Canada’s mountains form one of the most breathtaking landscapes on Earth—vast, remote, and wild beyond measure. Stretching from the coastal ranges of British Columbia to the glaciated spires of the Yukon, the country’s tallest peaks rise in frozen majesty, often untouched and rarely seen by human eyes. These are not mere summits—they are monuments to geological time and the enduring spirit of exploration. Canada’s top ten highest peaks tell stories of daring climbs, Indigenous reverence, and the relentless forces that built a land of ice and stone. Each mountain holds its own mystery, challenge, and profound beauty, shaping the identity of a nation whose wilderness still humbles even the most seasoned adventurers.
#1: Mount Logan (19,551 ft)
Mount Logan, the undisputed giant of Canada, towers at 19,551 feet in the remote wilderness of Yukon’s Kluane National Park. It’s not only Canada’s highest peak but the second-highest mountain in North America, after Denali. What makes Mount Logan remarkable isn’t just its height but its immense mass—the mountain covers a sprawling area, with a base circumference of nearly 25 miles. Its sheer size supports eleven separate peaks over 18,000 feet, making it one of the most massive mountain complexes in the world. The temperatures on Logan’s slopes are some of the coldest ever recorded outside Antarctica, dipping as low as -76°F in winter. The first ascent came in 1925 by a Canadian team led by A.H. MacCarthy, a journey so arduous it took 65 days. Before climbing even began, the team spent weeks just hauling supplies across glaciers, enduring storms and subarctic conditions. The mountain was named after Sir William Edmond Logan, founder of the Geological Survey of Canada, who never saw the peak himself but mapped much of the surrounding territory. In recent decades, scientists have used Mount Logan to study climate change by drilling deep ice cores that reveal atmospheric data going back tens of thousands of years. The summit, often wrapped in swirling cloud and perpetual snow, offers a vista of untamed icefields and glaciers stretching into Alaska—a white wilderness so immense that it feels almost extraterrestrial.
#2: Mount Saint Elias (18,009 ft)
Mount Saint Elias straddles the border between Alaska and Yukon, rising in dramatic isolation above the Gulf of Alaska. At 18,009 feet, it’s Canada’s second-highest mountain and one of the most visually striking on the continent. The mountain’s steepness is legendary—it rises from tidewater to summit in less than 10 miles, creating one of the world’s greatest vertical reliefs. Named in 1741 by Russian explorer Vitus Bering after Saint Elias the Prophet, it has captivated mountaineers for centuries. The first successful ascent occurred in 1897, led by the Duke of the Abruzzi, an Italian royal known for his mountaineering exploits. His team battled storms, avalanches, and temperatures far below zero using rudimentary gear by today’s standards. Mount Saint Elias also holds a cinematic history—it was the focus of a 2007 documentary, Mount St. Elias, chronicling one of the most extreme ski descents ever attempted. The mountain remains a place of mystery, where glaciers flow directly into the sea, and crevasses open like deep blue scars in the ice. Its beauty is harsh and commanding—a meeting point of ocean weather and mountain cold that creates an otherworldly landscape of ice-clad cliffs and endless snow.
#3: Mount Lucania (17,257 ft)
Nestled in the Saint Elias Mountains, Mount Lucania rises to 17,257 feet and is famed for both its height and its story of survival. In 1937, American climbers Bradford Washburn and Robert Bates became the first to conquer the peak, but their expedition quickly turned into a tale of endurance that would enter mountaineering legend. After landing their small plane on the Walsh Glacier to begin the climb, unseasonably warm weather softened the snow, trapping the aircraft and stranding them in the wilderness. With no radio and no rescue coming, Washburn and Bates were forced to traverse more than 100 miles on foot through rugged terrain to reach civilization—a journey that took weeks. Mount Lucania’s slopes remain remote and formidable, its glaciers riddled with crevasses and shifting ice. Few climbers attempt it, and those who do face some of the harshest conditions in North America. Lucania’s name, chosen by the Duke of the Abruzzi in 1897, honors the ship that brought him to North America for his Saint Elias expedition. Today, the mountain’s isolation keeps it pristine—its silence broken only by the groan of glaciers and the whisper of wind through ice.
#4: King Peak (16,972 ft)
Often overshadowed by its massive neighbor Mount Logan, King Peak rises to 16,972 feet and holds its own as the fourth-highest mountain in Canada. It sits within the same ice-cloaked massif, separated by deep glaciers that weave through the St. Elias Range like frozen rivers. The first ascent took place in 1952, when a team from the Harvard Mountaineering Club reached the summit. They described it as a remote and haunting place, with ridges carved by constant wind and snow that never fully melts. King Peak is often used as an acclimatization climb for teams preparing for Logan, but its routes are challenging in their own right—long, steep, and unpredictable. The area’s extreme weather can change in minutes, trapping climbers in sudden whiteouts. Because of its proximity to Mount Logan, it remains one of the least climbed peaks of its size in the world. Its beauty lies in its solitude: standing on King Peak feels like being in another realm, where ice and sky merge into silence.
