10 Awe-Inspiring Mountains You Can Actually Climb

1. Mont Blanc

FranceTowering above the legendary Chamonix Valley – Mecca for extreme skiers and alpinists – is the highest summit in Western Europe , Mont Blanc . And like a destiny of Europe ’s highest meridian , there ’s a cable television service car that will take you most of the way up and a bartender at the top who will pour you an frosting cold Stella Artois . But , while the 11,000 - ft ascent on the Aguille du Midi tram is thrillingly fun , you ’ll have to cover the final 3,000 feet under your own steam .

The pain in the neck : You’ll need a guide to babysit you on crevasse - riddle terrain and you ’ll drop a parky Nox on the glacier before your challenge 12 - hour trudge over ice and snow to the top . But the relatively low 15,781 - base summit is n’t much high than a Colorado ski resort hotel . The profit : Being able to say you ’ve climbed Mont Blanc will voice fancy to your American friend , but Euro skiers consider it a brisk trail foot race .

2. Island Peak

NepalFor anyone who harbor Everest ambitiousness but does n’t have $ 60k and two years to discipline , Island Peak is the next practiced thing . Considered the Himalaya ’s easiest “ trekking vertex ” , the 20,305 - invertebrate foot pinnacle can essentially be claimed by anyone who can handle 12 hours on a Stairmaster , wearing a ski masque to simulate oxygen deprivation . So , in plain English , do n’t tackle this climb unless you are in very , very honest flesh . And are not afraid of a little cryptic parentage as getting to Island Peak is arguably more frightening than the climb itself , as just reaching basecamp requires a terrifyingflight from Kathmanduto Lukla and a several - daylight trek up the Khumbu Valley ( alongside rich doctors head for Everest ) . But your Sherpa - guidebook will handle the heavy loads and keep you on a short III all the fashion to the top .

The pain:20,000 invertebrate foot above sea degree is no joke – you will feel like you ’ve been extend over and are being dragged by a school bus all day . Period . The addition : It ’s a 20 - freakin - thousand - foot mountain in the Himalayas – you could never climb up another mountain again and simply brag about this one achievement for the eternal rest of your liveliness .

3. Half Dome

CaliforniaIt ’s a beautiful affair when one of the world ’s most iconic and picturesque pot can be climbed in canary . Half Dome , that famous 8,839 - foot monolith of granite dominate Yosemite Valley , has a attractively manicured hikers main road that delivers you right to the base of the dome itself . The net vault between you and summit is a 400 - foundation slab of steep rock , with a cable run and handrail in place to forbid demise - falls .

The botheration : rotund - trip , it ’s an all - day affair in flimsy melodic phrase . But , honestly , hiking past RV retired person and Japanese tourist in sandals as you ascend will infuse all the self-assurance you need to get it done . The gain : It ’s always nerveless when you may snarl an Ansel - Adams - style selfie on top of one of the most photographed mountains in the earth .

4. Mount Whitney

CaliforniaIf there were no such thing as Alaska , California ’s Mt. Whitney would be the high flush in America . And at 14,505 foot , it does have the distinction of being the tallest mountain in the lower 48 . Known more for its unbelievable circumstance at the southern tip of the John Muir Trail than for its trouble , the trail to the top passes through stunning high Sierra backcountry . Some make the trip from the 8,300 - foot trail head to the superlative and back in about 14 hours . We hint you bring a warm sleeping bag , channel your inner son scout , and make it a 2 - dayer .

The bother : This is really just a long paseo in the wood , specially in the summertime months . The gain : When you say you ’ve climbed the highest peak in the low 48 , there ’s a good chance people are imagine some impossibly gnarly spire in Colorado . No indigence to correct them .

5. Mount Evans

ColoradoColorado has 54 elevation over 14,000 feet – it ’s a to - do list hardcore climbers call “ the 14ers ” . We favor another much shorter list called “ 14ers you could beat back up ” . There are actually only two peaks with paved route to the top and the less crowded of the two , Mount Evans , is only 60 miles from Denver ( it ’s the snow - capped peak they always show when the Broncos bring on Monday Night Football ) and can be summited from the comfort of your car via the mellow paved route in the country .

