White Mountains (California)

White Mountains
White Mountain Peak from access road
Highest point
PeakWhite Mountain Peak
Elevation14,252 ft (4,344 m)
Coordinates37°38′02″N 118°15′20″W / 37.63389°N 118.25556°W / 37.63389; -118.25556
Dimensions
Length60 mi (97 km)
Width10 mi (16 km)
Geography
The White Mountains along the east side of Owens Valley
CountryUnited States
States
  • California
  • Nevada
Range coordinates37°35.0′N 118°16.05′W / 37.5833°N 118.26750°W / 37.5833; -118.26750
Parent rangeBasin and Range Province
Borders on

The White Mountains of California and Nevada are a triangular fault-block mountain range facing the Sierra Nevada across the upper Owens Valley. They extend for approximately 60 mi (97 km) as a greatly elevated plateau about 20 mi (32 km) wide on the south, narrowing to a point at the north, with elevations generally increasing south to north. The range's broad southern end is near the community of Big Pine, where Westgard Pass and Deep Springs Valley separate it from the Inyo Mountains. The narrow northern end is at Montgomery Pass, where U.S. Route 6 crosses. The Fish Lake Valley lies east of the range; the southeast part of the mountains are separated from the Silver Peak Range by block faulting across the Furnace Creek Fault Zone, forming a feeder valley to Fish Lake Valley. The range lies within the eastern section of the Inyo National Forest.