Cockscomb topographic map

San Francisco is characterized by its striking and varied topography, making it one of the most distinctive cities in the United States. The landscape features a mix of rolling hills and steep inclines, with the highest elevation reaching approximately 922 feet at Twin Peaks. The average elevation across the…

Average elevation: 65 m

San Diego is characterized by a diverse topography that features coastal plains, rolling hills, and rugged mountain ranges. The city is situated along the Pacific Ocean, where it boasts an extensive shoreline with sandy beaches and tidal zones. As you move inland, the landscape transitions from the flat…

Average elevation: 125 m

Los Angeles is characterized by a diverse and dynamic topography. The city is predominantly situated in a basin bordered by mountain ranges, including the Santa Monica Mountains to the north and the San Gabriel Mountains to the east, with elevations reaching up to about 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) in certain…

Average elevation: 241 m

Los Angeles is characterized by a diverse and dynamic topography. The city is predominantly situated in a basin bordered by mountain ranges, including the Santa Monica Mountains to the north and the San Gabriel Mountains to the east, with elevations reaching up to about 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) in certain…

Average elevation: 241 m

Berkeley, located on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay, features a diverse topography characterized by rolling hills and steep slopes. The city sits at an elevation that ranges from sea level along the bay to about 1,300 feet (396 meters) in the Berkeley Hills. This hilly landscape provides stunning views…

Average elevation: 109 m

San Jose, located in Santa Clara County, California, features a diverse topography characterized by a mix of low-lying plains and rolling hills. The city sits at an average elevation of approximately 82 feet (25 meters) above sea level, with the surrounding terrain including the foothills of the Santa Cruz…

Average elevation: 265 m

Santa Clara County features a diverse and varied topography characterized by both low-lying valleys and rugged mountainous regions. The county encompasses a significant portion of Silicon Valley, where flat, urbanized areas are interspersed with rolling hills and foothills that rise sharply in the Santa Cruz…

Average elevation: 323 m

Average elevation: 10 m

Lake Tahoe is renowned for its dramatic topography, characterized by rugged mountain ranges and deep, crystal-clear waters. Nestled in the Sierra Nevada, the lake itself lies at an elevation of approximately 6,225 feet (1,897 meters) and spans about 22 miles (35 kilometers) in length and 12 miles (19…

Average elevation: 2,077 m

Oakland features a diverse topography shaped by its location along the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay and the presence of the nearby coastal hills. The city sits on a flat coastal plain that gradually ascends toward the Oakland Hills to the east, where elevations can exceed 1,700 feet. The highest point…

Average elevation: 51 m

Roseville has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate that is characterized by cool, wet, usually snowless winters and hot, dry summers (Köppen Csa). The wet season is generally October through April. Because Roseville is east of Sacramento and at a higher elevation, it receives slightly more rainfall. Average…

Average elevation: 67 m

Newport Beach, located in Orange County, California, features a dynamic and varied topography shaped by its coastal position and surrounding hills. The city spans from sea level along its beaches to elevations of over 1,100 feet (335 meters) in the nearby San Joaquin Hills. These hills, particularly noticeable…

Average elevation: 14 m

In the mid-1950s, the Ventura Freeway was completed from Los Angeles to points north, making it an easy one-hour trip to Camarillo. The Old Town was bisect by the Ventura Freeway. On the southern side of the freeway contains a strip of businesses, churches, schools, and parks. The freeway was originally…

Average elevation: 90 m

The geology of the Yosemite area is characterized by granite rocks and remnants of older rock. About 10 million years ago, the Sierra Nevada was uplifted and tilted to form its unique slopes, which increased the steepness of stream and river beds, resulting in the formation of deep, narrow canyons. About one…

Average elevation: 2,337 m

Death Valley's Badwater Basin is the point of lowest elevation in North America, at 282 feet (86 m) below sea level. It is 84.6 miles (136.2 km) east-southeast of Mount Whitney — the highest point in the contiguous United States, with an elevation of 14,505 feet (4,421 m). On the afternoon of July 10, 1913,…

Average elevation: 1,085 m

Average elevation: 780 m

Average elevation: 264 m

Average elevation: 387 m

Average elevation: 89 m

Average elevation: 282 m

An obscure portion of the Angeles Crest Highway (SR 2) in the San Gabriel Mountains cuts through Pasadena near the Angeles Crest Ranger Station. This 2-mile (3.2 km) stretch of highway in the Angeles National Forest is north of La Cañada Flintridge and west of Mount Wilson and is approximately 3,000 feet (910…

