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OVERVIEW
Topographic prominence allows all mountains to be measured on a level playing field. It measures how far a mountain rises above the lowest contour that encircles it and no higher peak. That lowest contour defines the peak's "key saddle". Prominence is the elevation difference between a peak's key saddle and the summit. Another way to define prominence is this: It is the minimum elevation loss that one could possibly experience by staying on the ground while traveling to a higher point. This definition has led to another term used by some when referring to topographic prominence: drop. A useful way to visualize prominence is to imagine water rising around a peak. As the water rises to the elevation of the key saddle, the mountain's summit becomes the highest point on an island. The prominence of the mountain is the same as the height of that imaginary island above the surrounding water.
By definition an Ultra-prominence peak rises at least 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) above its key saddle or surrounding water. The traditional threshold for Ultras in the U.S. has been 5000 feet of prominence, and there just happen to be no peaks in the 48 states whose “clean” prominence is between 1,500 meters and 5,000 feet. Clean prominence is a peak’s minimum prominence when exact saddle and/or summit elevations are not known. There are now 57 Ultra-prominence peaks in the 48 states. However, Mt. St. Helens is included in the list below, even though after the eruption of 1980 it is no longer an Ultra. I included St. Helens with its pre-eruption prominence because a number of SP members climbed it prior to the eruption, myself included.
On August 17, 2008, Duane Gilliland and I climbed Glacier National Park's Mt. Cleveland, thereby completing this entire list of 58 Ultras in the lower 48 states. We believe that we are the only two people on the planet to have done so. The current list of 57 Ultras had already been completed by Bob Packard and the late Edward Earl, and has since been completed by many others. Click here for the Front Runners List (FRL) on Peakbagger.com.
PROMINENCE RESOURCES
LINKS
The USA Lower 48 Peaks with 5000 feet of Prominence page at Peakbagger.com. Of course that list only has 57 peaks on it. For the full 58 peak list including St. Helens pre-eruption, use this link: Pre-1980 USA Lower 48 Peaks with 5000' of Prominence [Historic]. Join Peakbagger and log your climbs to turn those red dots to green at the bottom of the page! This site by Greg Slayden contains many sorts of lists, including lists based on prominence.
Aaron Maizlish created the web home of prominence: http://www.peaklist.org/
The prominence pages at COHP.ORG: http://www.cohp.org/prominence/index.htm
This site by John Kirk also allows you to register and mark your climbs and produces lots of interesting peakbagging statistics: http://www.listsofjohn.com
For prominence bagging statistics, see Andy Martin's comprehensive front-runner stats page.
MAPS
Aaron Maizlish has created a beautiful map of the 57 current Ultras in the 48 states. See it here. For Ultra-prominence baggers there is a completion map that can be filled in and posted on the web here.
THE LIST
Here's the list of the Ultra-prominence peaks in the lower 48 states, including pre-eruption Mt. St. Helens. The peaks are listed in descending sequence by prominence. Compiled 1999 by Edward Earl, Andy Martin, John Roper, David Olson, Ken Jones and Ron Tagliapietra.
| Rank | Peak Name | State | Elev. | Saddle | Prominence | Peak Latitude | Peak Longitude | Peak Quad | Saddle Quad | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Mount Rainier | WA | 14,410 | 1,200 | 13,210 | 46.853 | -121.759 | Mount Rainier West | Vernon 82 L/6 BC |
| 2 |  |
Mount Whitney | CA | 14,491 | 4,420 | 10,071 | 36.579 | -118.293 | Mount Whitney | Coyote Peak NM |
| 3 |  |
Mount Shasta | CA | 14,162 | 4,400 | 9,762 | 41.409 | -122.194 | Mount Shasta | Hollenbeck |
| 4 |  |
