Last updated July 31, 2026
The Highest Point in Every State: 50-State Map, List and Difficulty Ranking
Explore all 50 U.S. state highpoints—from 20,310-foot Mount McKinley (Denali) to 345-foot Britton Hill. Sort by elevation or difficulty, filter by region and access, save completed states, identify the hardest summit still remaining and export a personal checklist.
Every state has a highpoint—but they are not the same kind of objective.
The list ranges from Mount McKinley (Denali), a major 20,310-foot expedition, to Britton Hill, a 345-foot county-park stop. Most can be reached by a road, short walk or established hiking trail. Mount McKinley, Mount Rainier, Gannett Peak, Granite Peak and Mount Hood involve mountaineering or technical terrain on their normal routes.
The map and database below compare elevation, editorial difficulty, standard route, region, best season and access status. Check a state to store it as completed on this device.
Clickable 50-state highpoint map
Color represents editorial difficulty; a check mark means completed.
U.S. State Highpoint Tile Map
Click a state to jump to its database row. Alaska and Hawaii appear as insets.
Tile number = GSG difficulty score
This is a responsive tile map for selection and comparison. It is intentionally not a navigational map and does not show trailheads, driving routes or exact geography.
50 State Highpoints Completion Tracker
Progress is stored in this browser using local storage. Export a CSV to keep a portable copy.
Sortable 50-state highpoint database
Search, filter and sort without losing the indexable 50-row HTML table.
Showing all 50 state highpoints.
| Done | State | Highpoint | Elevation | Difficulty | Standard route | Region | Access | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlaskaAK | Mount McKinley (Denali) | 20,310 ft 6,190 m | 100Major expedition | 17–21 day expedition | Alaska / Hawaii | Permit / reservationClimbing registration and NPS mountaineering requirements | May–July | |
| CaliforniaCA | Mount Whitney | 14,505 ft 4,421 m | 68Exposed scramble / alpine | 22 mi RT (Whitney Trail) | Pacific / Southwest | Permit / reservationWhitney Zone permit or lottery system | July–September | |
| ColoradoCO | Mount Elbert | 14,440 ft 4,401 m | 56Strenuous hike / backpack | 9.5 mi RT (NE Ridge) | Mountain West | Normal public accessPublic access; verify current land-manager notices | June–September | |
| WashingtonWA | Mount Rainier | 14,410 ft 4,392 m | 90Technical mountaineering | 2–3 days (Disappointment Cleaver) | Pacific / Southwest | Permit / reservationNPS climbing permit and annual climbing fee | May–September | |
| WyomingWY | Gannett Peak | 13,809 ft 4,209 m | 93Major expedition | 40+ mi RT, 3–5 days (Wind River) | Mountain West | Seasonal / conditionsRemote wilderness; verify trail, fire and bear conditions | July–August | |
| HawaiiHI | Mauna Kea | 13,803 ft 4,207 m | 28Moderate hike / logistics | Drive to summit + short walk | Alaska / Hawaii | Seasonal / conditionsHigh-altitude road, weather and cultural-site rules | Year-round; verify summit weather | |
| UtahUT | Kings Peak | 13,528 ft 4,123 m | 65Exposed scramble / alpine | ~29 mi RT, 2–3 days (Henrys Fork) | Mountain West | Seasonal / conditionsHigh Uinta snow and road access are seasonal | July–September | |
| New MexicoNM | Wheeler Peak | 13,167 ft 4,013 m | 53Strenuous hike / backpack | 8 mi RT (Williams Lake Trail) | Mountain West | Normal public accessPublic trail; verify Carson National Forest notices | June–October | |
| NevadaNV | Boundary Peak | 13,147 ft 4,007 m | 72Exposed scramble / alpine | 7 mi RT, off-trail navigation | Pacific / Southwest | Seasonal / conditionsRemote approach road and snow conditions | June–October | |
| MontanaMT | Granite Peak | 12,807 ft 3,904 m | 88Technical mountaineering | 22 mi RT, 2–3 days (Class 4–5 rock) | Mountain West | Technical rulesTechnical wilderness climb; verify current route conditions | July–September | |
