List of highest points in Washington by county facts for kids
Did you know that every county in Washington State has a highest point? These are the tallest spots within each county's borders. Some of these high points are famous mountains, while others are smaller hills. Exploring these high points can be a fun way to learn about the different landscapes across Washington.
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What Are High Points?
A "high point" is simply the highest natural elevation in a specific area. For example, Mount Rainier is the highest point in Pierce County. It's also the highest point in all of Washington State! These spots are often popular for hiking and offer amazing views.
Measuring Height and Prominence
When we talk about mountains, we often measure their height. This is how tall they are from sea level. We use units like feet and meters. For example, Mount Rainier is over 14,000 feet tall!
Another important measurement is "prominence." This tells us how much a mountain stands out from the land around it. Imagine a tall building on a flat field. It has high prominence because it's much taller than everything nearby. A mountain with high prominence really stands out from its surroundings.
Famous High Points in Washington
Washington State is known for its incredible mountains. Many of these are also county high points.
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier is the tallest mountain in Washington. It stands at 14,411 feet (4,392 meters) high. This giant volcano is located in Pierce County. It's a very popular spot for climbers and hikers. Mount Rainier has a huge prominence, meaning it truly dominates the skyline.
Mount Olympus
In Jefferson County, you'll find Mount Olympus. This peak is 7,969 feet (2,429 meters) tall. It's part of the beautiful Olympic Mountains. Mount Olympus is also an "ultra prominent peak," which means it's very tall and stands out a lot from its surroundings.
Other Notable Peaks
- Glacier Peak: This impressive mountain is the high point for Snohomish County. It reaches 10,520 feet (3,206 meters) into the sky.
- Mount Baker: Located in Whatcom County, Mount Baker is 10,781 feet (3,286 meters) tall. It's another active volcano and a popular place for winter sports.
- Mount Adams: This large volcano is the high point for Yakima County, standing at 12,276 feet (3,742 meters). It's the second-highest peak in Washington.
Highest Points by County
Here is a list of the highest points in each county in Washington State. The list is organized alphabetically by county name. You can see the name of the high point, its height in feet and meters, and its prominence.
| County | Name | Height feet / m |
Prominence | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | Karakul Hills | 2,100 feet (640 m) | 190 feet (58 m) | North Columbia Plateau | |
| Asotin | Ray Ridge | 6,180 feet (1,880 m) | 60 feet (18 m) | Blue Mountains | |
| Benton | Lookout Summit | 3,629 feet (1,106 m) | 1,849 feet (564 m) | Rattlesnake Hills | |
| Chelan | Bonanza Peak | 9,511 feet (2,899 m) | 3,711 feet (1,131 m) | North Cascades | |
| Clallam | Gray Wolf Ridge | 7,218 feet (2,200 m) | 818 feet (249 m) | Olympic Mountains | |
| Clark | Sturgeon Rock-West Ridge | 4,080 feet (1,240 m) | 0 feet (0 m) | South Washington Cascades | |
| Columbia | Oregon Butte | 6,387 feet (1,947 m) | 2,407 feet (734 m) | Blue Mountains | |
| Cowlitz | Goat Mountain in Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument | 4,965 feet (1,513 m) | 2,005 feet (611 m) | South Washington Cascades | |
