Orange County topographic map

The San Francisco Bay Area is characterized by a diverse and dynamic topography shaped by geological processes over millions of years. This region features a combination of coastal plains, steep hills, and rugged mountains, all influenced by the tectonic activity associated with the nearby San Andreas Fault…

Average elevation: 371 ft

The climate in San Diego, like most of Southern California, often varies significantly over short geographical distances, resulting in microclimates. In San Diego, this is mostly because of the city's topography (the Bay, and the numerous hills, mountains, and canyons). Frequently, particularly during the "May…

Average elevation: 187 ft

Average elevation: 322 ft

The Santa Cruz Mountains are a region of great biological diversity, encompassing cool, moist coastal ecosystems as well as warm, dry chaparral. Much of the area in the Santa Cruz mountains is considered temperate rainforest. In valleys and moist ocean-facing slopes some of the southernmost coast redwoods…

Average elevation: 755 ft

Newport Beach extends in elevation from sea level to the 1,161 ft (354 m) summit of Signal Peak in the San Joaquin Hills, but the official elevation is 25 ft (7.6 m) above sea level at a location of 33°37′0″N 117°53′51″W / 33.61667°N 117.89750°W / 33.61667; -117.89750 (33.616671, −117.897604).

Average elevation: 30 ft

The Berkeley Hills are bounded by the major Hayward Fault along their western base, and the minor Wildcat fault on their eastern side. The highest peaks are Grizzly Peak with an elevation of 1,754 feet (535 m) and Round Top, an extinct volcano with an elevation of 1,761 feet (537 m) and William Rust Summit at…

Average elevation: 518 ft

Average elevation: 705 ft

Average elevation: 187 ft

Average elevation: -3 ft

Average elevation: -157 ft

In the 1860s, San Franciscans began to feel the need for a spacious public park similar to Central Park, which was then taking shape in New York City. Golden Gate Park was carved out of unpromising sand and shore dunes that were known as the Outside Lands, in an unincorporated area west of San Francisco's…

Average elevation: 233 ft

Average elevation: 443 ft

Average elevation: 26 ft

Average elevation: 492 ft

Average elevation: 12,756 ft

The community is located at 38°00′46″N 122°38′43″W / 38.01278°N 122.64528°W / 38.01278; -122.64528 in the eastern half of the San Geronimo Valley of central Marin County. San Geronimo and Lagunitas-Forest Knolls are to its west. Woodacre is located 8 miles (13 km) south-southwest of…

Average elevation: 807 ft

Average elevation: 502 ft

Average elevation: 0 ft

Average elevation: 1,752 ft

Average elevation: 1,627 ft

Average elevation: 9,337 ft

The area is surrounded on the southwest by the Santa Rosa Mountains, by the San Jacinto Mountains to the west, the Little San Bernardino Mountains to the east and San Gorgonio Mountain to the north. These mountains peak at around 11,000 feet (3,400 m) and tend to average between 5,000 and 7,000 feet (1,500 and…

Average elevation: 236 ft

Average elevation: 1,168 ft

Average elevation: 141 ft

Average elevation: 472 ft

Stinson Beach is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Marin County, California, on the west coast of the United States. Stinson Beach is located east-southeast of Bolinas, right across the channel that terminates the bay mouth bar of the Bolinas Lagoon. at an elevation of 26 feet (8…

Average elevation: 509 ft

The pool is not the lowest point of the basin: the lowest point (which is only slightly lower) is several miles to the west and varies in position, depending on rainfall and evaporation patterns. The salt flats are hazardous to traverse (in many cases being only a thin white crust over mud), and so the sign…

Average elevation: -243 ft

Average elevation: 1,709 ft

Average elevation: 6,745 ft

On January 17, 2007, an unusually cold storm brought snow in the Santa Monica Mountains. The hills above Malibu picked up three inches (eight centimeters) of snow - the first measurable snow in fifty years. Snow was reported on Boney Peak in the winter of 2005; and in March 2006, snow also fell on the summit…

Average elevation: 659 ft

The prehistoric Hog Back landslide lies in the canyon of San Antonio Creek at 4000' elevation. When the slide occurred, it dammed the river, whose depth built up until the water was released catastrophically, forming a slot canyon which now holds some of the area's few good rock climbing routes (difficulty…

Average elevation: 8,776 ft

Average elevation: 75 ft

Average elevation: 187 ft

Average elevation: 387 ft

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: 833 ft

The city marina is on one of three islands at a narrow point on the 13-mile-long (21 km) bay and increases in elevation slightly as it spreads north, south, and especially to the east. The city gently encroaches at least two miles (3.2 km) eastward into primarily Redwood and Douglas-fir second growth forests.…

Average elevation: 328 ft

Average elevation: 348 ft

The highest peaks of the crest of the coast range are located at an average distance from the coast of three and a half miles [5.6 km]. In this distance they rise to elevations of from three thousand six hundred to five thousand feet [1,100 to 1,500 m] above the sea-level. From San Carpoforo Creek to…

