The Sierra Nevada is a mountain range in the Western United States, between the Central Valley of California and the Great Basin. The vast majority of the range lies in the state of California, although the Carson Range spur lies primarily in Nevada. The Sierra Nevada is part of the American Cordillera, an almost continuous chain of mountain ranges …
The Sierra Nevada is a mountain range in the Western United States, between the Central Valley of California and the Great Basin. The vast majority of the range lies in the state of California, although the Carson Range spur lies primarily in Nevada. The Sierra Nevada is part of the American Cordillera, an almost continuous chain of mountain ranges that forms the western "backbone" of the Americas.
Elevation: 14,505 ft (4,421 m)
Peak: Mount Whitney
Length: 400 mi (640 km) north-south from Fredonyer Pass to Tehachapi Pass
Width: 80 mi (130 km)
Area: 24,370 sq mi (63,100 km²)
Etymology: 1777: Spanish for "snowy mountain range"
Nicknames: the Sierra · the High Sierra · Range of Light (1894, John Muir)
AdJump Queues with Skip the Line Tickets. Instant Confirmation & E-Tickets Available. Full Refund if You Cancel at least 24 Hours in Advance. Book Now. Do More with Viator.
All Available in One App · Over 300,000 Experiences · Free Cancellation
AdFind the top-rated and best-reviewed tours and activities in SierraNevada for 2025. Want to make lifelong travel memories? These experiences are not to miss in SierraNevada.
Flexible booking · 3 million trusted reviews · Contactless experiences · Top attraction tickets