Cathedral Range

The Cathedral Range is a mountain range immediately to the south of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park. The range is an offshoot of the Sierra Nevada. The range is named after Cathedral Peak, which resembles a cathedral spire.

This article is about the mountain range in Yosemite National Park. For the mountain range in Australia, see Cathedral Range (Victoria).
Cathedral Range
Cathedral Range from the summit of Fairview Dome. From L-R: Unicorn Peak, Cockscomb, Echo Ridge and Cathedral Peak.
Highest point
PeakMount Florence
Elevation12,561 ft (3,829 m) [1]
Dimensions
Length10 mi (16 km)
Geography
Location of Cathedral Range in California
Cathedral Range (the United States)
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyMadera County
Range coordinates37°44′22″N 119°16′19″W [2]
Parent rangeSierra Nevada (U.S.)
Topo mapUSGS Mount Lyell

Geography

The range includes Cathedral Peak, Unicorn Peak, Eichorn Pinnacle, Echo Peaks, Echo Ridge, Matthes Crest, and Cockscomb.[3] The highest point in the range is Mount Florence, one of the most prominent peaks in the Yosemite high country. The highest peak in Tuolumne Meadows is Johnson Peak.

The range runs beside the two Cathedral Lakes, just one mile southwest of Cathedral Peak. Hikers can access the lakes and Cathedral range by the John Muir trail from the trailhead in Tuolumne Meadows.

Geology

The mountains were formed by glaciers carving out the granite material; also see Cathedral Peak Granodiorite. The tops of the peaks in the range were above the level of the highest glaciation, and are therefore un-eroded and distinctly spire-like;[4] see nunatak.

References
  1. "Cathedral Range". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
  2. "Cathedral Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  3. Burd, Bob (Sep 25, 2003). "Unicorn Peak". Summit Post. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  4. Matthes, François E. (1930). Glacial History of the Yosemite Valley. USGS. Professional Paper 160.


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