Introduction
This is a list of notable peaks in the eastern United States. The list covers a every major eastern mountain range, including the Great Smoky Mountains, the Blue Ridge, the Adirondacks, the White Mountains, and the mountains of Maine.While there is no definition of best, this list includes any widely-recognized eastern mountain that meets at least one of the following criteria:
- has an exceptional view from its summit or en-route to its summit,
- can be accessed only by an arduous but rewarding wilderness route, and
- has outstanding cultural or historical significance.
Each peak is an opportunity for those who seek to explore the east's most interesting and spectacular mountains. What's more, almost every summit is attainable by a fit hiker on a day-hike without technical equipment.
This list will change if knowledgeable climbers want to add worthy peaks or remove unworthy ones, so speak up!
The Peaks
You can sort the table by clicking on the headers:| Peak | Range | Elevation | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheaha Mountain | Southern Appalachian Ridges | 2,407 ft (734 m) | Alabama |
| Dugger Mountain | Southern Appalachian Ridges | 2,140 ft (652 m) | Alabama |
| Bear Mountain | Southern Taconic Range | 2,316 ft (706 m) | Connecticut |
| Brasstown Bald | Southern Blue Ridge Front | 4,786 ft (1,459 m) | Georgia |
| Rabun Bald | Southern Blue Ridge Front | 4,696 ft (1,431 m) | Georgia |
| Blood Mountain | Southern Blue Ridge Front | 4,458 ft (1,359 m) | Georgia |
| Pilot Knob | Cumberland Plateau | 1,411 ft (430 m) | Kentucky |
| Katahdin | Katahdin Group | 5,267 ft (1,605 m) | Maine |
| Traveler Mountain | Katahdin Group | 3,551 ft (1,082 m) | Maine |
| Doubletop Mountain | Katahdin Group | 3,488 ft (1,063 m) | Maine |
| Turner Mountain | Katahdin Group | 3,323 ft (1,013 m) | Maine |
| Bigelow Mountain | Longfellow Mountains | 4,150 ft (1,265 m) | Maine |
| Mount Abraham | Longfellow Mountains | 4,049 ft (1,234 m) | Maine |
| Old Speck | Mahoosuc Range | 4,180 ft (1,274 m) | Maine |
| Goose Eye Mountain | Mahoosuc Range | 3,870 ft (1,180 m) | Maine |
| Cadillac Mountain | New England Upland | 1,528 ft (466 m) | Maine |
| Backbone Mountain | Allegheny Mountains | 3,360 ft (1,024 m) | Maryland |
| Annapolis Rocks | South Mountain | 1,700 ft (518 m) | Maryland |
| Mount Greylock | Berkshires | 3,491 ft (1,064 m) | Massachusetts |
| Mount Everett | Southern Taconic Range | 2,607 ft (795 m) | Massachusetts |
| North Baldface & South Baldface | Baldface-Royce Range | 3,566 ft (1,087 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Moosilauke | Cannon-Kinsman and Moosilauke Range | 4,802 ft (1,464 m) | New Hampshire |
| North Kinsman and South Kinsman | Cannon-Kinsman and Moosilauke Range | 4,358 ft (1,328 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Moriah | Carter Range | 4,049 ft (1,234 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Cardigan | Dartmouth-Sunapee Region | 3,155 ft (962 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Monadnock | Monadnock Region | 3,165 ft (965 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Washington | Presidential Range | 6,288 ft (1,917 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Adams | Presidential Range | 5,774 ft (1,760 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Jefferson | Presidential Range | 5,712 ft (1,741 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Monroe | Presidential Range | 5,372 ft (1,637 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Madison | Presidential Range | 5,366 ft (1,636 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Jackson | Presidential Range | 4,052 ft (1,235 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Isolation | Presidential Range | 4,005 ft (1,221 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Lafayette | Twin and Franconia Ranges | 5,260 ft (1,603 m) | New Hampshire |
| South Twin Mountain | Twin and Franconia Ranges | 4,902 ft (1,494 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Bond | Twin and Franconia Ranges | 4,698 ft (1,432 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Guyot | Twin and Franconia Ranges | 4,580 ft (1,396 m) | New Hampshire |
