List of U.S. National Parks by elevation

Death Valley National Park, notorious for its below sea level desert, also has soaring mountains, including Telescope Peak, its highest.

This is a list of United States National Parks by elevation. Most of America's national parks are located in mountainous areas. Even among those located close to the ocean, not all are flat. Those few that are low-lying preserve important natural habitats that could never exist at high altitude. Several national parks protect deep canyons with great vertical relief. There are also three national parks whose primary features are caves, the depths of which are still being explored.

Highest and lowest points in each US National Park

Criteria: Points on this list are the highest and lowest points within each national park and its associated national preserve, if it has one. It does not include adjacent or associated national recreation areas, parkways, memorials, or forests, but does include private property within park boundaries. Footnotes are given to mention other notable high or low points, when appropriate.

Rank Park Location Peak Name Mountain Range Elevation Location of Lowest Point Minimum Elevation Vertical Relief
1 Denali Denali Alaska Range 20,310 feet (6,190 m) Yentna River[1] 240 feet (73 m) 20,070 feet (6,120 m)
2 Wrangell-St. Elias Mount Saint Elias Saint Elias Mountains 18,008 feet (5,489 m) Gulf of Alaska 0 feet (0 m) 18,008 feet (5,489 m)
3 Glacier Bay Mount Fairweather Saint Elias Mountains 15,300 feet (4,700 m) Gulf of Alaska 0 feet (0 m) 15,300 feet (4,700 m)
4 Sequoia Mount Whitney Sierra Nevada 14,505 feet (4,421 m) Kaweah River[2] 1,360 feet (410 m) 13,145 feet (4,007 m)
5 Mount Rainier Mount Rainier Cascade Range 14,411 feet (4,392 m) Ohanapecosh River 1,610 feet (490 m) 12,801 feet (3,902 m)
6 Rocky Mountain Longs Peak Front Range 14,259 feet (4,346 m) Big Thompson River 7,630 feet (2,330 m) 6,629 feet (2,021 m)
7 Kings Canyon North Palisade Sierra Nevada 14,242 feet (4,341 m) Kaweah River (North Fork)[3] 3,480 feet (1,060 m) 10,762 feet (3,280 m)
8 Grand Teton Grand Teton Teton Range 13,770 feet (4,200 m) Fish Creek[4] 6,310 feet (1,920 m) 7,460 feet (2,270 m)
9 Hawaii Volcanoes Mauna Loa Hawaiian Islands 13,679 feet (4,169 m) Pacific Ocean 0 feet (0 m) 13,679 feet (4,169 m)
10 Great Sand Dunes Tijeras Peak[5] Sangre de Cristo Range 13,610 feet (4,150 m) near San Luis Lakes 7,520 feet (2,290 m) 6,090 feet (1,860 m)
11 Yosemite Mount Lyell Sierra Nevada 13,114 feet (3,997 m) Merced River 2,105 feet (642 m) 11,009 feet (3,356 m)
12 Great Basin Wheeler Peak Snake Range 13,065 feet (3,982 m) Snake Creek 6,195 feet (1,888 m) 6,870 feet (2,090 m)