The bother : The only gruelling part about “ climbing ” Mount Evans is determine a parking spot at the top . you could fundamentally take on the state of matter ’s 13th highest mess with the bullet and radio on good time . The gain : You get the same unbelievable Rocky - Mountain view from the summit as those who boost it , and every prison term Monday Night Football comes on you may say “ I go up that ! ”

6. Mount Washington

New HampshireNew Hampshire ’s Mount Washington is the highest acme in the Presidential Range , and in America ’s entire NE . At just 6,289 feet , and with a paved route all the way to the top , it may not sound like much of a challenge , but be warned : some of the populace ’s most furious weather , high nothingness , and coldest temperatures have been tape at its summit meeting .

The pain : Whatever you do , do n’t dress for a driveway , dress for an excursion . It ’s just a steep seven - mil driving force from the base to the top , but you never know what you ’ll step into once you close up that car threshold . The gain : You will sure enough get some of the well views east of the Mississippi – but you ’re essentially at an elevation a little high-pitched than Denver International Airport .

7. Grand Teton

WyomingThe Grand Teton , just outside Jackson Hole , Wyoming , is America ’s Matterhorn – a upright craggy spire that ostensibly has no well-situated way to the top . And , yet , local legendary guide service Exum delivers thousands of regular Joes to the 13,775 - substructure summit every year .

The pain : This climb demand ropes and rock - solid nerves as you abuse over airy gap and dangle thou of feet above the valley below . But the mountain ’s bark is much bad than its pungency and just about anyone who runs through Exum ’s ask 2 - day primer coat before the independent result can make this their very first rock climb . The amplification : This Grand Teton has belike made more people desire to become rock climbers than any other – photos of yourself in a harness and helmet , reaching for the next handhold with the Teton Range in the background is your computer screensaver for life .

8. Kilimanjaro

Tanzania“Kili ” , as it ’s known , is Africa ’s gamey peak , an telling 19,341 - foot abeyant volcano that sit down alone among the Tanzanian Savannah . And since Tanzanian constabulary need the use of local porter , getting to the top basically involves a high five - day raise with a daypack , each evening stepping into a pre - slope tent to exhaust a pre - made dinner – it ’s no admiration Kili has become something of a darling for Polemonium caeruleum fund - raising celebrities in the last few years . That read , it is n’t exactly easy and , no , the porters wo n’t carry you .

The annoyance : The altitude and speed with which you ascend can be smash at times . The profit : Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the famed “ 7 Summits ” ( the highest points on each continent ) and even being a seventh of the way of life land up with such a coolheaded list is pretty badass .

9. Mount Kosciuszko

AustraliaThe high mountain in all of Australia is just a 7,310 - foot bump along the Great Dividing Range of New South Wales . Mount Kosciuszko is part of what ’s known as the Australian Alps and , in winter , it ’s actually covered in snow – there are even a few ski resorts in the domain ( do n’t leave , Australia ’s wintertime is our summer ) . But chatter during the soft month and it ’s an easy stroll to the top and back , and in winter , do n’t forget your snowboard .

The pain : Kosciuszko is such an unobjectionable scroll in the landscape painting that the best style to see it is actually on a mountain bike , in which your reinforcement for the 4 - nautical mile pedal to the top is a speedy downhill . The amplification : Mount Kosciuszco was once consider one of the “ 7 Summits ” , until purist decided some pesky mountain in Indonesia was on the Australasian continent . How many people actually acknowledge this ? Very few , so your claim to the 7 Summit Club is unlikely to go gainsay by Marty in Sales .

10. Mount Fuji

JapanJapan ’s most recognizable natural wonder , Mt Fuji , is also one of its most popular getaway . And go out it to the Japanese to make climbing a 12,388 - foot mountain a very user - friendly and orderly experience . Just 60 nautical mile SW of Tokyo , there are a smattering of parking lots around the mess at about six- and seven - thousand groundwork EL , from which most people start their ascending . On the popular Yoshida Trail , you could be to the top and back in time for a recent - dark karaoke session in the city .

The pain : This is sure as shooting one foresightful day from your car and back , but with wads of stations all over the mountain , there are plenty of opportunity to step in out of the elements and slurp down some tender udon or sake . The gain : Summiting Mount Fuji is more of a cultural experience than a climbing accomplishment – this is as Japanese as sushi and samurais .