| West Bond | Twin and Franconia Ranges | 4,540 ft (1,384 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Garfield | Twin and Franconia Ranges | 4,500 ft (1,372 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Liberty | Twin and Franconia Ranges | 4,460 ft (1,359 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Flume | Twin and Franconia Ranges | 4,328 ft (1,319 m) | New Hampshire |
| Bondcliff | Twin and Franconia Ranges | 4,265 ft (1,300 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Osceola | Sandwich Range | 4,340 ft (1,323 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Tripyramid | Sandwich Range | 4,180 ft (1,274 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Whiteface | Sandwich Range | 4,020 ft (1,225 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Chocorua | Sandwich Range | 3,475 ft (1,059 m) | New Hampshire |
| Mount Carrigain | Pemigewasset Ranges | 4,700 ft (1,433 m) | New Hampshire |
| Sunrise Mountain | Kittatinny Mountains | 1,653 ft (504 m) | New Jersey |
| Mount Mohican | Kittatinny Mountains | 1,577 ft (481 m) | New Jersey |
| Mount Tammany | Kittatinny Mountains | 1,549 ft (472 m) | New Jersey |
| Blue, Bird, and Rattlesnake mountains | Kittatinny Mountains | 1,497 ft (456 m) | New Jersey |
| Apple Pie Hill | Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain | 205 ft (62 m) | New Jersey |
| Mount Marcy | Adirondack Mountains | 5,344 ft (1,629 m) | New York |
| Algonquin Peak | Adirondack Mountains | 5,114 ft (1,559 m) | New York |
| Mount Haystack | Adirondack Mountains | 4,960 ft (1,512 m) | New York |
| Mount Skylight | Adirondack Mountains | 4,926 ft (1,501 m) | New York |
| Dix Mountain | Adirondack Mountains | 4,857 ft (1,480 m) | New York |
| Iroquois Peak | Adirondack Mountains | 4,840 ft (1,475 m) | New York |
| Basin Mountain | Adirondack Mountains | 4,827 ft (1,471 m) | New York |
| Gothics | Adirondack Mountains | 4,736 ft (1,444 m) | New York |
| Mount Colden | Adirondack Mountains | 4,714 ft (1,437 m) | New York |
| Giant Mountain | Adirondack Mountains | 4,627 ft (1,410 m) | New York |
| Nippletop | Adirondack Mountains | 4,620 ft (1,408 m) | New York |
| Wright Peak | Adirondack Mountains | 4,580 ft (1,396 m) | New York |
| Saddleback Mountain | Adirondack Mountains | 4,515 ft (1,376 m) | New York |
| Rocky Peak Ridge | Adirondack Mountains | 4,420 ft (1,347 m) | New York |
| Macomb Mountain | Adirondack Mountains | 4,405 ft (1,343 m) | New York |
| Big Slide Mountain | Adirondack Mountains | 4,240 ft (1,292 m) | New York |
| Phelps Mountain | Adirondack Mountains | 4,161 ft (1,268 m) | New York |
| Sawteeth | Adirondack Mountains | 4,100 ft (1,250 m) | New York |
| Cascade Mountain | Adirondack Mountains | 4,098 ft (1,249 m) | New York |
| Dial Mountain | Adirondack Mountains | 4,020 ft (1,225 m) | New York |
| Snowy Mountain | Adirondack Mountains | 3,899 ft (1,188 m) | New York |
| Hurricane Mountain | Adirondack Mountains | 3,694 ft (1,126 m) | New York |
| Chimney Mountain | Adirondack Mountains | 2,708 ft (825 m) | New York |
| Black Mountain | Adirondack Mountains | 2,665 ft (812 m) | New York |
| Buck Mountain | Adirondack Mountains | 2,330 ft (710 m) | New York |
| Slide Mountain | Catskill Mountains | 4,180 ft (1,274 m) | New York |
| Hunter Mountain | Catskill Mountains | 4,040 ft (1,231 m) | New York |
| Wittenberg Mountain | Catskill Mountains | 3,780 ft (1,152 m) | New York |
| Panther Mountain | Catskill Mountains | 3,720 ft (1,134 m) | New York |
| Bear Mountain | New York-New Jersey Highlands | 1,305 ft (398 m) | New York |
| Breakneck Ridge | New York-New Jersey Highlands | 1,260 ft (384 m) | New York |
| Mount Mitchell | Black Mountains | 6,684 ft (2,037 m) | North Carolina |
| Mount Craig | Black Mountains | 6,648 ft (2,026 m) | North Carolina |
| Balsam Cone | Black Mountains | 6,596 ft (2,010 m) | North Carolina |
| Potato Hill | Black Mountains | 6,440 ft (1,963 m) | North Carolina |
| Celo Knob | Black Mountains | 6,327 ft (1,928 m) | North Carolina |
| Winter Star | Black Mountains | 6,203 ft (1,891 m) | North Carolina |