Average elevation: 633 ft

Average elevation: 3,219 ft

Average elevation: 5,233 ft

Average elevation: 9,364 ft

Average elevation: 1,312 ft

Average elevation: 3,219 ft

Average elevation: 381 ft

Average elevation: 7,733 ft

Average elevation: 3,337 ft

Average elevation: 1,204 ft

Average elevation: 11,122 ft

Average elevation: 7 ft

Boonville (formerly The Corners and Kendall's City) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Mendocino County, California, United States. It is located 12.5 miles (20 km) southwest of Ukiah, at an elevation of 381 feet (116 m). The population was 1,018 at the 2020 census.

Average elevation: 551 ft

Average elevation: 436 ft

Average elevation: 36 ft

Average elevation: 3,750 ft

Frazier Park is an unincorporated community in Kern County, California. It is 5 miles (8 km) west of Lebec, at an elevation of 4,639 feet (1,414 m). It is one of the Mountain Communities of the Tejon Pass. The population was 2,691 in the 2010 census, up from 2,348 in 2000.

Average elevation: 5,030 ft

Average elevation: 5,203 ft

Average elevation: 11,598 ft

Average elevation: 3,566 ft

Average elevation: 4,656 ft

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: 6,125 ft

Average elevation: 715 ft

Average elevation: 696 ft

Average elevation: 3,950 ft

Average elevation: 3,094 ft

Average elevation: 2,106 ft

Average elevation: 3 ft

Average elevation: 7,290 ft

Average elevation: 3,888 ft

Average elevation: 6,942 ft

Average elevation: 2,411 ft

Average elevation: 1,138 ft

Average elevation: 23 ft

Average elevation: 2,287 ft

Onyx (formerly, Scodie) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kern County, California, United States. Onyx is located 3.5 miles (6 km) east-northeast of Weldon in the South Fork Valley at an elevation of 2,795 feet (852 m). The population was 457 at the 2020 census, down from 475 at the 2010 census.

Average elevation: 3,953 ft

Average elevation: 3,547 ft

Offshore, the nutrient-rich and frigid waters of the Pacific enhance the entire marine food web, from primary producers such as algae and zooplankton to apex predators like sand sharks, bottlenose dolphins, and gray whales. Within the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), the diverse seafloor topography encompasses…

Average elevation: 39 ft

Average elevation: 217 ft

Average elevation: 1,568 ft

San Jacinto Peak is one of the most topographically prominent peaks in the United States, and is ranked the sixth most prominent peak in the 48 contiguous states. According to John W. Robinson and Bruce D. Risher, authors of The San Jacintos, "No Southern California hiker worth his salt would miss climbing…

Average elevation: 9,449 ft

The pool is not the lowest point of the basin: the lowest point (which is only slightly lower) is several miles to the west and varies in position, depending on rainfall and evaporation patterns. The salt flats are hazardous to traverse (in many cases being only a thin white crust over mud), and so the sign…

Average elevation: 499 ft

Average elevation: 11,893 ft

Average elevation: 4,560 ft

Average elevation: 3,077 ft

Average elevation: 338 ft

Average elevation: 72 ft

Average elevation: -3 ft

Average elevation: 276 ft

Average elevation: 161 ft

Mount Shasta (Shasta: Waka-nunee-Tuki-wuki; Karuk: Úytaahkoo) is a potentially active volcano at the southern end of the Cascade Range in Siskiyou County, California. At an elevation of 14,179 feet (4,321.8 meters), it is the second-highest peak in the Cascades and the fifth-highest in the state. Mount Shasta…

Average elevation: 12,195 ft

Average elevation: 1,056 ft

Average elevation: 115 ft

Average elevation: 807 ft

Average elevation: 6,486 ft

Average elevation: 4,790 ft

Average elevation: 620 ft

Diamond Springs (formerly, Diamond Spring and Diamond) is a census-designated place (CDP) in El Dorado County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 11,037 at the 2010 census, up from 4,888 at the 2000 census. The…

Average elevation: 1,778 ft

Average elevation: 3,117 ft

Average elevation: 4,377 ft

Average elevation: 3,698 ft

Hilmar is an unincorporated community in Merced County, California, United States. It is located 4.25 miles (6.8 km) west-southwest of Delhi, spanning 3.9 sq mi (10 km2) and at an elevation of 92 ft (28 m) above sea level. For census purposes, Hilmar is aggregated with a nearby community into the Hilmar-Irwin…

Average elevation: 98 ft

Markleeville hosts an annual bicycle ride called the Death Ride - Tour of the California Alps. The route goes over five passes for a total distance of 129 miles and over 15,000 feet of elevation gain. In 2010 3,500 riders participated and 2,417 completed the full course of 5 mountain passes.

Average elevation: 5,866 ft