Carpenter Hill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carpenter Hill
Carpenter Hill Location in California
Highest point
Elevation	831 ft (253 m) NAVD 88
Prominence	168 ft (51 m)
Listing	California county high points 58th
Geography
Location	Folsom, Sacramento County, California, U.S.
Topo map	USGS Clarksville

Carpenter Hill is a small hill located in California. It sits in the eastern part of the Sacramento Valley, near the Sierra Nevada foothills. This hill is special because it's the highest natural point in Sacramento County.

Even though it's not very tall, reaching about 831 feet (253 meters) high, it offers amazing views. From the top, you can see far across the Central Valley. Carpenter Hill is located within the city of Folsom. It's also close to the border between Sacramento and El Dorado counties.

What Makes Carpenter Hill Special?

Carpenter Hill holds a unique record in California. It is the lowest county high point in the entire state. This means that out of all 58 counties in California, Sacramento County's highest natural spot is the shortest. For example, San Francisco County's highest point, Mount Davidson, is about 97 feet (30 meters) taller than Carpenter Hill.

Views from the Summit

Because Carpenter Hill is the highest point in Sacramento County, its summit provides wide-open views. You can look out over the flat Central Valley stretching far into the distance. On clear days, you might even spot other landmarks.

Antennas and Weather

You'll notice several antennas and towers on the grassy top of Carpenter Hill. These are used for communication, like radio and television signals. Because the hill is not very high, snow rarely falls on its summit. This is different from taller mountains in California, which often get a lot of snow in winter.

Carpenter Hill is a great example of how even a small hill can be important. It shows that being the "highest" doesn't always mean being the tallest!