#5: Mount Steele (16,644 ft)
Mount Steele, at 16,644 feet, is another of the Yukon’s St. Elias giants and one of the most treacherous. The mountain is named for Sir Sam Steele, a legendary figure in Canadian history and an officer of the North-West Mounted Police during the Klondike Gold Rush. Its first ascent in 1935 ended in tragedy—avalanche conditions took the lives of two climbers on the descent. Since then, Steele has maintained a reputation as both majestic and merciless. Its slopes are heavily glaciated, with cornices and seracs looming over the ascent routes. Yet in the right weather, the summit offers some of the most magnificent views in Canada—across a sea of white peaks stretching toward the Pacific. Scientists frequently study Steele’s glaciers to measure ice mass loss, as the area is one of the fastest-warming alpine regions on Earth. The mountain’s name fittingly connects two great Canadian symbols: courage and endurance.
#6: Mount Wood (15,945 ft)
Located just east of Mount Steele, Mount Wood reaches 15,945 feet and is part of the same rugged St. Elias cluster. It was named after Zachary Wood, an officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who helped survey the Yukon in the early 1900s. The first ascent was completed in 1941 by the United States Army, marking one of the few mountaineering successes during wartime. The climb remains a logistical feat due to heavy glaciation and limited access. Mount Wood’s sharp ridges and deep crevasses have preserved its reputation as one of Canada’s untouched alpine marvels. Few people venture here, and even fewer reach its summit, making it a sanctuary for wildlife like mountain goats and golden eagles. Its relative obscurity keeps it pristine—a hidden masterpiece of ice and stone deep within the Yukon wilderness.
#7: Mount Vancouver (15,787 ft)
Named in honor of British explorer George Vancouver, this spectacular peak straddles the Yukon-Alaska border, rising 15,787 feet into the clouds. Mount Vancouver’s ridges gleam with glaciers that descend almost to sea level, offering a rare glimpse of alpine grandeur meeting oceanic power. The first ascent occurred in 1949 by an American-Canadian team that endured weeks of relentless storms. The mountain is famous for its striking symmetry—its north and south peaks form a twin-spired silhouette visible for miles. Mount Vancouver lies within the same UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes Mount Logan, representing one of the last great wildernesses on the planet. For photographers and adventurers, it’s an ultimate prize—raw, remote, and sublime.
#8: Mount Slaggard (15,558 ft)
At 15,558 feet, Mount Slaggard may not be as famous as its St. Elias neighbors, but it holds an important place in Canada’s alpine world. It was first climbed in 1952 and named for Frank Slaggard, a surveyor who contributed to early mapping of the Yukon. The mountain sits on the Icefield Ranges, surrounded by glaciers that stretch endlessly toward the horizon. It’s a place where time seems to stand still, the air crystalline and untouched. Few have seen Mount Slaggard up close—its remote location makes it one of the least visited major peaks in North America. Hidden among its valleys are ancient moraines and rare ice caves, where pale blue light filters through frozen walls like stained glass.
#9: Mount Fairweather (15,325 ft)
Mount Fairweather, or Tsalxhaan in the Tlingit language, rises 15,325 feet on the border between British Columbia and Alaska. The name, bestowed by Captain James Cook in 1778, is ironically misleading—Fairweather is notorious for storms. It receives some of the heaviest snowfall in North America, with annual precipitation exceeding 100 inches. Despite its temper, the mountain remains one of the most breathtaking in the world, with its icy slopes descending almost to the Pacific Ocean. The first ascent in 1931 by Allen Carpé and Terris Moore opened the door to a new era of coastal mountaineering. Fairweather is part of Glacier Bay National Park and is revered for its sacred significance among Indigenous peoples. From the summit, climbers see an extraordinary blend of ocean and ice—a place where mountains rise from the sea in pure defiance of the elements.
#10: Mount Hubbard (14,951 ft)
Mount Hubbard, named after Gardiner Hubbard, the first president of the National Geographic Society, stands at 14,951 feet on the Yukon-Alaska border. It’s a lesser-known gem of the St. Elias Range, combining beauty with a storied past. The first successful climb took place in 1951, led by Walter Wood, a pioneer in Arctic exploration. Hubbard’s striking pyramidal shape and vast icefields make it a photographer’s dream, though few ever get to see it in person. The mountain remains one of the most remote on the continent, accessible only by glacier aircraft or multi-week treks through extreme terrain. For those who reach it, the experience is one of total isolation—a feeling of standing in the heart of the Earth’s frozen crown.
