Whether you’re an avid mountain climber or simply a fan of the views, Canada has just the thing for you. With more than a hundred mountains all over the country, it might be a challenge to find the one you want to visit first.
We’ve narrowed our list down to the 30 tallest mountains in one of the most scenic countries in the world. All of the mountains on this list are on the west coast of the country, in either British Columbia or Yukon Territory.
When many people hear Yukon Territory, they think of the gold rush, but there is a lot more to the area than that. Mountains and glaciers cover over 80% of the Yukon’s landscape, and many of the mountains in the Saint Elias range fall on this list.
If you are down for some chilly weather and breathtaking views, this list has you covered. As they say in Canada, keep exploring.
Table of Contents
The Highest Mountains in Canada
Number | Mountain | Height (ft) |
---|---|---|
1 | Mount Logan | 19,551 |
2 | Mount Saint Elias | 18,009 |
3 | Mount Lucania | 17,257 |
4 | King Peak | 16,972 |
5 | Mount Steele | 16,644 |
6 | Mount Wood | 15,886 |
7 | Mount Vancouver | 15,787 |
8 | Mount Slaggard | 15,558 |
9 | Mount Fairweather | 15,325 |
10 | Mount Hubbard | 14,951 |
11 | Mount Walsh | 14,787 |
12 | Mount Alverstone | 14,500 |
13 | McArthur Peak | 14,370 |
14 | Mount Augusta | 14,070 |
15 | Mount Strickland | 13,976 |
16 | Avalanche Peak | 13,871 |
17 | Mount Cook | 13,760 |
18 | Mount Craig | 13,320 |
19 | Mount Waddington | 13,186 |
20 | Spring Glacier Peak | 13,045 |
21 | Mount Robson | 12,989 |
22 | Mount Harrison | 12,910 |
23 | Mount Queen Mary | 12,887 |
24 | Mount Root | 12,887 |
25 | Mount Tiedemann | 12,592 |
26 | Centennial Peak | 12,533 |
27 | Mount Malaspina | 12,388 |
28 | Mount Columbia | 12,274 |
29 | Mount King George | 12,274 |
30 | Mount Johansen | 12,270 |
1. Mount Logan – 19,551 ft
Located in Kluane National Park, Mount Logan is the tallest mountain in Canada and the second tallest in North America. It also has the largest circumference of any non-volcanic mountain in the world.
While anyone can view this mountain’s incredible beauty, climbing it is best left to the professionals. At close to 20,000 feet, the temperatures on the mountain stay below 0 degrees even in the summer.
When the mountain was first climbed in 1925, it took the climbers 65 days from start to finish to reach the peak and return to their starting point.
If you were to hike Mount Logan today, it would likely take you around two weeks. The cost to do the hike with guides is roughly $10,000 per person, and that’s just the expense of the climbing part.
Airfare to and from Whitehorse (where you start your journey), hotels, meals, insurance, and your gear are all additional costs you would need to take into account starting a trek like this.
If none of that stops you, it’s said that Mount Logan is a journey like no other. Similar in magnitude to Denali, Mount Logan is much less trafficked and still pristine.
2. Mount Saint Elias – 18,009 ft
Mount Saint Elias straddles the border between Alaska and Canada and is also known as Border Peak 186. This mountain is rarely climbed due to its steep ascent, reaching over 18,000 ft up in just 10 miles across.
A few teams have completed this strenuous trek, but most leave the mountain untouched.
The first team to do so was led by Prince Luigi Amedeo in 1897. This is one of the earliest ascents on this list and is notable due to the chronic bad weather the climbers experienced on the mountain.
Native Tlingit people call the mountain Yasʼéitʼaa Shaa, which roughly translates to “mountain behind icy bay”.
They have a legend that Mount Saint Elias and Mount Fairweather used to be next to each other, but after an argument, they moved apart. The smaller mountains between them are thought to be their children.
3. Mount Lucania – 17,257 ft
Situated near Mount Steele, Lucania was named on sight by the Duke of Abruzzi after the ship that brought him to North America.
This stunning mountain has been climbed 3 times; the most recent climb made just this year by an all-female team over 84 years after the first ascent.
