There are thousands of mountains in the United States. Most of them are scenic, and many are beautiful. Some are often mentioned as being among the most beautiful mountains in the world.
For this list, we’ve stipulated that the mountains have to be easily seen from a road. That means relatively close, not from afar. In other words, you should be able to get a nice picture of the mountain without having to hike miles into the backcountry to see it.
Denali, AK
Denali, formerly called Mt. McKinley, is the highest peak in North America. With a vertical rise of nearly 18,000’ from base to summit, it’s also the tallest land-based mountain in the world.
Mount St. Elias, AK
Massive Mt. St. Elias is on the Alaska-Yukon border, and it’s the second-highest mountain in both the U.S. and Canada. It’s sometimes called the K2 of North America because it’s so difficult to climb.
Mount Rainier, WA
Dome-shaped Rainier has the most ice and the largest glaciers of any peak in the Lower 48. Weather can be notoriously uncooperative in this part of the country, but when the mountain is “out,” it’s amazing.
Mount Shuksan, WA
Beautiful Shuksan is in the North Cascades, almost at the Canadian border. Climbers consider it an outstanding objective and formidable challenge, but you don’t have to tackle its slopes to appreciate it. A road winding up into the mountains provides excellent views of the peak.
Mount Hood, OR
The conical shape of Mt. Hood, a Cascade volcano like Rainier, gives it a classical form. This peak, Oregon’s highest, also towers above its surroundings and thus stands out from many miles away.
Mount Shasta, CA
Shasta is also a Cascade volcano, and like most of them, it dominates the skyline because nothing nearby is anywhere close to as high. It’s also California’s northernmost 14er, a peak above 14,000’ in elevation.
Reynolds Peak, MT
Logan Pass in Glacier National Park is one of the most spectacular alpine settings reachable by paved. Above the pass are several peaks, and Reynolds is the most spectacular. Although it is not a true glacial horn, a peak carved into steep cliffs on all sides, it does resemble one from some angles.
Grand Teton, WY
“The Grand” is one of the most-photographed peaks in the country, and for good reason. It has a classical shape, and it’s more than 1000’ higher than its close neighbors. Although most people see it from the east in its namesake national park, it’s also spectacular from the west in Idaho.
Mt. Moran, WY
Mt. Moran is also in Grand Teton National Park, and it’s many people vote for #2 in beauty. It’s visible from miles away, but one of the best spots to admire it is at Oxbow Bend, a section of the Snake River that often reflects the mountain perfectly.
Pilot Peak, WY
This formidable spire is close to Cooke City, MT, but the best way to view it is to drive the incredibly scenic Beartooth Highway. It’s one of the most distinctive and striking peaks in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Pinnacle Buttes, WY
Down at the southern end of the mountain range where Pilot Peak is, you’ll find the Pinnacle Buttes. It’s a huge complex that has five distinct summits, one of which has only been climbed once, and it has many other spires and pinnacles that have never been climbed at all.
Mount Timpanogos, UT
“Timp” is a huge mountain in the Wasatch Range, and it towers above the city of Provo. This mountain has a lot to offer: beautiful views, several subpeaks, waterfalls, an alpine lake, and even a glacier that many people slide down on their way down from the summit. There’s also a resident population of mountain goats.
Maroon Bells, CO
Located outside Aspen, the Maroon Bells are two twin peaks that are among the most-loved peaks in Colorado. Because of their steepness and poor rock quality, they’re also called the “Deadly Bells” because of all the climbing accidents that have occurred on them. They’re among the most challenging of Colorado’s 50+ 14ers to climb.
Longs Peak, CO
From almost anywhere around Denver and north up the I-25 corridor, Longs Peak dominates the skyline. It’s the northernmost 14er in the American Rockies, and one of its most famous features is the Diamond, a sheer wall about 1000’ tall on its eastern face.
Mount Sneffels, CO
Sneffels is a 14er in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. You can see it well from the west along the famous San Juan Skyway. However, the best way to see it is to take a 4WD vehicle up Yankee Boy Basin, the location of one of America’s best wildflower displays each summer.
15 Must-Dos on Your Next Trip to Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada border makes a lot of lists of the most beautiful places in America. There’s also a lot to do there, with a wide range of outdoor recreation, great dining, resorts, nightlife, and more. If it’s your first time going or if you’re going back, consider adding some of the following places to your itinerary.
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