# 'Peak' bagging the easy way: which states have the easiest high points to 'climb' to? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 31, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517 "2015-08-31T17:48:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517/1 "2015-08-31T17:48:32Z")
During the current Denali-v.-Mt.McKinley tiff, it was noted that [Campbell Hill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campbell_Hill_%28Ohio%29) was the highest place in Ohio. As you can see from the photos at the link, ‘ascending’ Campbell Hill isn’t exactly a challenge: drive to the parking lot in the background, walk up a slight rise, and you’ve ‘bagged’ the ‘peak’ that’s the highest place in Ohio. Less well-manicured, but with even more level surroundings, there’s Kansas’ [Mt. Sunflower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sunflower). And we can’t forget Florida’s [Britton Hill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britton_Hill) and Delaware’s [Ebright Azimuth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebright_Azimuth). So, what other states have the most preposterously easy ‘ascents’ of their highest ‘peaks’? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517/2 "2015-08-31T17:51:52Z")
> **[List of U.S. states and territories by elevation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_elevation)** > > This list includes the topographic elevations of each of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories. > The elevation of a geographic area may be stated in several ways. These include: > All topographic elevations are adjusted to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). All geographic coordinates are adjusted to the World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS 84). The mean elevation for each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico are accurate to the nearest 1... Don’t know how easy they all are, but I would guess most of the low-altitude summits are grandma-friendly. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517/3 "2015-08-31T17:58:36Z")
On a field trip we learned we were just below the highest point in Oklahoma, Black Mesa at 4,973 feet. We piled out of the van and raced to the top, about a 10 minute climb from the highway below. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517/4 "2015-08-31T18:09:30Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Less well-manicured, but with even more level surroundings, there’s Kansas’ [Mt. Sunflower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sunflower). > [@](#): > > Amenities include a picnic table, a sunflower sculpture made from railroad spikes, and a plaque on the site stated, “On this site in 1897, nothing happened.” As of 2015, however, that sign is missing, evidently stolen. Aw… ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517/5 "2015-08-31T18:11:38Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > During the current Denali-v.-Mt.McKinley tiff, it was noted that [Campbell Hill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campbell_Hill_%28Ohio%29) was the highest place in Ohio. As you can see from the photos at the link, ‘ascending’ Campbell Hill isn’t exactly a challenge: drive to the parking lot in the background, walk up a slight rise, and you’ve ‘bagged’ the ‘peak’ that’s the highest place in Ohio. Only sluggards take the easy way out and drive to the parking lot. Climb up from the surrounding flatlands and you’ll definitely need bottled oxygen and a couple of local Sherpas. [Here](http://climbingthesevensummits.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_08781.jpg) are some intrepid climbers who made the ascent last January, before heading off to bag Hawkeye Point in Iowa (1,670 feet). ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517/6 "2015-08-31T18:14:44Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Less well-manicured, but with even more level surroundings, there’s Kansas’ [Mt. Sunflower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sunflower). To be fair, Mount Sunflower is not much a hike, but it is quite a long drive from anywhere. Jerimoth Hill in Rhode Island is very easy, and close to places where you might otherwise want to be. Hoosier Hill in Indiana is also quite easy. [QUOTE=lieu] On a field trip we learned we were just below the highest point in Oklahoma, Black Mesa at 4,973 feet. [/QUOTE] It is a bit of a hike to the top of the mesa, though. Easy to kids on a field trip, but not Hoveround-accessible. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517/7 "2015-08-31T18:24:51Z")
[Timms Hill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timms_Hill), the highest point in Wisconsin (1951 ft) has a hiking trail which goes to the summit, and it sounds like it’s not a difficult hike at all (the hardest part seems to be locating it!): > **[Timm's Hill County Park | Travel Wisconsin](https://www.travelwisconsin.com/county-parks/timms-hill-county-park-204266)** > > At 1,951 feet above sea level, Timm's Hill is the highest point in Wisconsin. At this scenic park you can climb the observation tower for a 30-mile view of t ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517/8 "2015-08-31T18:32:52Z")
It would be rather difficult to do any easier than Florida, which has basically no hills at all. Were it not for the fact that its highest point has a granite marker showing where it is, you could stroll by it taking an ordinary walk and never know you’d “ascended” anything. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517/9 "2015-08-31T18:36:13Z")
There’s a handy list at [peakbagger.com](http://peakbagger.com) [here](http://www.peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=12004).Of the fifty high points, **five require real mountaineering skills** : Mount McKinley (Denali) in Alaska; Washington’s Mount Rainier and Oregon’s Mount Hood in the Pacific Northwest; and Montana’s Granite Peak and Wyoming’s Gannett Peak in the Rockies. \*\* Another five or so\*\* (Rhode island, Illinois, Kentucky, and others) **are on private land** and require landowner permission. \*\*Most of the remaining state summits are easy hikes or drive-ups. \*\* Hiking the cool forests of the Appalachians, exploring the windy, lonely high plains, and backpacking above treeline in the western mountains are all part of the great fun of this scavenger hunt. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517/10 "2015-08-31T18:41:37Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > Jerimoth Hill in Rhode Island is very easy, and close to places where you might otherwise want to be. Jeremoth Hill used to be one of the hardest highpoints to legally scale. While the high point was open to the public, the access was via private land and closed. That has been resolved now, and access is open to the public again. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517/11 "2015-08-31T18:44:27Z")