| Mount Sterling | Great Smoky Mountains | 5,842 ft (1,781 m) | North Carolina |
| Charlie's Bunion | Great Smoky Mountains | 5,565 ft (1,696 m) | North Carolina |
| Mount Cammerer | Great Smoky Mountains | 4,928 ft (1,502 m) | North Carolina |
| Roan High Bluff | Roan Highlands | 6,267 ft (1,910 m) | North Carolina |
| Grassy Ridge Bald | Roan Highlands | 6,189 ft (1,886 m) | North Carolina |
| Black Balsam Knob | Great Balsam Mountains | 6,214 ft (1,894 m) | North Carolina |
| Sam Knob | Great Balsam Mountains | 6,050 ft (1,844 m) | North Carolina |
| Shining Rock | Great Balsam Mountains | 6,040 ft (1,841 m) | North Carolina |
| Tennent Mountain | Great Balsam Mountains | 6,040 ft (1,841 m) | North Carolina |
| Cold Mountain | Great Balsam Mountains | 6,030 ft (1,838 m) | North Carolina |
| Pilot Mountain | Piedmont | 2,420 ft (738 m) | North Carolina |
| Grandfather Mountain | Southern Blue Ridge Front | 5,964 ft (1,818 m) | North Carolina |
| Standing Indian Mountain | Southern Blue Ridge Front | 5,498 ft (1,676 m) | North Carolina |
| Hawksbill Mountain | Southern Blue Ridge Front | 4,020 ft (1,225 m) | North Carolina |
| The Pinnacle | Kittatinny Mountains | 1,615 ft (492 m) | Pennsylvania |
| Hawk Mountain | Kittatinny Mountains | 1,521 ft (464 m) | Pennsylvania |
| Mount Minsi | Kittatinny Mountains | 1,463 ft (446 m) | Pennsylvania |
| Pole Steeple | Mid-Atlantic Highlands | 1,250 ft (381 m) | Pennsylvania |
| Jacks Mountain | Northern Appalachian Ridges | 2,321 ft (707 m) | Pennsylvania |
| Table Rock Mountain | Southern Blue Ridge Front | 3,124 ft (952 m) | South Carolina |
| Clingmans Dome | Great Smoky Mountains | 6,643 ft (2,025 m) | Tennessee |
| Mount LeConte | Great Smoky Mountains | 6,593 ft (2,010 m) | Tennessee |
| Gregory Bald | Great Smoky Mountains | 4,949 ft (1,508 m) | Tennessee |
| Chimney Tops | Great Smoky Mountains | 4,700 ft (1,433 m) | Tennessee |
| Mount Mansfield | Green Mountains | 4,393 ft (1,339 m) | Vermont |
| Camel's Hump | Green Mountains | 4,083 ft (1,244 m) | Vermont |
| Mount Abraham | Green Mountains | 4,006 ft (1,221 m) | Vermont |
| Mount Hunger | Worcester Range | 3,539 ft (1,079 m) | Vermont |
| Mount Rogers | Grayson Highlands | 5,729 ft (1,746 m) | Virginia |
| McAfee Knob | Central Appalachian Ridges | 3,197 ft (974 m) | Virginia |
| Big Schloss | Central Appalachian Ridges | 2,964 ft (903 m) | Virginia |
| The Priest | Northern Blue Ridge Mountains | 4,063 ft (1,238 m) | Virginia |
| Hawksbill | Northern Blue Ridge Mountains | 4,051 ft (1,235 m) | Virginia |
| Stony Man | Northern Blue Ridge Mountains | 4,011 ft (1,223 m) | Virginia |
| Mary's Rock | Northern Blue Ridge Mountains | 3,514 ft (1,071 m) | Virginia |
| Old Rag Mountain | Northern Blue Ridge Mountains | 3,268 ft (996 m) | Virginia |
| Spruce Knob | Allegheny Mountains | 4,861 ft (1,482 m) | West Virginia |
| Seneca Rocks | Allegheny Mountains | 2,400 ft (732 m) | West Virginia |
Additions and Corrections
[ Post an Addition or Correction ]
|
| Catskillhiker | more peaks | |
Hasn't voted | >Hadley Mountain- southern Adirondacks, best views of any mountain ive ever climbed, moderately steepish trail, easy ground ... possible- poke-o-moonshine mountain- Adirondacks, if you drive 87 you've seen this one with new routs this one is a good choice for first class views, classic rock climbing destination >nun-da-gola ridge /the crows- one of the best kept secretes in the Adirondacks (well known to expeinced hikers however), the hike of the whole Ridge leads to a day of great views and short challenging scrambles, and more or less solitude once away from the crows Catskills- Twin Mountain- steep classic devils path peak, single largest view-shed in the Catskills, larger then any of the Catskill peaks that made the list Plateau mountain- great veiwpoints, steepest climb in the Catskills next to north dome (elevation vs millage), good example of long ridge walk >Overlook mountain- next to slide and giant ledge the Catskill proverbial tourist trap of the Catskills,... but the view from the peak is one of the best from inside the