Owens Peak | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 8,452 ft (2,576 m) NAVD 88[1] |
Prominence | 2,173 ft (662 m)[2] |
Listing | Sierra Peaks Section[3] Hundred Peaks Section[4] |
Coordinates | 35°44′18″N 117°59′49″W / 35.738260592°N 117.996969425°W[1] |
Geography | |
Parent range | Sierra Nevada |
Topo map | USGS Owens Peak |
Climbing | |
Easiest route | Hike, class 2[3] |
Owens Peak is the highest point in the southern Sierra Nevada, at more than 8,400 feet (2,600 m) above sea level. The peak stands near the center of the Owens Peak Wilderness, which was designated by the United States Congress in 1994, and it now has a total of 74,060 acres (299.7 km2). The eastern watershed of Owens Peak is composed of three main canyons: Grapevine Canyon, Short Canyon, and Indian Wells Canyon (north to south, respectively). The Sierra Nevada meets the Great Basin and the Mojave Desert here, creating an unusual ecosystem.
Owens Peak is located in Kern County, about 12 miles (19 km) west-northwest of Inyokern and 159 miles (256 km) north of Los Angeles.