The first to climb Mount Lucania were Robert Hicks Bates and Bradford Washburn. After their journey up and down the mountain, they then had to hike over 150 miles to the nearest town in order to get home.
4. King Peak – 16,972 ft
This behemoth is the ninth-highest mountain in North America and the fourth in Canada.
Located in the Yukon Territory, this mountain is incredibly cold and inhospitable, which is probably one of the reasons it has only been climbed 3 times.
First to climb Kings Peak were 4 students from the University of Alaska in 1952. Their supplies were airdropped at Ogilvie glacier, which is where their quest up the mountain began.
Their journey was hindered by a severe snowstorm that lasted two days, and unfortunately, resulted in one of the climbers injuring a knee.
This prevented him from reaching the summit, but his comrades were able to complete the journey while he remained in camp.
5. Mount Steele – 16,644 ft
Named after Sam Steele, a police officer during the Yukon Gold Rush, this mountain is known for being particularly inhospitable and hard to access.
However, those conditions didn’t stop Walter Wood and his team, who ascended the mountain in 1935.
Their progress was severely hampered by the weather, with their first attempt being thwarted and their successful attempt requiring them to make part of the journey on all fours.
This mountain is the site of one of the largest recorded landslides in the Yukon Territory.
On the 24th of July in 2007, a massive amount of rock, ice, and snow went careening down the side of the mountain at an estimated 157 mph. Thankfully, due to the unlivable conditions around the mountain, no one was injured.
6. Mount Wood – 15,886 ft
Not to be confused with Mount Wood in the US, this Yukon Territory mountain is rather lonely. There have been no notable climbs on this mountain and very little is known about it.
One fun fact is that the mountain was named after Zachary Taylor Wood, who was a North West Mountain Police commissioner.
It was given this name by James McArthur, who was the first to climb several peaks in the Yukon Territory.
7. Mount Vancouver – 15,787 ft
Mount Vancouver has three summits, the third of which straddles the border with Alaska and is named Good Neighbor Peak. It is the fifteenth highest mountain in North America.
Walter Wood and his party were the first to climb Mount Vancouver and reach its highest peak.
Good Neighbor Peak was given its name during the 1967 centennial expedition where multiple mountains were climbed and named for the first time.
8. Mount Slaggard – 15,558 ft
Located in the icefield range, this mountain is one of the lesser-known mountains in the area. If you decide you want to hike this mountain, be prepared to spend roughly $10,000 per person on gear, guides, and transportation.
Planning for this kind of trek takes months and lots of preparation. While it is possible to climb to the summit, you must be prepared, as this region is known for its poor weather and vicious storms.
9. Mount Fairweather – 15,325 ft
Most of Mount Fairweather is located in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in Alaska, but enough falls in Canada to make it the highest peak in British Columbia.
While the mountain was named Fairweather by James Cook due to the extremely good weather they were encountering at the time, good weather is not what you should expect if you decide to visit this mountain.
Like most of the mountains in the Saint Elias range, it is plagued with bad weather and frigid temperatures.
10. Mount Hubbard – 14,951 ft
Shared between the US and Canada, Mount Hubbard is the 8th tallest mountain in the US and the 10th in Canada.
Named for the first president of the National Geographic Society, Gardiner Greene Hubbard, this mountain was first ascended in 1951 by Walter Wood.
To learn more about Walter Wood, see our summary of Mount Alverstone (number 12 on this list).
11. Mount Walsh – 14,787
There isn’t much information out there about Mount Walsh. Like the majority of the mountains we’ve talked about so far, this mountain is also in the Yukon Territory in the Saint Elias mountain range.
It was named after James Morrow Walsh, a superintendent for the Royal Canadian Mountain Police.
James Morrow Walsh was born in 1840 in Prescott, Canada, and was known for his work with the Sioux Indians who crossed the border into Canada after the Battle of Little Big Horn.
Walsh was able to parlay with the tribe and became friends with their leader, Sitting Bull. Unfortunately, the Canadian government was not fond of this friendship and restationed him in 1880.