I’m not sure if there are any states besides Colorado where you can drive on pavement above 14,000 feet. I guess this isn’t technically in the spirit of the OP, since Mt. Evans is not the highest point in Colorado. Still, since the lowest point in Colorado is higher than the highest point in more than a third of the states, I’m not sure that it really matters much. > **[Mount Evans - Highest Paved Road in North America](http://www.mountevans.com/)** > > Mount Evans is the Highest Paved Road in North America. From Memorial Day to Labor Day you can drive to over 14,000 feet! And of course, there’s Pikes Peak, also drivable to the top. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517/12 "2015-08-31T18:57:29Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > . . . and Oregon’s Mount Hood in the Pacific Northwest. . . Depends on the weather and route, really. [This group](http://oregonencyclopedia.org/media/uploads/Mazamas_on_Mt.McLoughlin_OHQ_1-02.JPG) from the early Mazamas Club did it in long skirts, and carrying nothing more than walking sticks. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517/13 "2015-08-31T19:11:02Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > There’s a handy list at [peakbagger.com](http://peakbagger.com) [here](http://www.peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=12004).Of the fifty high points, **five require real mountaineering skills** : Mount McKinley (Denali) in Alaska; Washington’s Mount Rainier and Oregon’s Mount Hood in the Pacific Northwest; and Montana’s Granite Peak and Wyoming’s Gannett Peak in the Rockies. Was kind of wondering why Mount Elbert (Colorado) and Mauna Kea (Hawaii) aren’t included in this short list. I guess with Mount Elbert, you’re not actually climbing a full 14,400 feet since you’re starting off so high already at ground level. How about Mauna Kea? Not very steep, perhaps? EDIT: Never mind … [this pic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauna_Kea#/media/File:Mauna_Kea_from_Mauna_Loa_Observatory,_Hawaii_-_20100913.jpg) seems to answer the question about Mauna Kea. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517/14 "2015-08-31T19:22:03Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Depends on the weather and route, really. [This group](http://oregonencyclopedia.org/media/uploads/Mazamas_on_Mt.McLoughlin_OHQ_1-02.JPG) from the early Mazamas Club did it in long skirts, and carrying nothing more than walking sticks. That’s definitely not Mount Hood. The summit of Mount Hood is snow covered year-round. If the file name is to be believed, it’s Mount McLoughlin down near Medford, which is a strenuous but non-technical climb. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517/15 "2015-08-31T19:23:13Z")
Nebraska. [http://www.kimballne.org/visitors/images/Panorama\_Point\_\_\_Flag.jpg](http://www.kimballne.org/visitors/images/Panorama_Point___Flag.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517/16 "2015-08-31T19:24:41Z")
Mt Elbert is a walk up, no technical climbing skills needed. It has nothing to do with the elevation, but with technical climbing skills (such as setting ropes and protection, glacier travel, and self-arrest). ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517/17 "2015-08-31T19:29:45Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Jeremoth Hill used to be one of the hardest highpoints to legally scale. While the high point was open to the public, the access was via private land and closed. That has been resolved now, and access is open to the public again. Yes, it’s open now, and it’s an easy climb (I’ve heard). There’s still some question if the landfill in Johnston is actually the highest point in the state. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517/18 "2015-08-31T19:32:57Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > Hiking the cool forests of the Appalachians, exploring the windy, lonely high plains, and backpacking above treeline in the western mountains are all part of the great fun of this scavenger hunt. It appears you don’t cross the treeline at Florida’s [Britton Hill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britton_Hill#/media/File:Britton_Hill,_Florida.JPG). ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517/19 "2015-08-31T19:43:23Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > That’s definitely not Mount Hood. The summit of Mount Hood is snow covered year-round. If the file name is to be believed, it’s Mount McLoughlin down near Medford, which is a strenuous but non-technical climb. I searched that image on google and found [this page](http://oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/mazamas/#.VeSso7y350w) which identifies that picture as: “Mazamas, on Mt.McLoughlin, OHQ 1-02.” [This page](http://www.oregontrails.com/page.aspx?id=12) describes the “climb” as more of a strenuous hike:A lot of people lately seem to be indicating that this trail is really, really difficult, so I felt like I should write a preamble. If you plan to hike Mount McLoughlin, know that it is a physically strenous undertaking. This is the highest mountain between the Three Sisters and Mt. Shasta. Bring a GPS and/or maps, know how to use them. Know where you are starting and finishing and let someone know when you’ll be back home. It’s about 5000 feet in elevation higher at the summit than at the trailhead, which means probably 15 degrees F cooler, or more. There can be fine weather at the trailhead, while heavy fog and frost reigns at the top. Be prepared! ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517/20 "2015-08-31T19:54:41Z")
> [@](#): > > Of the fifty high points, five require real mountaineering skills: Mount McKinley (Denali) in Alaska; Washington’s Mount Rainier and Oregon’s Mount Hood in the Pacific Northwest; and Montana’s Granite Peak and Wyoming’s Gannett Peak in the Rockies. Another five or so (Rhode island, Illinois, Kentucky, and others) are on private land and require landowner permission. > > Most of the remaining state summits are easy hikes or drive-ups. Yeah, if you want to stretch the definition of “most” so that it excludes, at a minimum, the high points of California, Idaho, Nevada, Hawaii, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas. None of these could possibly be described as “easy hikes or drive-ups”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-bagging-the-easy-way-which-states-have-the-easiest-high-points-to-climb-to/729517.md?page=2)