| Douglas | Badger Mountain | 4,254 feet (1,297 m) | 2,674 feet (815 m) | North Columbia Plateau | |
| Ferry | Copper Butte | 7,140 feet (2,180 m) | 4,740 feet (1,440 m) | Monashee Mountains | |
| Franklin | Franklin County High Point | 1,640 feet (500 m) | 541 feet (165 m) | North Columbia Plateau | |
| Garfield | Diamond Peak | 6,379 feet (1,944 m) | 779 feet (237 m) | Blue Mountains | Mount Misery, the county's second-highest point, is 13 feet lower and about a kilometer away. |
| Grant | Beezley Hills | 2,899 feet (884 m) | 749 feet (228 m) | North Columbia Plateau | |
| Grays Harbor | Shoulder of Wynoochee Point | 4,880 feet (1,490 m) | 0 feet (0 m) | Satsop Hills | The actual Grays Harbor County high point is less than 100 meters away from 4,949-foot (1,508 m) Wynoochee Point, which lies in Mason County. |
| Island | Camano Island High Point | 580 feet (180 m) | 580 feet (180 m) | ||
| Jefferson | Mount Olympus | 7,969 feet (2,429 m) | 7,838 feet (2,389 m) | Olympic Mountains | Ultra prominent |
| King | Mount Daniel | 7,960 feet (2,430 m) | 3,480 feet (1,060 m) | South Washington Cascades | |
| Kitsap | Gold Mountain | 1,761 feet (537 m) | 1,521 feet (464 m) | Blue Hills | |
| Kittitas | Mount Daniel | 7,960 feet (2,430 m) | 3,480 feet (1,060 m) | South Washington Cascades | |
| Klickitat | Indian Rock | 5,845 feet (1,782 m) | 2,565 feet (782 m) | North Columbia Plateau | |
| Lewis | Big Horn | 8,000 feet (2,400 m) | 240 feet (73 m) | South Washington Cascades | |
| Lincoln | Lilienthal Mountain | 3,568 feet (1,088 m) | 1,268 feet (386 m) | North Columbia Plateau | |
| Mason | Mount Stone | 6,612 feet (2,015 m) | 2,132 feet (650 m) | Olympic Mountains | |
| Okanogan | North Gardner Mountain | 8,956 feet (2,730 m) | 3,996 feet (1,218 m) | North Cascades | |
| Pacific | Pacific County High Point | 3,000 feet (910 m) | 1,480 feet (450 m) | Willapa Hills | |
| Pend Oreille | Gypsy Peak | 7,320 feet (2,230 m) | 1,720 feet (520 m) | Selkirk Mountains | |
| Pierce | Mount Rainier | 14,411 feet (4,392 m) | 13,210 feet (4,030 m) | South Washington Cascades | Ultra prominent Highest point in Washington state |
| San Juan | Mount Constitution | 2,407 feet (734 m) | 2,407 feet (734 m) | The second highest mountain on an ocean island in the contiguous 48 states | |
| Skagit | Mount Buckner | 9,114 feet (2,778 m) | 3,034 feet (925 m) | North Cascades | |
| Skamania | Mount Adams-West Slope | 8,920 feet (2,720 m) | 0 feet (0 m) | South Washington Cascades | Prior to its 1980 eruption, Mount St. Helens was 9,677 feet (2,950 m) |
| Snohomish | Glacier Peak | 10,520 feet (3,210 m) | 7,498 feet (2,285 m) | North Cascades | Ultra prominent |
| Spokane | Mount Spokane | 5,883 feet (1,793 m) | 3,503 feet (1,068 m) | Selkirk Mountains | |
| Stevens | Abercrombie Mountain | 7,308 feet (2,227 m) | 5,168 feet (1,575 m) | Selkirk Mountains | Ultra prominent |
| Thurston | Quiemuth Peak | 2,922 feet (891 m) | 762 feet (232 m) | South Washington Cascades | |
| Wahkiakum | Huckleberry Ridge | 2,673 feet (815 m) | 393 feet (120 m) | Willapa Hills | |
| Walla Walla | Lewis Peak | 4,888 feet (1,490 m) | 168 feet (51 m) | Blue Mountains | |
| Whatcom | Mount Baker | 10,781 feet (3,286 m) | 8,812 feet (2,686 m) | North Cascades | Ultra prominent |
| Whitman | Tekoa Mountain | 4,009 feet (1,222 m) | 1,089 feet (332 m) | North Columbia Plateau | |
| Yakima | Mount Adams | 12,276 feet (3,742 m) | 8,116 feet (2,474 m) | South Washington Cascades | Ultra prominent |