They believed Walsh was the reason Sitting Bull and his tribe would not leave Canada, but in reality, it was the harsh treatment from Americans that had kept them from returning to their native lands.
12. Mount Alverstone – 14,500 ft
This mountain was named after Lord Richard Everard Webster Alverstone who was the Lord Chief Justice of England.
The first person to climb this peak was also Dr. Walter Wood, in 1951. Wood was an explorer, geologist, and served as president of the American Geographical Society.
Mount Alverstone was not his first conquest in the Saint Elias Mountains, as he was also the first to climb Mount Steele in 1935.
Sadly, after returning from his trek up Mount Alverstone, he learned his wife and daughter had been killed in a plane crash. This loss prompted the naming of nearby Mount Foresta.
13. McArthur Peak – 14,370 ft
McArthur Peak was named after James Joseph McArthur, a famous land surveyor and adventurer.
McArthur was the first to climb several mountains in the Saint Elias range and the first to climb a mountain in the range that was over 10,000 ft.
His career was extensive, but a large chunk was spent mapping mountains and the Yukon territory. He even named Mount Wood (number 6 on this list).
14. Mount Augusta – 14,070 ft
Not to be confused with Mount Augusta in Antarctica, this Mount Augusta is located just east of Mount Saint Elias and south of Mount Logan. It is a boundary peak and is shared between Alaska and Canada.
The first to climb Mount Augusta was Pete Schoening. His party ascended the mountain in 1953 and set the stage for 3 later ascensions by Don Seri in 1987, Mark Bebie and Bill Pilling in 1990, and a fourth all-British team in 1994.
All ascents were successful and while difficult, no injuries were reported.
15. Mount Strickland – 13,976 ft
This peak was named after Charles Strickland who worked at the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is located in Alaska and was created by Roosevelt to protect the Kodiak Bear and its habitat.
This mountain is located in Yukon, Canada, and was first climbed in 1959.
16. Avalanche Peak – 13,871 ft
Little is known about Avalanche Peak, but we do know it is located in the Elias Mountain Range.
While the peak is uninhabitable due to elevation and weather, the areas surrounding the mountains are stunningly beautiful and ecologically diverse.
Caribou, Dall sheep, bears, moose, and wolves are just a few of the animals you may encounter during your hike or drive through the forests here.
If birdwatching is more your style, there are over 100 species of birds in the area as well, including the tiny yellow-rumped warbler and the majestic Peregrine falcon.
17. Mount Cook – 13,760 ft
Mount Cook is located on the border of Alaska and Canada and is also known as Boundary Peak 182. While it was first climbed in 1953, not many have attempted to climb it since, due to its difficulty and its lack of notoriety.
If you decide you’re going to be the next to make this climb, be sure to take lots of pictures and document your journey.
There is very little known about the mountain or its conditions, so your information could be groundbreaking. Though not much is known, one thing is certain: this climb will be cold.
18. Mount Craig – 13,320 ft
Mount Craig, like Avalanche Peak, has very little recorded information. It is located inside the Kluane National Park and Reserve in the Yukon Territory of Canada.
The Yukon Territory is the smallest territory in Canada and has the least population density. This is likely due to how mountainous the region is with over 80% of the land covered in mountains.
19. Mount Waddington – 13,186 ft
Mount Waddington is the highest peak in the Coast Mountains and the highest peak in British Columbia. It was formerly known as Mystery Mountain.
Only one team has ever ascended this mountain, and that team made several attempts before they found success in 1936. Their total climb time from basecamp to the peak and back again was 23 hours.
A previous attempt in 1934 ended tragically when one of the climbers, Alec Dalgleish, fell from the mountain to his death.
Near the Blue Inlet, this mountain is stunning to look at and to hike, but the actual climb should be left only to professional climbers.
20. Spring Glacier Peak – 13,045 ft
Located near Mount Craig in the Saint Elias range, this peak is rarely mentioned due to its relatively short stature compared to other nearby mountains. It does, however, add to the beauty of the region.
Like Mount Cook, Spring Glacier Peak offers a unique opportunity to leave your mark on history. Grab your bags, your skis, and your snowsuit, and conquer this mountain.
