Johannesburg Mountain
Johannesburg Mountain rises to 2,469 m in Washington. Goode Mountain stands 2,812 m to the east, 8.4 miles off. The nearest named place is Cascade Peak, a peak 0.5 miles away. Cascade Loop passes 15 miles off.
The story
Johannesburg Mountain is one of the most famous peaks in the North Cascades of Washington state. Though not one of the top 100 peaks in the state by elevation, nor one of the top peaks as ranked by topographic prominence, Johannesburg is notable for its large, steep local relief, and particularly its immense, dramatic Northeast Face, which drops 5,000 feet (1,525 m) in only 0.9 miles (1.4 km). The name "Johannesburg Mountain" comes, through an error, from "Johnsberg," the name of three mining claims on the north face of the peak. It has also been called "Elsbeth." Johannesburg Mountain was first climbed on July 26, 1938, by Calder Bressler, Bill Cox, Ray W. Clough, and Tom Myers, via a version of the most popular route today, the East Ridge/Cascade-Johannesburg Couloir Route. This route, and others which also finish on the south side of the mountain, are mostly scrambling routes. However, there are many routes on the north and northeast faces which are highly technical and involve considerable objective danger from falling rock and ice.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Wikidata Q6217155, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.
What the record says
- Elevation
- 2469 m
How to reach it
- 15.5 mi off the Cascade Loop, National
- 15.5 mi off the JCT KEYSTONE FERRY ZONE WHIDBEY ISLAND TO JCT SR 153 VIC TWISP
Overlooks nearby
- Diablo Lake Overlook · 17 mi
- Washington Pass Overlook · 21 mi
Named places within 25 miles
- Cascade Peak: 0.5 mi
- The Triplets: 0.9 mi
- Mix-up Peak: 1.6 mi
- Magic Mountain: 2.7 mi
- Pelton Peak: 2.9 mi
- Green View Falls: 9.4 mi
- Newhalem Creek Falls: 15.4 mi
- Ladder Creek Falls: 16.1 mi
- John Pierce Waterfall: 17.6 mi
- Rainbow Falls: 19.9 mi
- Cascade River South 2: 14.0 mi
- Cascade River South 1: 15.1 mi
- Douglas Island Convservation Area: 16.2 mi
- Diobsud Creek Abel Conservation Area: 16.4 mi
- Trillium Conservation Area: 16.5 mi
- Pressentin County Park: 16.2 mi
- Riverside Park: 20.7 mi
- Lake Chelan National Recreation Area: 22.1 mi
- Hilt Creek Park: 22.2 mi
- Howard Miller Steelhead Park: 23.8 mi
- Rock Cabin Avalanche: 9.2 mi
- Grassy Point: 18.8 mi
- Painted Rocks: 22.3 mi
- North Cascading: 15.7 mi
- Miners Cabin (ruined): 19.2 mi
- Gilbert Ghost Town: 24.3 mi
- Sulphur Creek Hot Springs: 15.1 mi
- Gamma Hot Springs: 21.6 mi
- Gorge Powerhouse Visitor Gallery: 16.1 mi
- Holden Museum: 23.5 mi
- Temple of Power: 16.0 mi
- "Old Number 6" Seattle City Light Locomotive: 16.1 mi
- The Garden: 21.4 mi
- Buck Creek Pass Spring: 23.0 mi
- Sauk City: 24.5 mi
Other summits around it
The highest named summits within 11.4 miles of Johannesburg Mountain. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.
| Summit | Bearing | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goode Mountain | E 81° | 2,812 m | 8.4 mi |
| Buckner Mountain | ENE 64° | 2,779 m | 4.7 mi |
| Mount Logan | NE 52° | 2,724 m | 8.1 mi |
| Boston Peak | NE 51° | 2,711 m | 3.3 mi |
| Eldorado Peak | NNW 339° | 2,703 m | 5.4 mi |
| Forbidden Peak | NNE 25° | 2,687 m | 3.6 mi |
| Sahale Mountain | NE 53° | 2,646 m | 3.1 mi |
| Storm King | ENE 77° | 2,597 m | 8.0 mi |
When to go
Light through the year
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:08 | 18:36 | 19:17 |
| June solstice | 05:03 | 20:21 | 21:10 |
| September equinox | 06:52 | 18:23 | 19:04 |
| December solstice | 07:54 | 15:18 | 16:12 |
Local time (America/Los_Angeles).
Climate normals
Months averaging 50–80 °F: May–Oct.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °F | 36 | 38 | 42 | 49 | 56 | 60 | 66 | 66 | 61 | 50 | 41 | 36 |
| Precip in | 12.4 | 7.2 | 8.4 | 4.7 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 3.5 | 8.8 | 13.6 | 11.7 |
1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Newhalem, 16 mi away.
Inside the official boundary of North Cascades National Park. Quietest months by visitation: Dec and Mar; busiest: Jul.
NPS visitation statistics, monthly averages 2021–2025 (2020 excluded).
Where this comes from
Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMapWikidata- USGS Geographic Names Information System feature 1521399 — Johannesburg Mountain, Skagit County, Washington.
OpenStreetMap element node/356545347
Day trips start here
- North Cascades National Park · 8 mi
- North Cascades · 25 mi
Take the scenic way to Johannesburg Mountain.
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