Average elevation: 548 m

Los Angeles County's topography is characterized by a diverse landscape that includes coastal plains, mountain ranges, and expansive valleys. The county is situated within the Los Angeles Basin, a large sedimentary basin bounded by the Santa Monica Mountains to the north and the San Gabriel Mountains to the…

Average elevation: 378 m

San Diego County's topography is marked by its dramatic variety, ranging from coastal plains to mountainous regions. The county stretches along California's southern border, with a coastline that includes sandy beaches, cliffs, and bays, such as the iconic San Diego Bay. Inland, the terrain rises into the…

Average elevation: 544 m

Catalina is primarily composed of two distinct rock units: Catalina Schist from the Early Cretaceous (95 to 109 million years ago), and Miocene volcanic and intrusive igneous rocks. The island is rich in quartz, to the extent that some beaches on the seaward side have silvery-grey sand. These formations…

Average elevation: 60 m

Joshua Tree National Park is an American national park in southeastern California, east of San Bernardino and Los Angeles and north of Palm Springs. It is named after the Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) native to the Mojave Desert. Originally declared a national monument in 1936, Joshua Tree was redesignated…

Average elevation: 639 m

La Quinta is located at 33°40′31″N 116°17′51″W / 33.67528°N 116.29750°W / 33.67528; -116.29750 (33.675373, −116.297391). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 35.6 square miles (92 km2), of which 35.1 square miles (91 km2) is land and 0.4 square miles…

Average elevation: 201 m

Big Pine (formerly, Bigpine) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Inyo County, California, United States. Big Pine is located approximately 15 miles (24 km) south-southeast of Bishop, at an elevation of 3,989 feet (1,216 m). The population was 1,756 at the 2010 census, up from 1,350 at the 2000 census. The…

Average elevation: 1,228 m

Average elevation: 1,119 m

Average elevation: 24 m

Average elevation: 133 m

Average elevation: 66 m

Napa is warmer in the summer than Sonoma County, to the west, or Santa Barbara County, a wine-producing county in southern California. Thus, the Napa wineries favor varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, while Pinot noir and Chardonnay are more the specialty of Sonoma and Santa Barbara wineries. At the north…

Average elevation: 232 m

Average elevation: 1,074 m

The geology of the Yosemite area is characterized by granite rocks and remnants of older rock. About 10 million years ago, the Sierra Nevada was uplifted and tilted to form its unique slopes, which increased the steepness of stream and river beds, resulting in the formation of deep, narrow canyons. About one…

Average elevation: 2,337 m

Average elevation: 764 m

El Dorado Hills (EDH), as defined by the 2010 census-designated place (CDP), is at the western border of El Dorado County, between the City of Folsom and the unincorporated community of Cameron Park. The northern limits of the CDP are Folsom Lake and the South Fork of the American River, where river rafters…

Average elevation: 254 m

Oceanside features a diverse topography characterized by its coastal setting and gentle inland elevations. The city is predominantly flat, with its elevation averaging around 66 feet (20 meters) above sea level, allowing for expansive views of the Pacific Ocean along its roughly 3.5 miles of coastline. Inland,…

Average elevation: 32 m

Average elevation: 209 m

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.6 square miles (43 km2), of which 10.2 square miles (26 km2) is land and 6.4 square miles (17 km2), or 38.80%, is water. Its elevation is about 6,237 feet (1,901 m) above sea level.

Average elevation: 1,979 m

Average elevation: 7 m

Average elevation: 69 m

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 994 square miles (2,570 km2), of which 965 square miles (2,500 km2) is land and 29 square miles (75 km2) (3.0%) is water. Most of the county is at an elevation close to sea level, with some areas below sea level. The highest point in the…

Average elevation: 62 m

Many park visitors enter Sequoia National Park through its southern entrance near the town of Three Rivers at Ash Mountain at 1,700 ft (520 m) elevation. The lower elevations around Ash Mountain contain the only National Park Service-protected California Foothills ecosystem, consisting of blue oak woodlands,…

