Although best known for John Muir’s beloved Range of Light–the Sierra Nevada–California is home to many mountain ranges, with very distinct and varied characteristics.  This portfolio showcases some of the diversity and beauty California mountains have to offer.

Click any of the thumbnails to see a larger image, and an accompanying description.

 

 

A very colorful sunrise over a high mountain lake in the Sierra Nevada, with snow and sun cups in the foreground photo of a chaparral yucca in autumn colors ranging from green to a luminescent purple a branch from a manzanita plant with berries that have fallen on it. alder trees in full fall color along the bank of a rushing creek
aspen trees glow a brilliant red color in autumn. aspen trees in brilliant fall color are interspersed with pine trees and sage in the Sierra Nevada foothills High Sierra Nevada peaks and lakes at sunset. Photograph of high Sierra Nevada peaks being illuminated at sunrise with their reflection in an alpine lake
iceberg lake ansel adams wilderness minaret lake, ansel adams wilderness, california granite park and mt. humphries moonset and rime ice on trees near Wrightwood California
Stormy sunset in the Inyo Mountains, California photo of Idyllwild California at sunset in winter the san gabriel mountains rise above fog and clouds in the los angeles basin at sunset snowy sierra nevada mountains near manzanar national historic site
the san gabriel mountains rise above fog and clouds in the los angeles basin at sunset sunrise on the white mountains manzanita, san jacinto mountains sunrise over the great basin
bristlecone pine, white mountains, california bristlecone pine trunk patriarch grove, white mountains, california fall colors, sierra nevada
aspens in the white mountains suicide rock near idyllwild california reflected light in the Merced River pan blur of aspen trunks
reflected light at sunrise fin dome at sunrise Golden Trout sunset San Jacinto Mountain Dawn
photo of manzanita branches in the san jacinto mountains photograph of a mountain peak with the last rays of sunset on it, with colorful clouds above mixed with smoke from a nearby wildfire photo of the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains in southern California in Winter a photo of Tahquitz Rock and Peak at sunset after a winter storm
the san gabriel mountains rise above fog and clouds in the los angeles basin at sunset Colorful sunrise near Wrightwood California predawn light makes high Sierra Nevada peaks glow; a waterfall runs out from a lake beneath the peak.  
Close Menu