Elevation
Highest point in California
The highest point in California is Mount Whitney, at 14,505 feet (4,421 meters) above sea level. It ranks 2nd among the 50 state high points.
From Badwater Basin, Death Valley to Mount Whitney
California spans about 14,787 ft from its lowest point to its highest. A barometer carried from one to the other would fall by about 13.00 inHg, purely because there is less air overhead. Water that boils at 213 °F at the bottom boils at about 185 °F on top.
Live barometric pressure across California · How pressure changes with altitude
Elevation of cities in California
| City | Feet | Meters |
|---|---|---|
| Mammoth Lakes, CA | 7,881 | 2,402 |
| Big Bear Lake, CA | 6,752 | 2,058 |
| South Lake Tahoe, CA | 6,237 | 1,901 |
| Truckee, CA | 5,817 | 1,773 |
| Mount Shasta, CA | 3,606 | 1,099 |
| San Bernardino, CA | 1,053 | 321 |
| Riverside, CA | 827 | 252 |
| Redding, CA | 564 | 172 |
| Palm Springs, CA | 479 | 146 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 404 | 123 |
| Fresno, CA | 308 | 94 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 292 | 89 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 164 | 50 |
| Anaheim, CA | 157 | 48 |
| Santa Ana, CA | 115 | 35 |
| Modesto, CA | 92 | 28 |
| San Jose, CA | 85 | 26 |
| Chula Vista, CA | 69 | 21 |
| San Diego, CA | 66 | 20 |
| Irvine, CA | 56 | 17 |
| San Francisco, CA | 52 | 16 |
| Santa Barbara, CA | 49 | 15 |
| Oakland, CA | 43 | 13 |
| Sacramento, CA | 30 | 9 |
| Long Beach, CA | 30 | 9 |
| Monterey, CA | 26 | 8 |
| Stockton, CA | 13 | 4 |
High points of nearby states
Elevations from Wikipedia’s list of US states by elevation (USGS and NGS data, CC BY-SA).
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest elevation in California?
The highest point in California is Mount Whitney, at 14,505 feet (4,421 meters) above sea level. That makes it the 2nd highest state high point of the 50.
What is the lowest point in California?
The lowest point is Badwater Basin, Death Valley, at 282 ft below sea level.
What is the average elevation of California?
The mean elevation of California is about 2,900 feet (884 meters).
What is the air pressure at the top of Mount Whitney?
On a standard day about 17.23 inHg (583 hPa), 58% of sea-level pressure. Water boils there at about 185 °F (85 °C).