| IdahoID | Borah Peak | 12,662 ft 3,859 m | 74Exposed scramble / alpine | 7.5 mi RT (Chicken-Out Ridge) | Mountain West | Seasonal / conditionsSummer route; verify trailhead road and snow | July–September | |
| ArizonaAZ | Humphreys Peak | 12,635 ft 3,851 m | 55Strenuous hike / backpack | 10 mi RT (Humphreys Peak Trail) | Pacific / Southwest | Normal public accessPublic trail; seasonal weather and parking rules | June–October | |
| OregonOR | Mount Hood | 11,249 ft 3,429 m | 82Technical mountaineering | 8 mi RT glacier (South Side) | Pacific / Southwest | Technical rulesClimber registration, wilderness and seasonal route rules | April–June | |
| TexasTX | Guadalupe Peak | 8,751 ft 2,667 m | 47Strenuous hike / backpack | 8.4 mi RT (Guadalupe Peak Trail) | Pacific / Southwest | Normal public accessNational park entry and trail conditions | Season varies by elevation | |
| South DakotaSD | Black Elk Peak | 7,242 ft 2,207 m | 43Strenuous hike / backpack | 7 mi RT (Trail #9) | Midwest / Plains | Normal public accessState park or forest rules | Spring–fall | |
| North CarolinaNC | Mount Mitchell | 6,684 ft 2,037 m | 18Easy hike / high-access | Drive + 0.5 mi walk | Southeast | Seasonal / conditionsSummit road and park weather may close access | Spring–fall | |
| TennesseeTN | Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) | 6,643 ft 2,025 m | 17Easy hike / high-access | Drive + 1 mi paved walk | Southeast | Seasonal / conditionsKuwohi Road normally has a winter closure | April–November road season | |
| New HampshireNH | Mount Washington | 6,288 ft 1,917 m | 61Exposed scramble / alpine | 8.5 mi RT (Tuckerman Ravine) | Northeast | Seasonal / conditionsTrail, auto-road and weather access vary sharply | June–October; winter is specialized | |
| VirginiaVA | Mount Rogers | 5,729 ft 1,746 m | 45Strenuous hike / backpack | 8.6 mi RT (Mt Rogers Trail) | Southeast | Normal public accessPublic trail; verify weather and park notices | Fall–spring in lower states | |
| NebraskaNE | Panorama Point | 5,424 ft 1,653 m | 10Roadside / short walk | Drive to summit (private ranch) | Midwest / Plains | Private—verifyPrivate ranch access; verify current entry procedure | Spring–fall | |
| New YorkNY | Mount Marcy | 5,344 ft 1,629 m | 58Strenuous hike / backpack | 14.8 mi RT (Van Hoevenberg) | Northeast | Normal public accessAdirondack trail and parking rules | June–October | |
| MaineME | Mount Katahdin | 5,269 ft 1,606 m | 64Exposed scramble / alpine | 10 mi RT (Knife Edge optional) | Northeast | Permit / reservationBaxter State Park reservation and seasonal access | June–October | |
| OklahomaOK | Black Mesa | 4,975 ft 1,516 m | 41Strenuous hike / backpack | 8.4 mi RT (Black Mesa Trail) | Midwest / Plains | Normal public accessState park trail and heat considerations | Spring–fall | |
| West VirginiaWV | Spruce Knob | 4,863 ft 1,482 m | 16Easy hike / high-access | Drive + 0.5 mi loop | Southeast | Seasonal / conditionsForest roads can be weather-dependent | Fall–spring in lower states | |
| GeorgiaGA | Brasstown Bald | 4,784 ft 1,458 m | 15Roadside / short walk | Drive + 0.6 mi paved walk | Southeast | Normal public accessState recreation-area rules | Fall–spring in lower states | |
| VermontVT | Mount Mansfield | 4,395 ft 1,340 m | 46Strenuous hike / backpack | 4.4 mi RT (Long Trail) | Northeast | Seasonal / conditionsSeasonal road and trail conditions | June–October | |
| KentuckyKY | Black Mountain | 4,145 ft 1,263 m | 14Roadside / short walk | Drive to summit + short walk | Southeast | Private—verifyPrivate-property waiver or access procedure may apply | Fall–spring in lower states | |
| KansasKS | Mount Sunflower | 4,039 ft 1,231 m | 9Roadside / short walk | Drive to marker (wheat field) | Midwest / Plains | Private—verifyPrivate land; follow landowner instructions | Spring–fall | |
| South CarolinaSC | Sassafras Mountain | 3,553 ft 1,083 m | 14Roadside / short walk | Drive + 0.1 mi to tower | Southeast | Normal public accessPublic observation area | Fall–spring in lower states | |
| North DakotaND | White Butte | 3,506 ft 1,069 m | 34Moderate hike / logistics | 3.5 mi RT (private land) | Midwest / Plains | Private—verifyPrivate-land access; verify current route and donation rules | Spring–fall | |
