Recreation

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altitude.elevation

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 country city

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

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

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