13 Yellowstone Eagle Peak Absaroka Range 11,358 feet (3,462 m) Reese Creek 5,282 feet (1,610 m) 6,076 feet (1,852 m)
14 Death Valley Telescope Peak Panamint Range 11,049 feet (3,368 m) Badwater −279 feet (−85 m)[6] 11,328 feet (3,453 m)
15 Glacier Mount Cleveland Lewis Range 10,466 feet (3,190 m) Flathead River[7] 3,150 feet (960 m) 7,316 feet (2,230 m)
16 Lassen Volcanic Lassen Peak Cascade Range 10,457 feet (3,187 m) Hot Springs Creek 5,275 feet (1,608 m) 5,182 feet (1,579 m)
17 Lake Clark Redoubt Volcano Aleutian Range 10,197 feet (3,108 m) Cook Inlet 0 feet (0 m) 10,197 feet (3,108 m)
18 Haleakala Haleakala Hawaiian Islands 10,023 feet (3,055 m) Pacific Ocean 0 feet (0 m) 10,023 feet (3,055 m)
19 North Cascades Goode Mountain Cascade Range 9,206 feet (2,806 m) Goodell Creek[8] 605 feet (184 m) 8,601 feet (2,622 m)
20 Grand Canyon Lookout tower near the North Rim's main entrance[9] Kaibab Plateau 9,165 feet (2,793 m) Lake Mead[10] 1,173 feet (358 m) 7,992 feet (2,436 m)
21 Bryce Canyon Rainbow Point [11] Paunsaugunt Plateau 9,115 feet (2,778 m) Yellow Creek[12] 6,565 feet (2,001 m) 2,550 feet (780 m)
22 Black Canyon of the Gunnison Poison Spring Hill[13] Grand Mesa 9,040 feet (2,760 m) Gunnison River[14] 5,440 feet (1,660 m) 3,600 feet (1,100 m)
23 Capitol Reef park boundary near Billings Pass Colorado Plateau 8,960 feet (2,730 m) Halls Creek 3,877 feet (1,182 m) 5,083 feet (1,549 m)
24 Crater Lake Mount Scott Cascade Range 8,929 feet (2,722 m) SW corner of park[15] 3,990 feet (1,220 m)[16] 4,939 feet (1,505 m)
25 Guadalupe Mountains Guadalupe Peak Guadalupe Mountains 8,749 feet (2,667 m) SW corner near Williams Road 3,636 feet (1,108 m) 5,113 feet (1,558 m)
26 Zion Horse Ranch Mountain[17] Colorado Plateau 8,726 feet (2,660 m) SW corner near Rt.9 3,640 feet (1,110 m) 5,086 feet (1,550 m)
27 Saguaro Mica Mountain[18] Rincon Mountains 8,666 feet (2,641 m) Rudasill & Sanders Roads, Tucson Mountain District 2,180 feet (660 m) 6,486 feet (1,977 m)
28 Mesa Verde Park Point Lookout [19] Colorado Plateau 8,571 feet (2,612 m)[20] Soda Canyon[21] 6,015 feet (1,833 m) 2,556 feet (779 m)
29 Gates of the Arctic Mount Igikpak Brooks Range 8,276 feet (2,523 m) Kobuk River[22] 280 feet (85 m) 7,996 feet (2,437 m)
30 Olympic Mount Olympus Olympic Mountains 7,962 feet (2,427 m) Pacific Ocean 0 feet (0 m) 7,962 feet (2,427 m)
31 Big Bend Emory Peak Chisos Mountains 7,825 feet (2,385 m) Rio Grande 1,715 feet (523 m) 6,110 feet (1,860 m)
32 Katmai Mount Denison[23] Aleutian Range 7,606 feet (2,318 m) Shelikof Strait 0 feet (0 m) 7,606 feet (2,318 m)
33 Canyonlands Cathedral Point[24] Colorado Plateau 7,120 feet (2,170 m) Colorado River[25] 3,730 feet (1,140 m) 3,390 feet (1,030 m)
