California topographic maps
Click on a map to view its topography, its elevation and its terrain.
Big Bear Lake
United States > California > San Bernardino County > Big Bear Lake
At a surface elevation of 6,743 ft (2,055 m) above sea level, it has an east-west length of approximately seven miles (11 km) and is approximately 2.5 miles (4.0 km) at its widest measurement, though the lake's width mostly averages a little more than 1⁄2 mi (0.8 km). These approximations are based on the…
Average elevation: 7,247 ft
Bear Valley
United States > California > Alpine County
Bear Valley's central Sierra location and elevation gives it a warm-summer Mediterranean climate that is nearly a subarctic climate. Precipitation is seen for a lot of the year except for the middle of the summer, which can experience rare, but not unseen, thunderstorms. Late fall to early spring brings in…
Average elevation: 7,480 ft
Hemet
United States > California > Hemet
Dedicated to James Simpson, Hemet City Council 1947–48, and mayor 1950 to 1966. Simpson Park is a wilderness park located in the Santa Rosa Hills southeast of Hemet with sheltered picnic area and tables, barbecues, restrooms, and hiking trails. At an elevation of 2,500 feet (760 m), it provides an expansive…
Average elevation: 1,667 ft
Susanville
United States > California > Lassen County
Susanville (formerly known as Rooptown) is a town in and is the county seat of Lassen County, California, United States. Susanville is located on the Susan River in the southern part of the county, at an elevation of 4,186 feet (1,276 m). Its population is 16,728 as of the 2020 census, down from 17,947 from…
Average elevation: 4,413 ft
Menifee
United States > California > Riverside County
Menifee is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and part of the Los Angeles Combined Statistical Area. The city is centrally located in Southern California in the Menifee Valley. It is almost 15 miles (24 km) north of Temecula and just north of Murrieta. Menifee is roughly 46 square miles…
Average elevation: 1,496 ft
Quarry Lakes Regional Park
United States > California > Alameda County > Fremont > Eberly
Average elevation: 56 ft
Palm Springs
United States > California > Riverside County
Palm Springs, located in the Coachella Valley, is characterized by striking topography shaped by both the Colorado Desert and surrounding mountain ranges. The city lies at an average elevation of around 480 feet (146 meters) above sea level. To the west, the San Bernardino Mountains rise dramatically, with…
Average elevation: 2,818 ft
Hollywood Hills
United States > California > Los Angeles County > Los Angeles
Average elevation: 794 ft
Tallac Village
United States > California > El Dorado County > South Lake Tahoe
Average elevation: 6,381 ft
Lancaster
United States > California > Lancaster
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 94.5 square miles (245 km2), of which 94.3 square miles (244 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (0.29%) is water. Lancaster's elevation is 2,350 feet (720 m) above sea level on a high, flat valley surrounded by pristine…
Average elevation: 2,582 ft
San Diego
United States > California > San Diego County > San Diego
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
La Jolla
United States > California > San Diego County > San Diego > La Jolla
Average elevation: 121 ft
Idyllwild-Pine Cove
United States > California > Riverside County
"Mile-high Idyllwild" is a mountain resort about one-mile (1,600 m) in altitude. Idyllwild is flanked by two large rock formations, Tahquitz Peak and Suicide Rock (also known as Lily Rock), which are famous in Southern California rock-climbing circles. It offers no skiing, so "the Hill" has been minimally…
Average elevation: 5,728 ft
Pinyon Pines
United States > California > Riverside County
It is located in a small valley between the San Jacinto Mountains and Santa Rosa Mountains, north of State Route 74. It takes its name from the Pinyon pine (Pinus monophylla) trees native to the area. Pinyon Pines sits at an elevation of approximately 4000 feet.
Average elevation: 4,186 ft
Camp Pendleton
United States > California > San Diego County > Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Average elevation: 79 ft
San Gorgonio Pass
United States > California > Riverside County
The San Gorgonio Pass, or Banning Pass, is a 2,600 ft (790 m) elevation gap on the rim of the Great Basin between the San Bernardino Mountains to the north and the San Jacinto Mountains to the south. The pass was formed by the San Andreas Fault, a major transform fault between the Pacific plate and the North…
Average elevation: 1,614 ft
Coalinga
United States > California > Fresno County
Coalinga is located 52 miles (84 km) southwest of Fresno, at an elevation of 673 feet (205 m). The topography is generally level, suitable for a number of field crops which do not require large amounts of water. It is located near the eastern foothills of the Diablo Range.
