Nov 19 2023
Kohala At the northern end of Hawaiʻi Island rises Kohala, the oldest of the five principal volcanoes that form the modern Big Island. Unlike the active landscapes of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, Kohala has been quiet for well over 100,000 years. Rain, landslides, streams, forests, and time have transformed its once-broad volcanic shield into a …
Nov 19 2023
Puʻu Kukui Rising above the deeply carved valleys of western Maui, Puʻu Kukui is the highest summit of the West Maui Mountains, also known as Mauna Kahālāwai. At 5,788 feet (1,764 meters) above sea level, the mountain is less than 60 percent as high as Haleakalā on the opposite side of the island, yet its …
Nov 19 2023
Hualālai Rising above the sunny Kona Coast of Hawaiʻi Island, Hualālai is an active shield volcano whose quiet appearance hides a surprisingly recent and potentially hazardous volcanic history. Its summit reaches approximately 8,271 feet (2,521 meters) according to Peakbagger, making it the fourth-highest major mountain in Hawaiʻi after Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Haleakalā. Unlike …
Nov 19 2023
Kamakou Rising above the rain-soaked forests and extraordinary sea cliffs of eastern Molokaʻi, Kamakou is the highest mountain on the island and one of the most ecologically important summits in Hawaiʻi. At 4,961 feet (1,512 meters) above sea level, it is modest compared with the enormous volcanoes of Hawaiʻi Island or Haleakalā on neighboring Maui, …
Nov 19 2023
Kaʻala | Mount Kaʻala Rising above the rugged Waiʻanae Range of western Oʻahu, Kaʻala, commonly called Mount Kaʻala, is the highest mountain on the island. Its summit is unlike the pointed crest many people imagine when they think of a mountain. Instead, Kaʻala ends in a broad, remarkably flat plateau frequently wrapped in cloud, mist, …
Nov 19 2023
Mauna Loa Rising across more than half of Hawaiʻi Island, Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on Earth and one of the most extraordinary mountains anywhere in the world. Its name means “Long Mountain” in Hawaiian, an appropriate description of a volcanic shield so broad that its gently sloping flanks can make its immense …
Nov 19 2023
Kawaikini Hidden within the rain-soaked central highlands of Kauaʻi, Kawaikini is the highest point on the island and one of the most isolated major summits in the Hawaiian Islands. Reaching 5,243 feet (1,598 meters) above sea level, the mountain rises only slightly higher than neighboring Waiʻaleʻale, yet that small difference makes Kawaikini the true geographic …
Nov 16 2023
Grandfather Mountain Rising dramatically above the high country of northwestern North Carolina, Grandfather Mountain is one of the most distinctive peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountains and the broader Appalachian Mountains. Its rocky summits, spruce-fir forests, exposed ridges, severe weather, rare wildlife, and famous Mile High Swinging Bridge have made it one of the best-known …
Nov 15 2023
Mount Assiniboine Rising in a near-perfect pyramid above the lakes, glaciers, and alpine meadows of the southern Canadian Rockies, Mount Assiniboine is one of Canada’s most recognizable mountains. Its steep triangular profile has earned it the enduring nickname “Matterhorn of the Rockies,” and from classic viewpoints around Lake Magog, the resemblance is easy to understand. …
Nov 15 2023
Mount St. Helens Few mountains in North America have changed as dramatically within living memory as Mount Saint Helens. Rising in southwestern Washington’s Cascade Range, this active stratovolcano became internationally famous on May 18, 1980, when a catastrophic landslide removed its northern flank and triggered one of the most destructive volcanic eruptions in United States …