park, even without the fire tower, combined it with the hotel ruins, and the chance to see a eastern timber rattlesnake, its a great mountain all around if you don't mind people Windham High Peak- fairly good view, wilderness feel with some history mixed in, and more over the best of the "big" peaks to bring a new climber on to get them hooked on climbing- better then slide mountian killington peak- Vt- well know, ski area trails of the medium long bucklin trail leads to a 360 view for the second highest peak Equinox mountain- vt- highest tectonic peak, good view short walk from the summit, well know for its toll road to the summit, its got a steep trail to the top, that rivals any aderondack climb | |
| Posted Dec 16, 2012 4:54 pm | ||
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| MiguelVieira | Re: more peaks | |
Hasn't voted | Wow, thanks for all those tips, Catskillhiker. I'll put them on my list of additions for the next version of the list. You mentioned that Twin Mountain has a bigger viewshed than the current peaks on the list. Since I've only been up a few Catskill Peaks, what do you think of the current four on there? Are they the worthiest in the range? Thanks! | |
| Posted Dec 16, 2012 7:01 pm | ||
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| Catskillhiker | Re: more peaks | |
Hasn't voted | wittenberg is defently a top notch view, while not larger then twins view its one of the most eye catching views ive seen slide can be a good view if you loop hike the mountain and climb partway down the Cornell side of slide, if you just bag slide from 47 its a good view but not a real great view, still holds a important spot because of its height, (so for view no, but for other reasons yes its stays on the list) panthers view is defently on its sub peak, giant ledge, which for first climbers, is the best that cna be done in the range, for little effort, panthers main summit still has a good view though so yes it should be on the list hunter- kinda central as far as mountain views in the Catskill views go, the natural view points alone are great with the tower its a good peak for the list, my favort Catskill peak, because of the trail choices oh ya you need to change mt. evert from Connecticut to Massachusetts its listed in the wrong state | |
| Posted Dec 25, 2012 9:15 pm | ||
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| MiguelVieira | Re: more peaks | |
Hasn't voted | Thanks for all the extra information, Catskillhiker. Looks like I'll keep Hunter, Slide, Panther, and Wittenberg on the list. I also moved Mount Everett to Massachusetts. | |
| Posted Dec 28, 2012 11:26 pm | ||
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| Catskillhiker | Re: more peaks | |
Hasn't voted | 1- Hunter Mt. (10)(T) 2-Twin Mt 3-Wittenberg Mt *& -Giant Ledge 4-Mt Sherrill (BW) 5- Northdome (BW) *&- Van Wyck Mt (BW) 6- Plateau 7- KHP- katterskill high peak (UMT) 8- Panther mt *&- Stopple point/ North Mt 9-Lone Mt (BW) 10- Balsam lake Mountain (35)(T,VL) *&-Red Hill(35)(T,VL) 11- Friday Mt. (BW) 11-Bearpen (UMT) 13- sugarloaf mt. 13- Big Indian mt. *&-Mt Utsayantha 15- Blackdome 15- Slide 17- Vly Mt. (UMT) 18- Windham HP 19- Balsam Cap (BW) 20- Rocky Mt BW) 21- Cornell Mt 22-Eagle (VL) *&-Woodhaul Mt. (VL) 23- SW hunter (VL)(UMT) 24- Thomas Cole Mt (VL) View must be in the top 700 Feet of the mountain to count, or top 200 if its on a flowing ridge line in the case of mountains such as Cornell and Wittenberg where the end of one mountian and the start of the next could be in question *&= lower peak not on 35 list, and how it ranks with the big peaks (10)- would be its rank without a tower (t)- tower peak of the peaks in the Catskills ive climbed this is my veiw list- Giant ledge is part of panther, but far enough to be considers a peak of its own by Catskill rules | |
| Posted Jan 6, 2013 10:54 pm | ||
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| MiguelVieira | Re: more peaks | |
Hasn't voted | Thanks for the update Catskillhiker. That's a really useful list. | |
| Posted Jan 7, 2013 11:19 pm | ||
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