| MassachusettsMA | Mount Greylock | 3,489 ft 1,063 m | 32Moderate hike / logistics | 7 mi RT or drive option | Northeast | Seasonal / conditionsSummit road is seasonal; hiking routes remain separate | May–October | |
| MarylandMD | Hoye-Crest | 3,360 ft 1,024 m | 35Moderate hike / logistics | 2 mi RT (steep) | Southeast | Normal public accessPublic trail with roadside approach | Fall–spring in lower states | |
| PennsylvaniaPA | Mount Davis | 3,213 ft 979 m | 12Roadside / short walk | Drive + 50 ft to tower | Northeast | Normal public accessState forest access | May–October | |
| ArkansasAR | Magazine Mountain | 2,753 ft 839 m | 13Roadside / short walk | Drive + 1 mi loop | Southeast | Normal public accessState park access | Fall–spring in lower states | |
| AlabamaAL | Cheaha Mountain | 2,413 ft 735 m | 12Roadside / short walk | Drive to summit + walk | Southeast | Normal public accessState park access | Fall–spring in lower states | |
| ConnecticutCT | Mount Frissell (S slope) | 2,380 ft 725 m | 37Moderate hike / logistics | 2.5 mi RT (AT spur) | Northeast | Normal public accessTrail reaches the state-line highpoint | May–October | |
| MinnesotaMN | Eagle Mountain | 2,301 ft 701 m | 39Moderate hike / logistics | 7 mi RT (Eagle Mtn Trail) | Midwest / Plains | Permit / reservationBoundary Waters day-use or overnight rules may apply | May–October | |
| MichiganMI | Mount Arvon | 1,979 ft 603 m | 29Moderate hike / logistics | 4WD road + 0.5 mi walk | Midwest / Plains | Seasonal / conditionsDirt access road may be blocked by snow or mud | Late spring–fall | |
| WisconsinWI | Timms Hill | 1,951 ft 595 m | 12Roadside / short walk | Drive + 0.3 mi to tower | Midwest / Plains | Normal public accessCounty park access | Spring–fall | |
| New JerseyNJ | High Point | 1,803 ft 550 m | 11Roadside / short walk | Drive + 0.1 mi to monument | Northeast | Normal public accessState park access | May–October | |
| MissouriMO | Taum Sauk Mountain | 1,772 ft 540 m | 11Roadside / short walk | Drive + 0.25 mi to summit | Midwest / Plains | Normal public accessState park access | Spring–fall | |
| IowaIA | Hawkeye Point | 1,670 ft 509 m | 9Roadside / short walk | Drive to summit (private farm) | Midwest / Plains | Private—verifyPrivately hosted public access; respect posted rules | Spring–fall | |
| OhioOH | Campbell Hill | 1,549 ft 472 m | 9Roadside / short walk | Drive to summit (school campus) | Midwest / Plains | Normal public accessSchool-campus access hours may apply | Spring–fall | |
| IndianaIN | Hoosier Hill | 1,257 ft 383 m | 8Roadside / short walk | Drive + short walk (permission) | Midwest / Plains | Private—verifyPrivate highpoint; respect current landowner rules | Spring–fall | |
| IllinoisIL | Charles Mound | 1,235 ft 376 m | 8Roadside / short walk | Private – limited weekends | Midwest / Plains | Private—verifyPrivate property with announced access dates | Spring–fall | |
| Rhode IslandRI | Jerimoth Hill | 812 ft 247 m | 7Roadside / short walk | Drive + 0.1 mi to marker | Northeast | Normal public accessShort public-access walk | May–October | |
| MississippiMS | Woodall Mountain | 807 ft 246 m | 7Roadside / short walk | Drive to summit (radio tower) | Southeast | Normal public accessRoad access; respect tower and property boundaries | Fall–spring in lower states | |
| LouisianaLA | Driskill Mountain | 535 ft 163 m | 10Roadside / short walk | 1.8 mi RT easy trail | Southeast | Normal public accessShort public trail | Fall–spring in lower states | |
| DelawareDE | Ebright Azimuth | 448 ft 137 m | 6Roadside / short walk | Residential sidewalk marker | Northeast | Normal public accessRoadside marker in residential area | May–October | |
| FloridaFL | Britton Hill | 345 ft 105 m | 5Roadside / short walk | Drive to county park | Southeast | Normal public accessCounty park hours | Fall–spring in lower states |
How the 100-point difficulty score works
A transparent planning framework rather than four overly broad tiers.
