cellular service, but I was able to contact Roadside Rescue and arrange for a tow after driving our towed vehicle to the town of Bryce. I had to speak with several people at Roadside Rescue, but each person I spoke with was respectful and courteous. The tow was set up and our rig taken to a place that promptly took care of the repair and we were back on the road in 24 hours."⁠ ⁠ Michael & Lynn Noonan (F448134)⁠ ⁠
  • Volunteering is a great way to spend your time during retirement or over long summer or winter breaks. It provides you with a means of staying active, meeting new people, and feeling productive all while giving back to a cause that you choose! For an inside look at what volunteer life is like as a retired RVer, check out our latest FMCAdventure blog - The Benefits of Volunteering as an RVer. Tap the link in our bio to read it now!⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #fmcaRV #rvclub #rvliving #rvlife #rv #rvtravel #fulltimerv #gorving #camping #rvthereyet #homeonwheels #wanderlust #travel #adventure #explore #homeiswhereyouparkit #rvblogger
  • #throwbackthursday to the sixth FMCA convention, way back in July, 1969. The convention took place at the Traverse City Civic Center in Traverse City, Michigan and featured RV displays, seminars, vendors, and lots of entertainment. ⁠ ⁠ Fast forward 52 years and 96 conventions to today. We are getting ready for FMCA
  • Do you have a campground that you find yourself returning to year after year? What do you love about it so much? ⁠ ⁠ With FMCA, you can save on overnight stays at HUNDREDS of different campgrounds across North America. Tap the link in our bio to learn about the different campgrounds where you can save money, just for being an FMCA member!⁠ ⁠ - @natehitstheroad⁠ ⁠ #fmcaRV #rvclub #rvliving #rvlife #rv #rvtravel #fulltimerv #gorving #camping #rvthereyet #homeonwheels #wanderlust #travel #adventure #explore #homeiswhereyouparkit
  • In remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr., let us remember to honor his legacy by continuing to take steps toward equality and righteousness within ourselves, our communities and our nation. That means that we must recognize the human dignity in all of the people we encounter along our journeys.⁠ ⁠ “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”-MLK⁠ ⁠ ⁠
  • The Royal Gorge in Canon City, Colorado is one of those places where you leave thinking, "How did I never know about this place before?".⁠ ⁠ Check out our latest travel blog - The Royal Gorge and Canon City, Colorado. It is filled with history, geology, adventure, and LOTS of beautiful photos! Thanks to @mandmhittheroad for contributing this week
  • There are only 3 days left before the early-bird deadline for FMCA
  • Setting the ambiance at the campsite with some mood lighting. What types of camping adventures are you in the mood for this weekend? ⁠ ⁠ - @thebatesmotelrv⁠ - Imagine by @granddesignrv ⁠ ⁠ #fmcaRV #rvclub #rvliving #rvlife #rv #rvtravel #fulltimerv #gorving #camping #rvthereyet #homeonwheels #wanderlust #travel #adventure #explore #homeiswhereyouparkit

Categories

Recent Posts

  • Tech Talk: FMCA To The Rescue!

  • Livin’ The Life: January 2021

  • A Fun-Size Book Library

banner
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube

@2017 - FamilyRvingMag. All Right Reserved.


Back To Top

FMCA members have access to exclusive articles and RV tips, plus a digital library of RVing know-how. For full access to website content, plus must-have travel benefits, join FMCA today and get instant access to Family RVing magazine.

If you already have a membership with us, sign in now to get full access!

Join Now Sign In