Mount Elbert | CO | 14,433 | 5,360 | 9,073 | 39.118 | -106.445 | Mount Elbert | Sylvania Canyon CA/NV |
| 5 |  |
Mount Baker | WA | 10,781 | 1,900 | 8,881 | 48.778 | -121.812 | Mount Baker | Skagit River 92 H/3 BC |
| 6 |  |
San Jacinto Peak | CA | 10,804 | 2,520 | 8,284 | 33.814 | -116.678 | San Jacinto Peak | Beaumont |
| 7 |  |
San Gorgonio Mountain | CA | 11,499 | 3,220 | 8,279 | 34.101 | -116.828 | San Gorgonio Mountain | Palmdale |
| 8 |  |
Charleston Peak | NV | 11,915 | 3,675 | 8,240 | 36.272 | -115.694 | Charleston Peak | Niavi Wash |
| 9 |  |
Mount Adams | WA | 12,276 | 4,160 | 8,116 | 46.203 | -121.489 | Mount Adams | Cougar Lake |
| 10 |  |
Mount Olympus | WA | 7,969 | 140 | 7,829 | 47.800 | -123.705 | Mount Olympus | Tumwater |
| 11 |  |
Mount Hood | OR | 11,239 | 3,560 | 7,679 | 45.374 | -121.694 | Mount Hood | Wapinitia Pass |
| 12 |  |
Wheeler Peak | NV | 13,063 | 5,500 | 7,563 | 38.986 | -114.313 | Wheeler Peak | Kanarraville UT |
| 13 |  |
Glacier Peak | WA | 10,520 | 3,040 | 7,480 | 48.111 | -121.113 | Glacier Peak East | Snoqualmie Pass |
| 14 |  |
White Mountain Peak | CA | 14,246 | 7,050 | 7,196 | 37.634 | -118.255 | White Mountain Peak | West of Huntoon Springs CA/NV |
| 15 |  |
Gannett Peak | WY | 13,804 | 6,730 | 7,074 | 43.184 | -109.653 | Gannett Peak | Mexican Flats NW |
| 16 |  |
Cloud Peak | WY | 13,167 | 6,100 | 7,067 | 44.382 | -107.173 | Cloud Peak | Waltman NW |
| 17 |  |
Grand Teton | WY | 13,770 | 7,240 | 6,530 | 43.741 | -110.802 | Grand Teton | Survey Peak |
| 18 |  |
Sacajawea Peak | OR | 9,838 | 3,450 | 6,388 | 45.245 | -117.291 | Eagle Cap | Telocaset |
| 19 |  |
Kings Peak | UT | 13,528 | 7,180 | 6,348 | 40.779 | -110.374 | Kings Peak | Kemmerer WY |
| 20 |  |
Mount Graham | AZ | 10,760 | 4,440 | 6,320 | 32.702 | -109.871 | Mount Graham | Railroad Pass |
| 21 |  |
Mount San Antonio | CA | 10,064 | 3,840 | 6,224 | 34.289 | -117.646 | Mount San Antonio | Cajon |
| 22 |  |
Telescope Peak | CA | 11,048 | 4,880 | 6,168 | 36.170 | -117.088 | Telescope Peak | The Dunes |
| 23 |  |
Mount Peale | UT | 12,721 | 6,560 | 6,161 | 38.438 | -109.229 | Mount Peale | Lisbon Valley |
| 24 |  |
Mount Washington | NH | 6,288 | 140 | 6,148 | 44.271 | -71.305 | Mount Washington | Fort Ann NY |
| 25 |  |
Mount Mitchell | NC | 6,684 | 595 | 6,089 | 35.765 | -82.265 | Mount Mitchell | Englewood IL |
| 26 |  |
Humphreys Peak | AZ | 12,633 | 6,594 | 6,039 | 35.346 | -111.678 | Humphreys Peak | Show Low South |
| 27 |  |
Borah Peak | ID | 12,662 | 6,680 | 5,982 | 44.137 | -113.779 | Borah Peak | Donkey Creek |
| 28 |  |
Mount Saint Helens (pre-eruption) | WA | 9,677 | 3,760 | 5,917 | 46.198 | -122.191 | Mount Saint Helens | Spirit Lake East |
| 29 |  |
Mount Jefferson | NV | 11,941 | 6,080 | 5,861 | 38.752 | -116.927 | Mount Jefferson | Wells Summit |
| 30 |  |
Mount Ellen | UT | 11,522 | 5,680 | 5,842 | 38.110 | -110.813 | Mount Ellen | Bitter Creek Divide |
| 31 |  |
Deseret Peak | UT | 11,031 | 5,220 | 5,811 | 40.460 | -112.626 | Deseret Peak West | Juab |
| 32 |  |
Mount Jefferson | OR | 10,497 | 4,720 | 5,777 | 44.674 | -121.798 | Mount Jefferson | Three Fingered Jack |
| 33 |  |
Pilot Peak | NV | 10,716 | 4,990 | 5,726 | 41.021 | -114.077 | Pilot Peak | Pilot Peak NW |
| 34 |  |
Crazy Peak | MT | 11,209 | 5,500 | 5,709 | 46.018 | -110.276 | Crazy Peak | Wolf Hill |
| 35 |  |
McDonald Peak | MT | 9,820 | 4,180 | 5,640 | 47.383 | -113.918 | Mount Harding | Cygnet Lake |
| 36 |  |
South Sister | OR | 10,358 | 4,780 | 5,578 | 44.104 | -121.768 | South Sister | Chemult |
| 37 |  |
Sierra Blanca Peak | NM | 11,973 | 6,440 | 5,533 | 33.374 | -105.809 | Sierra Blanca Peak | Ancho |
| 38 |  |
Pikes Peak | CO | 14,110 | 8,600 | 5,510 | 38.841 | -105.044 | Pikes Peak | Lake George |
| 39 |  |
Mount Nebo | UT | 11,928 | 6,440 | 5,488 | 39.822 | -111.759 | Mona | Fairview |
| 40 |  |
Snowshoe Peak | MT | 8,738 | 3,320 | 5,418 | 48.223 | -115.688 | Snowshoe Peak | Stryker |
| 41 |  |
North Schell Peak | NV | 11,883 | 6,480 | 5,403 | 39.413 | -114.599 | North Schell Peak | Green Springs NW |