34 Great Smoky Mountains Clingmans Dome Great Smoky Mountains 6,643 feet (2,025 m) Chilhowee Lake 874 feet (266 m) 5,769 feet (1,758 m)
35 Carlsbad Caverns Guadalupe Ridge Guadalupe Mountains 6,535 feet (1,992 m) Black River[26] 3,596 feet (1,096 m)[27] 2,939 feet (896 m)
36 Kenai Fjords unnamed nunatak Harding Icefield 6,450 feet (1,970 m) Gulf of Alaska 0 feet (0 m) 6,450 feet (1,970 m)
37 Petrified Forest Pilot Rock[28] Painted Desert 6,234 feet (1,900 m) BNSF Railway 5,200 feet (1,600 m)[29] 1,034 feet (315 m)
38 Joshua Tree Quail Mountain Little San Bernardino Mountains 5,813 feet (1,772 m) Colorado River Aqueduct 1,780 feet (540 m)[30] 4,033 feet (1,229 m)
39 Arches Elephant Butte Colorado Plateau 5,653 feet (1,723 m) Colorado River 3,960 feet (1,210 m) 1,693 feet (516 m)
40 Wind Cave Rankin Ridge Black Hills 5,013 feet (1,528 m) Beaver Creek[31] 3,559 feet (1,085 m) 1,454 feet (443 m)
41 Kobuk Valley Mount Angayukaqsraq[32] Baird Mountains 4,760 feet (1,450 m) Kobuk River 40 feet (12 m) 4,720 feet (1,440 m)
42 Shenandoah Hawksbill Mountain Blue Ridge Mountains 4,051 feet (1,235 m) unnamed stream at north end 530 feet (160 m)[33] 3,521 feet (1,073 m)
43 Badlands Red Shirt Table The Badlands 3,340 feet (1,020 m) runoff channel SE of Ben Reifel Visitor Center 2,365 feet (721 m) 975 feet (297 m)
44 Redwood Coyote Peak Bald Hills 3,170 feet (970 m) Pacific Ocean 0 feet (0 m) 3,170 feet (970 m)
45 Teddy Roosevelt Peck Hill The Badlands 2,860 feet (870 m) Little Missouri River 1,940 feet (590 m) 920 feet (280 m)
46 Channel Islands El Montañon, Santa Cruz Island Channel Islands 1,812 feet (552 m)[34] Pacific Ocean 0 feet (0 m) 1,812 feet (552 m)
47 Acadia Cadillac Mountain 1,530 feet (470 m) Atlantic Ocean 0 feet (0 m) 1,530 feet (470 m)
48 Voyageurs Tower near Mead Wood Road entrance 1,410 feet (430 m) Rainy Lake 1,108 feet (338 m) 302 feet (92 m)
49 Hot Springs Music Mountain Ouachita Mountains 1,405 feet (428 m) Bull Bayou 415 feet (126 m) 990 feet (300 m)
50 Isle Royale Mount Desor Superior Upland 1,394 feet (425 m) Lake Superior 600 feet (180 m) 794 feet (242 m)
51 Cuyahoga Black & Brush Roads Glaciated Allegheny Plateau 1,164 feet (355 m)[35] Cuyahoga River 590 feet (180 m) 574 feet (175 m)
52 Mammoth Cave Mammoth Cave Ridge near Park Ridge Road Pennyroyal Plateau 925 feet (282 m) Green River 421 feet (128 m) 504 feet (154 m)
53 Congaree Old Bluff Road near main entrance 140 feet (43 m) Congaree River 80 feet (24 m) 60 feet (18 m)
54 Everglades Calusa shell mound 20 feet (6.1 m)[36] Atlantic Ocean 0 feet (0 m) 20 feet (6.1 m)
55 Dry Tortugas Loggerhead Key Florida Keys 10 feet (3.0 m) Gulf of Mexico 0 feet (0 m) 10 feet (3.0 m)
56 Biscayne Totten Key, Old Rhodes Key Florida Keys 9 feet (2.7 m) Atlantic Ocean 0 feet (0 m) 9 feet (2.7 m)

