California Elevation Desert Mountains, High Altitude Town California Elevations CA
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altitude.elevation

California Mountains
GPS deals Lake Caples Cabin

California Towns
Listed by Elevation



California Mountains

California Deserts

Elevation = Vegetation

The extreme terrain of California suprises many newcomers as to how different one part of the state looks to another. Below is a general overview on elevation pertaining to most California landscapes. Western mountain slopes are greener & get more moisture from the west (Pacific Ocean), plus the first rains of a storm. The lower altitude, coastal foothills can get a lot of moisture, especially during winter months. The Eastern slopes are drier and face the desert (Great Basin). Desert Mountain regions are quite different. Most dry ranges are in the "rain-shadow" of the taller Sierra Nevada mountain range and get little moisture.

10' - 2000' elevation

  • coastline areas
  • cities & suburbs - population centers
  • coastal foothills
  • central valley & agricultural areas
  • farmlands & orchards
  • dry chaparral
  • manzanita
  • grasslands & hills
  • coast redwoods trees
  • spring wildflowers
  • rolling oak foothills
  • big rivers in valley
  • valley reservoirs

coastal coastal

countryside country

urban grind city

mts cali mountain elevations

river canyons & foothills
pine forest
mountains calif

2000' - 4000' elevation

  • foothills of mountains
  • inland areas
  • above the suburbs
  • rolling hills
  • countryside
  • lakes & reservoirs
  • farming & livestock
  • horse stables
  • dry chaparral
  • manzanita
  • oak trees
  • meadows
  • rivers & creeks
  • gray pines
  • wildflowers in spring
  • creek side areas:
    • alder
    • ash
    • birch
    • cottonwood
    • maple
    • sycamore
Kernville
Kern River
Julian
Descanso
Tecate, BC MX
Springville
Eastern Sierra
Historic Gold Country
Ranch Cuyamaca SP
Cleveland National Forest
Inyo National Forest
Burney
Quincy
Crestline
Inyo National Forest
West Yosemite

4000' - 6000' elevation

  • mountainous terrain
  • usual snow level for winter storms
  • reservoirs & lakes
  • creeks & rivers
  • pine trees
  • cedar pines
  • jefferey pines
  • ponderosa pines
  • sugar pines
  • sequoia trees
  • oaks
  • poplars
  • meadows
  • wildflowers in spring & summer

California Maps

Idyllwild
Gold Lake
Lake Almanor
Dardanelle
Twain Harte
Sequoia National Forest
Cleveland National Forest
Inyo National Forest
El Dorado National Forest
Los Padres National Forest
Eastern Sierra
Angeles Campgrounds
Lake Arrowhead
Fawnskin
Pine Mountain Club
Frazier Park
Monache Meadows
Camp Nelson
Alta Sierra
Truckee
Little Grass Valley Reservoir
Long Valley Campground
Mill Creek Falls Modoc
McCloud River

6000' - 9000' elevation

  • high-mountains, sub-alpine
  • decent snow during winter months
  • lakes & reservoirs
  • pine trees
  • cedar pines
  • jefferey pines
  • sequoias
  • sugarpines
  • oak trees
  • wildflowers in summer
Big Bear Lake
Mount Baldy
Huntington Lake
Shaver Lake
Eastern Sierra
Wishon Reservoir
Courtright Reservoir
El Dorado National Forest
Sierra National Forest
Los Padres National Forest
Kennedy Meadows
Lakes Basin Recreation Area
Faucherie Lake
Sawmill Lake
Horse Meadow Campground
Blue Lake Modoc
Huntington Lakeshore California

9000' - 10,000' elevation

  • mountain meadows, sub-alpine
  • above treeline
  • snow during many months
  • streams & waterfalls
  • natural lakes
  • pine trees
  • cedar pines
  • granite peaks
  • wildflowers in summer
  • little ground vegetation
Ansel Adams Wilderness
Aspendell
Coyote Flats
Ellery Lake
John Muir Wilderness
Junction Campground
Mammoth Mountain
Saddlebag Lake
Sawmill Walk-in Camp
Yosemite National Park

 

10,000' - 14,000' elevation

  • granite terrain
  • snow & ice during most months
  • alpine lakes
  • pine trees
  • cedar pines
  • bristlecone pines
  • little ground vegetation



California inland areas

desert destinations desert elevations Ricardo Camp Red Rock

-282' below sea level; up to 1000' elevation

  • areas below sea level
  • dry lake beds
  • minimal natural vegetation
  • farmlands & irrigation canals
  • sandy desert washes
  • slot canyons
  • wind caves
  • boulders

1000' - 4000' elevation

  • inland areas
  • various size boulders
  • rocks formations
  • some Joshua trees
  • dry chaparral
  • manzanita
  • wildflowers in spring
  • abandon mining areas
nfs USDA maps
 

4000' - 9000' elevation

  • snow during winter months
  • joshua trees
  • pinon pine trees
  • juniper trees
  • lakes
  • pine forest
  • wildflowers in summer
  • abandon mining areas

9000' - 14,000' elevation

  • considered 'tree line' w/ minimal trees on granite
  • sparse trees, minimal vegetation
  • rocks, snow, lakes
  • bristlecone pine trees
  • ancient bristle cone pines


Highland Lakes from Hwy 4

Rock Creek Lake





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