Technical terrain · 25
Trail, scramble, glacier, rope, exposed rock and expedition systems.
Physical effort · 20
Distance, vertical gain, load carrying, summit-day length and duration.
Altitude · 15
Elevation, acclimatization demand and consequence of rapid ascent.
Remoteness · 15
Approach length, rescue delay, self-sufficiency and communication.
Objective hazards · 15
Glaciers, rockfall, storms, exposure, avalanche and extreme cold.
Access logistics · 10
Permits, reservations, private land, roads, transport and seasonal windows.
It is not an official Highpointers Club grade or a guarantee that a lower-scoring summit is safe. Route, weather, snow, fitness, equipment and experience can change the real difficulty substantially.
The 10 hardest state highpoints
Ranked by the same method used in the database.
Mount Rainier
Washington · 14,410 ft · 90/100
Technical mountaineering2–3 days (Disappointment Cleaver)Granite Peak
Montana · 12,807 ft · 88/100
Technical mountaineering22 mi RT, 2–3 days (Class 4–5 rock)Boundary Peak
Nevada · 13,147 ft · 72/100
Exposed scramble / alpine7 mi RT, off-trail navigationMount Katahdin
Maine · 5,269 ft · 64/100
Exposed scramble / alpine10 mi RT (Knife Edge optional)Borah Peak and Granite Peak now receive contextual links from the master table, map-driven difficulty framework, hardest-highpoints ranking and guide cluster—not only from archive pages.
Six road-trip regions
Complete the accessible clusters before scheduling technical standalone trips.
Northeast · 10
ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, PA and DE. Katahdin and Mount Washington control the schedule; the remaining states fit a compact road trip.
Southeast · 13
WV, VA, MD, KY, TN, NC, SC, GA, AL, MS, FL, LA and AR. Kuwohi and seasonal mountain roads matter more than technical terrain.
Midwest / Plains · 13
OH, IN, IL, MI, WI, MN, IA, MO, KS, NE, ND, SD and OK. Private-land dates and long driving distances are the main challenge.
Mountain West · 6
CO, UT, WY, MT, ID and NM. Kings Peak, Gannett, Granite and Borah require distinct trip planning rather than one rushed circuit.
Pacific / Southwest · 6
CA, WA, OR, NV, AZ and TX. Permit lotteries, snow climbing, altitude and desert heat create multiple seasons.
Alaska / Hawaii · 2
Mount McKinley is a standalone expedition. Mauna Kea is a high-altitude cultural and road-access visit with a completely different risk profile.
Access and permit watch
Use the database labels to identify which trips need fresh confirmation.
Private—verify
Charles Mound, White Butte, Panorama Point, Mount Sunflower, Hawkeye Point, Hoosier Hill and Black Mountain are examples where current property rules matter.
Permit or reservation
Mount McKinley, Mount Rainier, Mount Whitney, Katahdin and some wilderness trips involve formal booking, quota or registration systems.
Seasonal access
Kuwohi Road, summit roads, remote dirt approaches and snowbound western trailheads may close even when the highpoint itself remains public.
Always start with the Highpointers Club access-restrictions page, then confirm with the current land manager or owner. Do not rely on an old statement that Charles Mound opens on the same weekends every year.
USA state-highpoint internal-link cluster
This page becomes the central list, map and tracker. Individual pages own route-level planning.
