Fact-Checking Big Sur’s Geography: Is the Santa Lucia Range Really the Steepest Coastal Slope?
By James H. Sterling
To evaluate the Santa Lucia Range fairly, topographic profiles must be weighed against other prominent coastal ramparts along the Pacific Rim of the contiguous United States.
| Peak & Mountain Range | Summit Elevation | Distance to Ocean Shore | Average Coastal Gradient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cone Peak(Santa Lucia Range, CA) | 5,155 ft (1,571 m) | 3.25 miles (5.2 km) | ~30.0% (1,586 ft/mi) |
| King Peak(King Range, CA) | 4,088 ft (1,246 m) | 2.7 miles (4.3 km) | ~28.7% (1,514 ft/mi) |
| Mount Tamalpais(Marin Hills, CA) | 2,571 ft (784 m) | 3.8 miles (6.1 km) | ~12.8% (676 ft/mi) |
| Gaviota Peak(Santa Ynez Mountains, CA) | 2,458 ft (749 m) | 2.1 miles (3.4 km) | ~22.1% (1,170 ft/mi) |
| Mount Olympus(Olympic Mountains, WA) | 7,980 ft (2,432 m) | 33.0 miles (53.1 km) | ~4.5% (241 ft/mi) |
The comparative data highlights why the Santa Lucia Range maintains its statistical title. While Northern California's King Peak comes close due to its proximity to the surf line, Cone Peak matches that proximity while offering more than 1,000 feet of additional elevation. That extra vertical heft cements its standing as the steepest sustained ocean-to-summit slope south of the Canadian border.
James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.
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santa lucia range steepest coastal slope contiguous united states