There aren’t many spots on Earth that are as little documented as those in the Saint Elias Mountain range, so if you enjoy photography, adventure, and freezing weather, this mountain is perfect for you.
21. Mount Robson – 12,989 ft
The second highest peak in British Columbia is Mount Robson. Part of the Rainbow Range of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, it is likely the most-photographed mountain in the area.
One of the few mountains on this list that has weather in the 40s during the summer, this mountain is home to mountain goats and other sure-footed animals.
Who first hiked the mountain is debatable. Reverend George Kinney claimed to have accomplished the feat in 1909, but many believed he did not hike all the way to the summit.
The first confirmed ascent is credited to Conrad Kain in 1913.
22. Mount Harrison – 12,910 ft
David and Ron Weilkopolski were the first to ascent Mount Harrison in 1973. It took them several tries and over 36 days to complete the ascent as bad weather kept pushing them back to their basecamp.
While Mount Harrison is one of the smaller mountains on this list, the weather makes it a difficult one to climb.
23. Mount Queen Mary – 12,887 ft
Mount Queen Mary was named for Queen Mary (also known as Mary of Teck) to mark her 25th year as ruler of England. Mount King George was named at the same time in honor of the king.
Of all the mountains on this list, Mount Queen Mary is the only one noted to have been climbed by a team with a dog. This Canadian team was the second to climb the mountain in 1978, with the first ascension having occurred in 1961.
24. Mount Root – 12,887 ft
Mount Root, also known as Boundary Peak 165, is on the border between Alaska and Canada. It was named after Elihu Root, a diplomat who was part of the Alaska boundary dispute settlement in 1903.
It was one of the later mountains to be ascended with its first climb in 1977 by Laurel Adkins, Walter Grove, and George Fisher.
This is likely due to how remote the mountain is and its relatively short height in comparison to the other mountains in its range.
25. Mount Tiedemann – 12,592 ft
Northeast of Mount Waddington is Mount Tiedemann and was named after the designer of British Columbia’s “Birdcages”, Herman Otto Tiedemann.
The first person to ascend the mountain was Sterling Hendrix in 1939.
26. Centennial Peak – 12,533 ft
Located inside Kluane National Park in Yukon, Canada, Centennial Peak was named during the 1967 Yukon Alpine Centennial Expedition.
This expedition was in celebration of the 100-year anniversary of Canada and the American purchase of Alaska from Russia.
While on the expedition, several teams ascended several mountains, one of which was Centennial Peak.
27. Mount Malaspina – 12,388 ft
Until 2015, Mount Malaspia was the tallest named mountain in North America that had yet to be ascended.
Natalia Martinez and Camilo Rada changed that on August 15th when their 55-hour round trip trek had them at the summit of the mountain.
Their journey was hazardous, having to abandon multiple camps due to falling pieces of ice called seracs and the threat of avalanches.
They reported their view was beautiful though, dominated by the Malaspina Glacier – the largest in the world.
28. Mount Columbia – 12,274 ft
Mount Columbia is the tallest mountain in Alberta, Canada, and the second tallest in the Canadian Rockies. Named after the Columbia River by Norman Collie, this mountain is formed mostly out of sedimentary rock.
This is one of the few mountains on this list not in the Saint Elias Mountains. Mount Columbia is much further south, but the weather is pretty much the same.
Temperatures below zero degrees are commonplace all year round, as are snow and ice. If you plan to attempt climbing Mount Columbia, you will need to spend lots of time preparing and gathering supplies for the trek.
29. Mount King George – 12,274 ft
Located in the Saint Elias range in Yukon, Canada, Mount King George was named in celebration of Queen Mary and King George V’s 25 years of rule. It was first climbed in 1966, 31 years after its naming.
30. Mount Johansen – 12,270 ft
Near Mount King George is Mount Johansen, which was named after famed arctic explorer Fredrik Hjalmar Johansen. Johansen was considered to be a hero after he skied a record distance.
Unfortunately, the notoriety was too much for him and he quickly lost his way. Excessive drinking caused him to lose his position in the army. He eventually recovered but was not part of any future pathfinding missions.