Yes, we know, not every state is home to a mountain, so when we say “tallest mountain”, we mean it in the loosest way possible. In some states, “mountain” actually means “hill” and in others it means “plain”. The amazing geographical diversity of America is apparent just by looking at the behemoth Denali Mountain in Alaska next to the bump that is Nebraska’s Panorama Point.
Check out our list of the highest natural points in each state and let us know in comments which ones you’ve visited!
Alabama – Cheaha Mountain
Elevation: 2,407 ft
Region: Northwest of Delta, AL
Interesting Fact: The Cheaha Mountain gets its name from the Creek Indian word “chaha”, which means “high place”.
Alaska – Denali
Elevation: 20,320 ft
Region: Denali National Park and Preserve, south-central Alaska
Interesting Facts: Denali, formerly Mount McKinley, is the tallest mountain in North America. The name Denali translates to “The Great One.”
Arizona – Humphrey’s Peak
Elevation: 12,637 ft
Region: North—central Arizona near Flagstaff
Interesting Fact: A part of the San Francisco Peaks that circle a now quiet volcano.
Arkansas – Mount Magazine
Elevation: 2,753 ft
Region: West Arkansas
Interesting Fact: One of the easier state high points to reach the top of, Signal Hill is the higher of two peaks that make up Mount Magazine.
California – Mount Whitney
Elevation: 14,505 ft
Region: East California – north of Los Angeles and southeast of San Francisco
Interesting Fact: Mount Whitney is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. While you don’t need any technical mountain climbing expertise to reach the summit, you do need a permit.
Colorado – Mount Elbert
Elevation: 14,440 ft
Region: Central Colorado
Interesting Fact: Mount Elbert is the highest summit of the Rocky Mountains.
Connecticut – Mount Frissell
Elevation: 2,380 ft
Region: Border of northwest Connecticut and southwest Massachusetts
Interesting Fact: Summit of Mount Frissell isn’t located in Connecticut, it’s in Massachusetts. But, that doesn’t mean it’s the high point of MA.
Delaware – Ebright Azimuth
Elevation: 451 ft
Region: North Delaware near the Pennsylvania border
Interesting Fact: The second-lowest state highpoint (behind Britton Hill in Florida).
Florida – Britton Hill
Elevation: 345 ft
Region: Florida Panhandle near the Alabama border
Interesting Fact: As the lowest state highpoint, Britton Hill is a popular ironic tourism destination for mountain climbers.
Georgia – Brasstown Bald
Elevation: 4,784 ft
Region: North Georgia
Interesting Fact: On clear days, you can see four states without using telescopes.
Hawaii – Mauna Kea
Elevation: 13,803 ft
Region: Largest Island of Hawaii
Interesting Fact: One of the only places in the world where you can drive from sea level to 14,000 feet in around two hours.
Idaho – Borah Peak
Elevation: 12,668 ft
Region: Central Idaho
Interesting Fact: The standard route, named Chickenout Ridge, is a common turn-around point for many climbers, while being a breeze for experienced climbers.
Illinois – Charles Mound
Elevation: 1,235 ft
Region: Northwest Illinois near the Wisconsin border
Interesting Fact: Charles Mound is located on private farmland, and can only be publicly accessed on the first full weekends of June, July, August, and September.
Indiana – Hoosier Hill
Elevation: 1,257 ft
Region: East Indiana on the border of Ohio
Interesting Fact: Hoosier Hill’s designation as the highpoint of Indiana is being threatened by a nearby landfill that may have garbage stacked at a higher elevation.
Iowa – Hawkeye Point
Elevation: 1,670 ft
Region: Northwest Iowa near the Minnesota border
Interesting Fact: There are signposts pointing signaling the directions and distances to the 49 other highpoints.
Kansas – Mount Sunflower
Elevation: 4,039 ft
Region: West Kansas near the Colorado border
Interesting Fact: The highest point in Kansas is the lowest point in Colorado, which is but a 10 minute walk from Mount Sunflower.
Kentucky – Black Mountain
Elevation: 4,145 ft
Region: Southeast Kentucky
Interesting Fact: At the summit of Black Mountain is a large energy tower, making the highpoint appear to be more of a construction site than a tourist spot.
Louisiana – Driskill Mountain
Elevation: 535 ft
Region: North Louisiana
Interesting Facts: Driskill Mountain is the third-lowest high point (behind Delaware and Florida). It was named after one of the area’s first settlers.
Maine – Mount Katahdin
Elevation: 5,267 ft
Region: Central Maine
Interesting Fact: As the northernmost end of the Appalachian Trail, many thru-hikers celebrate their 2,000-mile trek at the summit.
Maryland – Hoye-Crest
Elevation: 3,360 ft
Region: Western Maryland
Interesting Fact: Hoye-Crest is so close to West Virginia that the closest entry point to the highpoint is not in Maryland.
Massachusetts – Mount Greylock
Elevation: 3,492 ft
Region: Northwest corner of Massachusetts
Interesting Fact: One of the more scenic mountains in eastern US, Mount Greylock is rumored to have inspired Herman Melville to write “Moby Dick.”
Michigan – Mount Arvon
Elevation: 1,979 ft
Region: Upper Peninsula
Interesting Fact: Mount Arvon is not technically a mountain. According to geologists, a mountain is anything 2,000 feet or more above sea level.
Minnesota – Eagle Mountain
Elevation: 2,301 ft
Region: Northern Minnesota
Interesting Fact: A four-hour hike to the top will give you a panoramic view of the boundary waters and into Canada.
Mississippi – Woodall Mountain
Elevation: 806 ft
Region: Northeast Mississippi
Interesting Fact: Woodall Mountain (basically a hill) was the location of a Union artillery unit during the Civil War.