Priority recovery targets
Borah Peak — exposed Idaho highpointGranite Peak — technical Montana highpointMajor state highpoints
Mount McKinley / Denali guideMount Rainier guideMount Whitney guideKings Peak guideUSA hubs and challenges
USA Peakbagging ChallengesBest Mountains in the USAU.S. County HighpointsThe Seven SummitsState highpoints FAQ
Focused answers match the structured data.
What is the highest point in every U.S. state?
Every state has an official highpoint, from 20,310-foot Mount McKinley (Denali) in Alaska to 345-foot Britton Hill in Florida. The sortable table on this page lists all 50 by elevation, difficulty, region and access type.
What is the hardest U.S. state highpoint?
Mount McKinley (Denali) is the hardest by a wide margin because it is a major glaciated expedition at 20,310 feet. Gannett Peak, Mount Rainier, Granite Peak and Mount Hood form the next technical tier, but they are difficult for different reasons.
What is the easiest U.S. state highpoint?
Britton Hill in Florida, Ebright Azimuth in Delaware and several Plains highpoints require only a roadside stop or very short walk. Easy access does not remove the need to respect park hours, private property and local rules.
How many state highpoints require technical climbing?
The answer depends on the difficulty standard. Mount McKinley, Mount Rainier, Gannett Peak, Granite Peak and Mount Hood involve mountaineering or technical terrain on their normal highpoint routes. Borah Peak and Boundary Peak add exposed scrambling or route-finding without belonging in the same expedition category.
Is the Alaska highpoint called Denali or Mount McKinley?
Current federal National Park Service pages use Mount McKinley following the 2025 executive order, while Denali remains widely recognized and the park is still Denali National Park and Preserve. This page uses Mount McKinley (Denali) so readers can find the mountain under either name.
What is Tennessee's state highpoint called?
The official name is Kuwohi. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names restored the Cherokee name in September 2024; it was formerly known as Clingmans Dome.
How long does it take to complete all 50 state highpoints?
There is no standard timeline. Many people finish the accessible regional clusters first and reserve years for the remote and technical western objectives. The tracker on this page is designed to support a multi-year plan without claiming one universal completion time.
Which state highpoints have access restrictions?
Private-property, reservation, permit, seasonal-road and technical-climbing requirements affect several highpoints. Charles Mound, White Butte, Panorama Point and other privately hosted highpoints require current verification, while Mount McKinley, Mount Rainier, Mount Whitney and Katahdin involve formal permit or reservation systems.
Can I save my completed state highpoints on this page?
Yes. The completion tracker stores checked states in the browser on the current device. It also shows completion percentage, hardest remaining highpoint and a suggested regional cluster, and it can export a CSV checklist.
How is the Global Summit Guide difficulty score calculated?
The 100-point editorial score weighs technical terrain, physical effort, altitude, remoteness, objective hazards and access logistics. It is a planning comparison, not an official grade, and actual difficulty changes with route, season and conditions.
Sources, naming and elevation methodology
- USGS: national highest-and-lowest elevation table and named-summit resources. Survey datum, map edition and modern measurements can differ by several feet.
- Mount McKinley / Denali: current NPS pages use Mount McKinley following the 2025 executive order; Denali remains the common name and the park name.
- Kuwohi: the U.S. Board on Geographic Names restored the Cherokee name in September 2024.
- Access: Highpointers Club restriction notices plus current NPS, USFS, state and private-land information.
- Difficulty: original Global Summit Guide editorial score; no claim of official adoption.
- Completion records: no unsupported current total is published. Consult the Highpointers Club records process for current recognition.
USGS state elevations · Highpointers Club guide · Access restrictions · Kuwohi restoration
Turn the list into a plan you can actually finish.
Check completed states, filter the remaining database by region and difficulty, then open the dedicated route guide before booking permits or travel.
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Global Summit Guide is an independent mountaineering resource founded in 2026. The team combines first-hand trekking and climbing experience with in-depth research and professional health and nutrition review to help climbers choose objectives, prepare properly, and stay safe.
Health, altitude, and nutrition content is reviewed by Taylor Ludlow (Registered Nurse) and Brigg Hoopes (Nutritionist).
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