kids encyclopedia robot

List of extreme summits of the Rocky Mountains facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Further information: List of mountain peaks of the Rocky Mountains
Mt. Elbert
Mount Elbert in the Sawatch Range is the highest summit of the Rocky Mountains and the US State of Colorado.

The Rocky Mountains are a huge mountain range in North America. They stretch all the way from British Columbia in Canada down to New Mexico in the United States! This article is all about the most "extreme" mountain tops in the Rockies. We'll look at the highest peaks, and also the ones that are furthest north, south, east, or west.

When we talk about mountain tops, called summits, there are a few ways to measure them:

  • Elevation: This is how high the mountain top is above sea level. Think of it like how high you are above the ocean.
  • Topographic prominence: This measures how much a mountain rises above the land right around it. Imagine a mountain standing tall on a flat plain – it would have high prominence!
  • Topographic isolation: This tells you how far a mountain is from another mountain that's just as high. If a mountain is very isolated, it means it's pretty much alone at its height.

Northernmost High Summits

These are the mountains that are the furthest north for their height in the Rocky Mountains.

  • Mount Elbert in Colorado is the highest mountain in the entire Rocky Mountains! It's 4,401.2 meters (about 14,440 feet) tall. It's also the highest point in Colorado and the whole Mississippi River area.
  • Mount Massive, also in Colorado, is the second highest peak in the Rockies, standing at 4,397.6 meters (about 14,428 feet).
  • Mount Lincoln in Colorado (4,356.5 meters or 14,293 feet) is the northernmost peak of its height in the Rockies.
  • Grays Peak in Colorado (4,352 meters or 14,278 feet) is another northernmost high summit, located on the Continental Divide.
  • Longs Peak in Colorado (4,346 meters or 14,259 feet) is the northernmost mountain over 14,000 feet in the Rockies.
  • Gannett Peak in Wyoming (4,209.1 meters or 13,810 feet) is the highest point in Wyoming and a very northern high summit.
  • Grand Teton in Wyoming (4,198.7 meters or 13,775 feet) is a famous peak and one of the northernmost and westernmost high summits over 4,000 meters.
  • Cloud Peak in Wyoming (4,013.3 meters or 13,167 feet) is the northernmost peak over 4,000 meters in the Rockies.
  • Mount Robson in British Columbia, Canada (3,959 meters or 12,989 feet) is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. It's also the northernmost and westernmost summit of its height in the Rockies.
  • Whitehorn Mountain in British Columbia (3,399 meters or 11,152 feet) is a northern and western high summit.
  • Mount Chown in Alberta, Canada (3,316 meters or 10,879 feet) is another northern and western high summit.
  • Mount Sir Alexander in British Columbia (3,275 meters or 10,745 feet) is a northernmost and westernmost peak over 3,000 meters.
  • Mount Ida in British Columbia (3,200 meters or 10,499 feet) is the northernmost peak over 3,000 meters in the Rockies.
  • Sentinel Peak in British Columbia (2,513 meters or 8,245 feet) is the northernmost and westernmost peak over 2,000 meters in the Rockies.

Southernmost High Summits

These are the mountains that are the furthest south for their height in the Rocky Mountains.

  • Mount Elbert in Colorado (4,401.2 meters or 14,440 feet) is not only the highest but also the southernmost peak of its height in the Rockies.
  • Mount Harvard in Colorado (4,395.6 meters or 14,421 feet) is a southernmost and easternmost high summit.
  • Blanca Peak in Colorado (4,374.12 meters or 14,351 feet) is the southernmost "ultra-prominent" peak in the Rockies, meaning it stands out a lot from its surroundings.
  • Culebra Peak in Colorado (4,283.274 meters or 14,053 feet) is the southernmost peak over 14,000 feet in the Rockies.
  • Wheeler Peak in New Mexico (4,013.3 meters or 13,167 feet) is the highest point in New Mexico and the southernmost peak over 4,000 meters in the Rockies.
  • Truchas Peak in New Mexico (3,995.2 meters or 13,108 feet) is the southernmost peak of its height in the Rockies.
  • Santa Fe Baldy in New Mexico (3,850.1 meters or 12,631 feet) is the southernmost peak over 3,000 meters in the Rockies.

Easternmost High Summits

These are the mountains that are the furthest east for their height in the Rocky Mountains.

  • Mount Elbert in Colorado (4,401.2 meters or 14,440 feet) is also the easternmost peak of its height in the Rockies.
  • Mount Harvard in Colorado (4,395.6 meters or 14,421 feet) is a southernmost and easternmost high summit.
  • Blanca Peak in Colorado (4,374.12 meters or 14,351 feet) is the southernmost "ultra-prominent" peak in the Rockies.
  • Pikes Peak in Colorado (4,302.31 meters or 14,115 feet) is a very famous mountain and the easternmost peak over 14,000 feet in the Rockies. It even inspired the song America the Beautiful!
  • West Spanish Peak in Colorado (4,154.681 meters or 13,631 feet) is the easternmost peak over 4,000 meters in the Rockies.
  • East Spanish Peak in Colorado (3,867.158 meters or 12,688 feet) is the easternmost peak over 3,000 meters in the Rockies.
  • Fishers Peak in Colorado (2,936.2 meters or 9,633 feet) is the easternmost peak of its height in the Rockies and the United States.

Westernmost High Summits

These are the mountains that are the furthest west for their height in the Rocky Mountains.

  • Mount Elbert in Colorado (4,401.2 meters or 14,440 feet) is also the westernmost peak of its height in the Rockies.
  • Mount Massive in Colorado (4,397.617 meters or 14,428 feet) is the second highest peak and a westernmost high summit.
  • Uncompahgre Peak in Colorado (4,365 meters or 14,321 feet) is the westernmost peak of its height in the Rockies. It's the highest point in the San Juan Mountains.
  • Mount Wilson in Colorado (4,344.089 meters or 14,252 feet) is the westernmost peak of its height in the Rockies.
  • Gannett Peak in Wyoming (4,209.1 meters or 13,810 feet) is a northernmost and westernmost high summit.
  • Grand Teton in Wyoming (4,198.7 meters or 13,775 feet) is a northernmost and westernmost high summit.
  • Mount Robson in British Columbia, Canada (3,959 meters or 12,989 feet) is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies and a northernmost and westernmost high summit.
  • Whitehorn Mountain in British Columbia (3,399 meters or 11,152 feet) is a northernmost and westernmost high summit.
  • Mount Chown in Alberta, Canada (3,316 meters or 10,879 feet) is a northernmost and westernmost high summit.
  • Mount Sir Alexander in British Columbia (3,275 meters or 10,745 feet) is a northernmost and westernmost peak over 3,000 meters.
  • Sentinel Peak in British Columbia (2,513 meters or 8,245 feet) is the northernmost and westernmost peak over 2,000 meters.

Images for kids

See also

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
List of extreme summits of the Rocky Mountains Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.