Tallest Mountains West of the Mississippi

The American West is defined by the immense tectonic uplift of the Rocky Mountains, the Sierra Nevada, and the Cascade Range. West of the Mississippi River, the landscape undergoes a dramatic transformation, with elevations regularly exceeding 14,000 feet—peaks colloquially known as “Fourteeners.” These mountains are not just geographical landmarks but critical drivers of the region’s climate, holding vast snowpacks that feed the continent’s major river systems.

Rank	Peak Name	Elevation (ft)	Range	State	Notable Fact
1	Denali	20,310′	Alaska Range	AK	The highest peak in North America.
2	Mount Saint Elias	18,008′	Saint Elias	AK	The second highest peak in both the U.S. and Canada.
3	Mount Foraker	17,400′	Alaska Range	AK	Often visible from Anchorage on clear days.
4	Mount Bona	16,550′	Saint Elias	AK	The highest volcano in the United States.
5	Mount Blackburn	16,390′	Wrangell	AK	An eroded, ancient shield volcano.
6	Mount Sanford	16,237′	Wrangell	AK	Features a nearly vertical 8,000-foot south face.
7	Mount Fairweather	15,325′	Saint Elias	AK	Located just 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean.
8	Mount Hubbard	14,951′	Saint Elias	AK	Straddles the border between Alaska and the Yukon.
9	Mount Bear	14,831′	Saint Elias	AK	Located in the rugged heart of Wrangell-St. Elias.
10	Mount Hunter	14,573′	Alaska Range	AK	Known as “Begguya” (Child of Denali) by the Dena’ina.
11	Mount Whitney	14,505′	Sierra Nevada	CA	The highest point in the contiguous United States.
12	Mount Alverstone	14,500′	Saint Elias	AK	Named for Lord Alverstone, a boundary commissioner.
13	Mount Elbert	14,440′	Sawatch	CO	The highest peak in the Rocky Mountains.
14	Mount Massive	14,428′	Sawatch	CO	Has more area above 14,000ft than any other peak in the lower 48.
15	Mount Harvard	14,421′	Sawatch	CO	The highest of the “Collegiate Peaks.”
16	Mount Rainier	14,411′	Cascades	WA	The most topographically prominent peak in the lower 48.
17	Mount Williamson	14,379′	Sierra Nevada	CA	Considered one of the most difficult non-technical climbs in CA.
18	Blanca Peak	14,351′	Sangre de Cristo	CO	A sacred mountain to the Navajo people.
19	La Plata Peak	14,343′	Sawatch	CO	Its name means “The Silver” in Spanish.
20	Uncompahgre Peak	14,321′	San Juan	CO	A massive, broad plateau-like summit.
21	Crestone Peak	14,300′	Sangre de Cristo	CO	Features dramatic, steep jagged faces.
22	Mount Lincoln	14,293′	Mosquito	CO	Named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln.
23	Castle Peak	14,279′	Elk Mountains	CO	Named for its castle-like turrets and battlements.
24	Grays Peak	14,278′	Front Range	CO	Highest point on the Continental Divide in North America.
25	Mount Antero	14,276′	Sawatch	CO	Famous for having the highest gemstone mine in the U.S.