Average elevation: 617 ft
Ramona
United States > California > San Diego County > Ramona
In January 2006, Ramona Valley was designated the country's 162nd American Viticultural Area (AVA) by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, which recognized the area for its distinctive microclimate, elevation, and soil attributes.
Average elevation: 1,529 ft
Kernville
United States > California > Kern County > Kernville
Kernville is a census-designated place (CDP) in the southern Sierra Nevada, in Kern County, California, United States. Kernville is located 42 miles (68 km) northeast of Bakersfield, at an elevation of 2,667 feet (813 m). The population was 1,549 at the 2020 United States census, up from 1,395 at the 2010…
Average elevation: 3,724 ft
Lassen National Forest
An ancient volcano, known as Mount Tehama is believed to have been much larger and taller than Lassen Peak. Its erosion is responsible for the topography of the national forest and the national park: a volcanic rim, with elevations beginning at 6,000 feet (1,800 m) above sea level.
Average elevation: 4,895 ft
Los Padres National Forest
Los Padres National Forest is a United States national forest in southern and central California. Administered by the United States Forest Service, Los Padres includes most of the mountainous land along the California coast from Ventura to Monterey, extending inland. Elevations range from sea level to 8,847…
Average elevation: 1,460 ft
Palm Desert
United States > California > Riverside County
The elevation (City hall) is 224 feet (68 m) above sea level. Elevations vary from the lower northern half once covered in sand dunes to the upper slope southern cove (300–900 feet or 91–274 metres) all the way to the ridgeline at 1,000 feet (over 300 meters). Palm Desert is located in the Coachella…
Average elevation: 978 ft
Rancho Santa Fe
The climate of Rancho Santa Fe is, for the most part, typical of the San Diego metropolitan area though its higher elevation and inland location lends itself to larger temperature variations.
Average elevation: 203 ft
Hollywood Riviera
United States > California > Los Angeles County > Torrance > Hollywood Riviera
Average elevation: 164 ft
Gilroy
United States > California > Santa Clara County > Gilroy
Gilroy is approximately 16 miles (26 km) south of San Jose, California (Bailey Avenue (37.206770, -121.729150) to Monterey/Day Road (37.038210, -121.584480)) on U.S. Route 101 and 19 miles (31 km) inland from the Pacific Coast. Despite its apparent close proximity to San Jose, it is important to note that…
Average elevation: 715 ft
Yosemite Valley
United States > California > Mariposa County > Yosemite Village > Yosemite Lodge
Average elevation: 4,852 ft
Twentynine Palms
United States > California > Twentynine Palms
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 59.1 square miles (153 km2), all land. The city is at an elevation of 1,988 feet (606 m). The Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms is located there.
Average elevation: 2,264 ft
Placerville
United States > California > Placerville
The region east of Placerville, popularly known as Apple Hill and Pleasant Valley, is becoming a center for wine production. The wine region is officially designated as the El Dorado AVA. The largest wineries in the area are Boeger, Lava Cap and Madrona, but most of the 30 plus wineries surrounding Placerville…
Average elevation: 1,926 ft
Independence
Independence is a census-designated place in Inyo County, California. Independence is located 41 miles (66 km) south-southeast of Bishop, at an elevation of 3930 feet (1198 m). It is the county seat of Inyo County, California. The population of this census-designated place was 669 at the 2010 census, up from…
Average elevation: 3,934 ft
Bolsa Chica Wetlands
United States > California > Orange County > Huntington Beach
Average elevation: 23 ft
Mojave National Preserve
Climate in the preserve varies greatly. Summer temperatures average 90 °F (32 °C), with highs exceeding 105 °F (41 °C). Elevations in the preserve range from 7,929 feet (2,417 m) at Clark Mountain to 880 feet (270 m) near Baker. Annual precipitation varies from 3.37 inches (86 mm) near Baker, to almost 9…
Average elevation: 3,146 ft
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park lies in a unique geologic setting along the western margin of the Salton Trough. This major topographic depression with the Salton Sink having elevations of 200 ft (61 m) below sea level, forms the northernmost end of an active rift valley and a geological continental plate…
Average elevation: 1,988 ft
Sierra National Forest
Sierra National Forest covers, in descending order of forestland area, the eastern portions of Fresno, Madera, and Mariposa counties, adjacent to the southern part of Yosemite National Park. It includes more than 1,300,000 acres (2,000 sq mi; 5,300 km2), at altitudes ranging from 900 to 13,986 feet (274 to…
Average elevation: 6,519 ft