Missouri – Taum Sauk Mountain
Elevation: 1,772 ft
Region: Southeast Missouri
Interesting Fact: After you summit Missouri’s high point, you can visit Mina Sauk Falls, the state’s tallest waterfall.
Montana – Granite Peak
Elevation: 12,807 ft
Region: South Central Montana
Interesting Fact: Although it’s the 10th highest point in the US, it’s the second most difficult highpoint to reach (behind Denali).
Nebraska – Panorama Point
Elevation: 5,424 ft
Region: Southwest near the Wyoming and Colorado borders.
Interesting Fact: Panorama Point is neither a mountain nor a hill, but a rise in the High Plains. In the west you can see Rocky Mountains in the distance.
Nevada – Boundary Peak
Elevation: 13,147 ft
Region: Southwestern Nevada on California border
Interesting Fact: Boundary Peak is only a half mile from California. Many climbers will start their climb in Nevada, reach the top, and then cross the border using the ridge to Montgomery Peak.
New Hampshire – Mount Washington
Elevation: 6,288 ft
Region: Central New Hampshire
Interesting Fact: The Mount Washington Observatory is a leading nonprofit and educational institution focused on advancing our understanding of weather and climate.
New Jersey – High Point
Elevation: 1,803 ft
Region: North New Jersey
Interesting Fact: At the peak is High Point Monument, a war memorial built in 1930.
New Mexico – Wheeler Peak
Elevation: 13,167 ft
Region: North New Mexico
Interesting Fact: A carefully constructed path makes Wheeler Peak one of the easier mountainous highpoints to reach.
New York – Mount Marcy
Elevation: 5,344 ft
Region: Northeast New York
Interesting Fact: Mount Marcy lies in the heart of the Adirondacks, and is a popular spot for hikers in the summer.
North Carolina – Mount Mitchell
Elevation: 6,684 ft
Region: West North Carolina
Interesting Fact: Mount Mitchell is the highest peak of the Appalachian Mountains, as well as the highest in eastern mainland US.
North Dakota – White Butte
Elevation: 3,506 ft
Region: Southwest North Dakota
Interesting Fact: White Butte may be the only highpoint to charge admission. Visitors are encouraged to pay $5 since it resides on private property.
Ohio – Campbell Hill
Elevation: 1,549 ft
Region: West Central Ohio
Interesting Fact: Located on the campus of a school, Campbell Hill is one of the most well-maintained and accessible state highpoints.
Oklahoma – Black Mesa
Elevation: 4,973 ft
Region: Northwest Oklahoma
Interesting Fact: Not only the highpoint in Oklahoma, Black Mesa is also the driest and coldest spot in the state.
Oregon – Mount Hood
Elevation: 11,249 ft
Region: North Oregon
Interesting Fact: Mount Hood is considered dormant but “potentially active” due the odds of it erupting in the next 30 years is 3-7 percent.
Pennsylvania – Mount Davis
Elevation: 3,213 ft
Region: Southwestern Pennsylvania
Interesting Fact: You can climb to the top of an observation tower, but the real highpoint is a nearby boulder with a small circular marker on it.
Rhode Island – Jerimoth Hill
Elevation: 812 ft
Region: Western Rhode Island
Interesting Fact: Access to the Jerimoth Hill highpoint had been prohibited for years, because part of the path crossed a private driveway.
South Carolina – Sassafras Mountain
Elevation: 3,560 ft
Region: Northwest South Carolina
Interesting Fact: Sassafras Mountain is one of the easiest highpoints to summit. You can drive most of the way in your car.
South Dakota – Black Elk Peak
Elevation: 7,244 ft
Region: Western South Dakota
Interesting Fact: Black Elk Peak’s named was changed from Harney Peak in 2016. Black Elk is a well-known Lakota medicine man, while US General Harney is most known for a massacre of Sioux women and children.
Tennessee – Clingman’s Dome
Elevation: 6,643 ft
Region: East Tennessee
Interesting Fact: A 45-foot observation tower offers a 360-degree panorama view of the area surrounding Clingman’s Dome.
Texas – Guadalupe Peak
Elevation: 8,751 ft
Region: West Texas
Interesting Fact: The summit of Guadalupe Peak is marked with a stainless steel pyramid erected to commemorate the anniversary of the Butterfield Overland Mail, a stagecoach route.
Utah – King’s Peak
Elevation: 13,528 ft
Region: Northeast Utah
Interesting Fact: King’s Peak is considered the most difficult mountain to climb without special training. The easiest path is 29 miles round trip.
Vermont – Mount Mansfield
Elevation: 4,395 ft
Region: North Central Vermont
Interesting Fact: When viewed from the west or the east, an elongated horizontal face silhouette can be seen with a forehead, nose, lips, chin, and Adam’s apple.
Virginia – Mount Rogers
Elevation: 5,729 ft
Region: Southwestern Virginia
Interesting Fact: The Appalachian Trail crosses within a half mile of the summit of Mount Rogers, making it a popular hiking destination.
Washington – Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410 ft
Region: West Washington
Interesting Fact: Mount Rainier is an active stratovolcano, and is considered one of the most dangerous in the world.
West Virginia – Spruce Knob
Elevation: 4,863 ft
Region: Eastern West Virginia
Interesting Fact: Along with the highest elevation in West Virginia, the Spruce Knob Mountain Center has 400 acres of forestry, natural springs and caves.
Wisconsin – Timm’s Hill
Elevation: 1,951 ft
Region: North Central Wisconsin
Interesting Fact: You can climb the observation tower for a 30-mile sight of the surrounding scenic park.
Wyoming – Gannett Peak
Elevation: 13,809 ft
Region: West Wyoming
Interesting Fact: At 896 acres, Gannett Glacier is the largest single glacier in the Rocky Mountains.