| 42 |  |
Star Peak | NV | 9,836 | 4,440 | 5,396 | 40.523 | -118.170 | Star Peak | Star Creek Ranch |
| 43 |  |
Hayford Peak | NV | 9,912 | 4,520 | 5,392 | 36.657 | -115.200 | Hayford Peak | Burro Basin |
| 44 |  |
Diamond Peak | ID | 12,197 | 6,820 | 5,377 | 44.142 | -113.083 | Diamond Peak | Monida ID/MT & Targhee Peak ID/MT |
| 45 |  |
Flat Top Mtn (HP Oquirrh Mountains) | UT | 10,620 | 5,250 | 5,370 | 40.373 | -112.188 | Mercur | Fivemile Pass |
| 46 |  |
Mount Stuart | WA | 9,415 | 4,080 | 5,335 | 47.475 | -120.902 | Mount Stuart | Stevens Pass |
| 47 |  |
Blanca Peak | CO | 14,345 | 9,040 | 5,305 | 37.577 | -105.485 | Blanca Peak | Poncha Pass |
| 48 |  |
Mount Timpanogos | UT | 11,749 | 6,480 | 5,269 | 40.391 | -111.645 | Timpanogos Cave | Francis |
| 49 |  |
Ibapah Peak | UT | 12,087 | 6,840 | 5,247 | 39.828 | -113.919 | Ibapah Peak | Government Peak NV |
| 50 |  |
Mount Cleveland | MT | 10,466 | 5,240 | 5,226 | 48.926 | -113.847 | Mount Cleveland | Summit |
| 51 |  |
Lassen Peak | CA | 10,457 | 5,240 | 5,217 | 40.488 | -121.504 | Lassen Peak | Beckwourth Pass |
| 52 |  |
Arc Dome | NV | 11,773 | 6,560 | 5,213 | 38.833 | -117.352 | Arc Dome | Hickison Summit & Bates Mountain |
| 53 |  |
He/She Devil | ID | 9,400 | 4,200 | 5,200 | 45.324 | -116.548 | He Devil | New Meadows |
| 54 |  |
Abercrombie Mountain | WA | 7,308 | 2,140 | 5,168 | 48.928 | -117.458 | Abercrombie Mountain | Newport WA/ID |
| 55 |  |
Mount Lemmon | AZ | 9,157 | 4,000 | 5,157 | 32.443 | -110.788 | Mount Lemmon | Piety Hill |
| 56 |  |
Chiricahua Peak | AZ | 9,759 | 4,620 | 5,139 | 31.846 | -109.291 | Chiricahua Peak | Paramore Crater |
| 57 |  |
Mount Eddy | CA | 9,025 | 3,920 | 5,105 | 41.320 | -122.478 | Mount Eddy | Hotlum & Weed |
| 58 |  |
Miller Peak | AZ | 9,466 | 4,460 | 5,006 | 31.393 | -110.292 | Miller Peak | Sierra Bonita Ranch |
57 Mountains & Rocks
ericnoel - Oct 28, 2006 11:01 pm - Voted 10/10
MSH KSJust noticed that the key saddle quad info for Mt. St. Helens is missing, probably cause it isn't listed in Andy Martin's book? Anyway, for what it is worth the saddle quad is the Spirit Lake East quad and the saddle is just in between Meta Lake and the Norway Pass trailhead right along the FS road. The eruption did not change the key saddle since Adams is still the next highest neighbor both before and after.
Bob Bolton - Oct 29, 2006 5:59 am - Hasn't voted
Re: MSH KSThanks Eric! I remember noticing that it was missing once before, but then forgot to fix it. I'm not sure what the reason for the omission was. I have that information in certain places, but it somehow never made it onto my Ultra spreadsheet. Regardless, it's fixed now. Bob
redsplashman23 - Dec 18, 2006 7:16 am - Voted 10/10
Charleston PeakJust an update; redsplashman23 is now the owner of Charleston Peak. Great page you put together here!
Bob Bolton - Dec 19, 2006 12:51 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Charleston PeakHey thanks for the heads up and your kind comment! The change has been made. -Bob
Bubba Suess - Jun 4, 2008 1:52 am - Voted 10/10
Mount LemmonUpdate: Mount Lemmon is now owned by JUH33. He has really revamped the page and done a good job with it.
Bob Bolton - Jun 5, 2008 10:16 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Mount LemmonThanks Bubba, change made. Only it looks like he changed his name to Andinistaloco! -Bob
Matt Lemke - Apr 8, 2012 10:33 pm - Hasn't voted
Glacier PeakThe Glacier Peak page is now owned by Josh Lewis
Bob Bolton - Apr 10, 2012 1:37 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Glacier PeakThanks Matt -- change made.
Matt Lemke - May 5, 2017 1:01 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Glacier PeakJust looking through this page and many of the owners are now different. I counted at least 10 in the first half of the list! Oh how the times change...
Bob Bolton - Feb 15, 2020 9:53 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Glacier PeakI have removed the page owner column as it was too much of a pain to maintain, and really unnecessary anyway!