Average elevation: 2,515 m

Average elevation: 1,188 m

There are two major valleys in the park, Death Valley and Panamint Valley. Both of these valleys were formed within the last few million years and both are bounded by north–south-trending mountain ranges. These and adjacent valleys follow the general trend of Basin and Range topography with one modification:…

Average elevation: 1,171 m

Fort Yuma is located on the banks of the Colorado River in Winterhaven, California. First established after the end of the Mexican–American War in 1848, it was originally located in the bottoms near the Colorado River, less than 1 mile (1.6 km) below the mouth of the Gila River. It was to defend the newly…

Average elevation: 190 m

Amador County ranges in elevation from approximately 250 feet (76 m) in the western portion of the county to over 9,000 feet (2,700 m) in the eastern portion of the county, the tallest point being Thunder Mountain. The county is bordered on the north by the Cosumnes River and El Dorado County and on the south…

Average elevation: 896 m

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.6 km2), all of it land. The city ranges in elevation from 20 to 934 feet, with an average elevation of 69 feet (21 m).

Average elevation: 91 m

Average elevation: 16 m

Average elevation: 76 m

Average elevation: 220 m

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,426 square miles (3,690 km2), of which 1,391 square miles (3,600 km2) is land and 35 square miles (91 km2), comprising 2.5%, is water. The county has a very low inland elevation and a very flat drainage basin for the San Joaquin River and…

Average elevation: 96 m

Average elevation: 1,053 m

Average elevation: 337 m

Banning's elevation is approximately 2,300 feet (700 m) above sea level, which gives it a cooler climate in contrast to the county seat of Riverside at 800 feet (240 m) above sea level and the Coachella Valley of the Colorado Desert to the east.

Average elevation: 1,036 m

The official elevation of the city is 1,207 feet (368 m), the elevation of the historic Newhall Airport which was northwest of Via Princessa and Railroad Avenue from the 1930s through the 1950s. Elevation varies substantially throughout the city. The lowest point in Santa Clarita is near the junction of CA-126…

Average elevation: 514 m

Willow Springs Park was founded as a part of the Willow Springs Wetlands Restoration Project which opened in October 2017. The project restored 11 acres of a 48-acre degraded oil well site into wetlands. These highlight the pivotal role the ecosystem played in the City of Long Beach’s establishment in the…

Average elevation: 12 m

Average elevation: 30 m

The elevation in Redding is 495 feet (151 meters) on average, whereas anywhere to the north, east, or west of downtown ranges between 550 feet (170 m) and 800 feet (240 m) feet. Southern portions range between 400 feet (120 m) and 500 feet (150 m).

Average elevation: 240 m

Eureka, located along Humboldt Bay in Northern California, has a diverse and varied topography. The city itself is situated at relatively low elevations, with the bay’s narrow point serving as a key feature in the landscape. Its average elevation is around 50 feet (15 meters), and the terrain gently rises…

Average elevation: 15 m

Porterville, lying along the foothills of the Sierras at an elevation of 455 feet (139 m), is located on State Highway 65, 165 miles (266 km) north of Los Angeles, and 171 miles (275 km) east of the Pacific Coast. The city has a strategic central location to major markets and a ready access to major…

Average elevation: 175 m

Average elevation: 282 m

Joshua Tree National Park is an American national park in southeastern California, east of San Bernardino and Los Angeles and north of Palm Springs. It is named after the Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) native to the Mojave Desert. Originally declared a national monument in 1936, Joshua Tree was redesignated…

Average elevation: 639 m

Average elevation: 276 m

Average elevation: 275 m

Average elevation: 40 m

Average elevation: 206 m

Average elevation: 464 m

Average elevation: 38 m

Truckee is characterized by its dramatic topography set in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The town sits at an elevation of approximately 5,817 feet (1,774 meters), surrounded by a stunning landscape of rugged mountains, rolling hills, and expansive forested areas. Prominent features include Donner Pass,…

Average elevation: 1,918 m

One possible origin of palm in the place name comes from early Spanish explorers who referred to the area as La Palma de la Mano de Dios or "The Palm of God's hand". The earliest use of the name "Palm Springs" is from United States Topographical Engineers who used the term in 1853 maps. According to William…

Average elevation: 859 m

Average elevation: 261 m

Average elevation: 749 m

Pine Mountain Club has an area of 16.7 square miles (43.25 km2). It ranges from 4,901 to 6,400 feet (1,494 to 1,951 m) in elevation. The community sits in a deep valley of the San Emigdio Mountains, on the San Andreas fault. It is surrounded by Los Padres National Forest. The settlement lies between Apache…

Average elevation: 1,867 m

Average elevation: 4 m

Delano (/dəˈleɪnoʊ/ də-LAY-noh) is a city in Kern County, California, United States. Delano is located 31 miles (50 km) north-northwest of Bakersfield at an elevation of 315 feet (96 m). The population was 51,428 in 2020, down from 53,041 in 2010. It is Kern County's second-largest city after Bakersfield.