Additional National parks:
45—American Samoa: Lata Mountain is the highest point of American Samoa, on the island of Ta'u at 3,159 feet (963 m)
51—U.S. Virgin Islands. Highest Point in the park is Bourdeaux Mountain 1,277 feet (389 m). Outside of the park, the highest peak is Crown Mountain at 1,555 feet (474 m)

Selected Profiles

See also

References

  1. ↑
    1
    Denali topo - The Yentna River is in the preserve portion of Denali; the Bearpaw River is the lowest point in the designated park, at 493 feet (150 m).
  2. ↑
    2
    Sequoia topo
  3. ↑ Kings Canyon topo - This topo show the Kings River as it flow out of main section of the park; the lowest point in the entire park is on the Kaweah River at the junction of Sequoia National Forest, Sequoia National Park, and the General Grant Grove section of Kings Canyon National Park.
  4. ↑
    4
    Teton topo
  5. ↑ Great Sand Dunes FAQ's; #11 - Tijeras Peak is in the preserve portion of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. The highest point in the park excluding the preserve is on the north border line between park and preserve, southwest of Mount Herard, at an altitude of 10,520 feet (3,210 m) feet.
  6. ↑ "USGS National Elevation Dataset (NED) 1 meter Downloadable Data Collection from The National Map 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) - National Geospatial Data Asset (NGDA) National Elevation Data Set (NED)". United States Geological Survey. September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  7. ↑ Glacier
  8. ↑
    7
    N. Cascades topo - Goodell Creek is at the lowest elevation in N. Cascades Nat'l Park; the adjoining and jointly managed Ross Lake National Recreation Area descends to 350 feet (110 m) at the Skagit River.
  9. ↑
    8
    Grand Canyon topo - The highest lookout on the rim itself is Point Imperial whose elevation as given by the NPS is 8,803 feet (2,683 m).
  10. ↑ Lake Mead Water Level, 1935-present; 1,173 feet (358 m) is the mean. The min and max are 1,125 feet (343 m) and 1,229 feet (375 m), respectively.
  11. ↑ Bryce Canyon; Nature
  12. ↑
    11
    Bryce topo
  13. ↑ Black Canyon; Located on private property within the park boundaries.
  14. ↑ Gunnison topo
  15. ↑
    14
    Crater Lake topo
  16. ↑ This is even lower than the bottom of the crater, which, at 1,943 feet (592 m) deep and with a surface elevation of 6,178 feet (1,883 m), would be at approximately 4,235 feet (1,291 m).
  17. ↑ Zion
  18. ↑ Saguaro
  19. ↑ Mesa Verde For Teachers; #6
  20. ↑ Mesa Verde Answer Sheet; #6 - The park map is mislabeled; therefore the answer given is incorrect.
  21. ↑
    20
    Mesa Verde topo
  22. ↑ Arctic - As the Kobuk River flows from park to preserve, its elevation is 675 feet (206 m); as it flows out of the preserve its elevation is 280 feet (85 m).
  23. ↑ Katmai (Mt. Denison) - Other sources list Mount Griggs as highest.
  24. ↑ Canyonlands
  25. ↑
    24
    Canyonlands topo
  26. ↑ Carlsbad Caverns - Cave Tours ; The deepest cave chamber is 1,027 feet (313 m) feet below the surface.
  27. ↑ Carlsbad Caverns; Hiking.
  28. ↑ Petrified Forest
  29. ↑ Petrified Forest topo; Official park map - As the Puerco River flows westward, it crosses out of federally owned land at 5,305 feet (1,617 m) feet; private land within park boundaries along the river to the west is at lower elevation.
  30. ↑
    29
    Joshua topo - The aqueduct is most likely located on its own right-of-way, therefore, park land may not necessarily extend to the water's edge.
  31. ↑ Wind Cave-Cave Q&A; The deepest point inside the cave is at the surface of several subterrainian lakes, situated at 3,630 feet (1,110 m).
  32. ↑ Kobuk Valley FAQ's; #3
  33. ↑ Shenandoah topo
  34. ↑ Channel Islands - There is a higher peak on Santa Cruz, Devil's Peak, but it is on land owned by the Nature Conservancy and is not part of the national park.
  35. ↑ Cuyahoga - Land ownership in Cuyahoga Nat'l Park is often difficult to ascertain, and therefore there is some ambiguity regarding this park's true highpoint.
  36. ↑ NPS search

External links

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