Average elevation: 99 m

This 3.6-square-mile (9.3 km2) community has an average elevation of 1,065 feet (325 m). Its motto, inscribed on the city flag, is "The Blue Mountain City" (its official slogan is "A city set upon a mountain cannot be hidden"), and refers to the Blue Lupine flower that used to grow on Blue Mountain in the…

Average elevation: 343 m

Average elevation: 228 m

Average elevation: 16 m

Average elevation: 77 m

Average elevation: 11 m

Average elevation: 109 m

Average elevation: 608 m

Average elevation: 234 m

Most of Bakersfield's major streets are six-lane divided roads with bike lanes, with almost every street in the city having proper lane signage for bicycle traffic. Bikes are a popular method of transportation in Bakersfield, due to the city's relatively flat topography and grid-like street system. Newer…

Average elevation: 157 m

Average elevation: 539 m

Average elevation: 111 m

Victorville is bordered by Apple Valley on the east, Hesperia on the south, and Adelanto on the west. The Mojave River flows sporadically through Victorville. The elevation at City Hall is approximately 2,950 feet (900 m) above sea level.

Average elevation: 920 m

During winter, snow occasionally falls in the higher elevations of the Santa Lucia Mountains and Gabilan Mountains that overlook Monterey, but snow in Monterey itself is extremely rare. A few unusual events in January 1962, February 1976, and December 1997 brought a light coating of snow to Monterey. In March…

Average elevation: 50 m

Sonoma County, as is often the case with coastal counties in California, has a great degree of climatic variation and numerous, often very different, microclimates. Key determining factors for local climate are proximity to the ocean, elevation, and the presence and elevation of hills or mountains to the east…

Average elevation: 210 m

Average elevation: 486 m

Average elevation: 1,036 m

Prior to mass agricultural and urban development, much of the city consisted of rolling hills bisected by wooded creeks and interspersed with marsh land. Today, the city is located mostly on leveled ground, with some rolling hills and wooded gulches with creeks remaining in the north-eastern Creekbridge and…

Average elevation: 19 m

Average elevation: 97 m

Whittier is about 15 miles (24 km) inland of the Pacific Ocean, resulting in higher daytime temperatures, and since it lies at a higher elevation than the cities further west, cold air drains into the lower elevation of the Los Angeles Basin which results in warmer night-time lows, producing an example of…

Average elevation: 115 m

Escondido has a borderline semi-arid climate (Köppen: Bsh) and hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa) with hot summers and cool wet winters. Owing to its inland setting it is considerably warmer than coastal cities like San Diego, Carlsbad or Oceanside during the summertime, and cooler in the winter.…

Average elevation: 273 m

Tehachapi (/təˈhætʃəpi/ (listen); Kawaiisu: Tihachipia, meaning "hard climb") is a city in Kern County, California, United States, in the Tehachapi Mountains, at an elevation of 3,970 feet (1,210 m), between the San Joaquin Valley and the Mojave Desert. Tehachapi is 35 miles (56 km) east-southeast of…

Average elevation: 1,414 m

Average elevation: 720 m

Encinitas lies on rugged coastal terrace. The city is bisected by a low-lying coastal ridge that separates New and Old Encinitas. In the north of the city, the coast rises in elevation and the land is raised up in the form of many coastal bluffs. These cliffs are subject to collapsing on the narrow beach. The…

Average elevation: 32 m

Pacific Grove, situated on the northern tip of the Monterey Peninsula in California, showcases a varied and picturesque topography that is characterized by its rugged coastal cliffs and rolling hills. The area features a blend of sandy beaches, such as Asilomar State Beach and Lovers Point Beach, which are…

Average elevation: 14 m