{{Short description|Mountain in California, United States}} {{For|'''Junction Peak''' and '''False Junction Peak''' in Nepal|Dhaulagiri}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Junction Peak | image = Kings Canyon-Junction Peak Aah11.jpg | image_caption = "Junction Peak" by Ansel Adams, circa 1930s. | elevation_ft = 13894 | elevation_ref = {{NAVD88}}<ref name="pb">{{cite peakbagger |pid=2812 |name=Junction Peak, California |access-date=2009-01-19}}</ref> | prominence_ft = 765 | prominence_ref = <ref name="pb"/> | parent_peak = Mount Stanford<ref name="pbkc">{{cite peakbagger |kid=2812 |name=Forester Pass |access-date=2009-01-19}}</ref> | map = USA California#USA | map_caption = none | map_size = 200 | label_position = left | listing = {{unbulleted list | {{abbr|SPS|Sierra Peaks Section}} Mountaineers peak<ref name="sps">{{cite sps |access-date=2009-01-19}}</ref> | Western States Climbers Star peak<ref name="wsc">{{cite wsc |access-date=2016-03-24}}</ref> }} | location = {{unbulleted list | Kings Canyon National Park | Sequoia National Park | John Muir Wilderness | {{thinsp|Inyo / Tulare counties California, U.S.}} }} | range = Sierra Nevada | coordinates = {{coord|36.689935|N|118.3656507|W|type:mountain_region:US-CA_scale:100000_source:GNIS|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | range_coordinates = | coordinates_ref = <ref name="gnis">{{cite gnis |id=262046 |name=Junction Peak |access-date=2009-01-19}}</ref> | topo = USGS Mount Williamson<ref name="gnis"/> | first_ascent = August 8, 1899 by Edwin Bingham Copeland, {{ill|Ernest Norton Henderson|qid=Q53704113|s=1|v=ib}} and {{ill|Maxwell Adams|qid=Q64826899|s=1|v=ib}}<ref name="Secor"/><ref name="drjordan"/> | easiest_route = South Face, South Ridge or West Ridge (all {{YDS|3}} scrambles)<ref name="Secor">{{cite Secor |edition=3 |pages=147}}</ref> }}
'''Junction Peak''' is a thirteener in the Sierra Nevada. Joseph Nisbet LeConte chose this name in 1896, noting that it marks the point where the Sierra Crest crosses the water divide of the Kern and Kings rivers.<ref name="Farquhar">{{cite Farquhar |index=J |access-date=2009-01-19}}</ref> Today it also is the boundary between Inyo and Tulare counties, and of Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park and the John Muir Wilderness.<ref name="pb"/>
Botanist Edwin Bingham Copeland and Chico Normal School colleagues {{ill|Ernest Norton Henderson|qid=Q53704113|s=1}} and {{ill|Maxwell Adams|qid=Q64826899|s=1}} made the first recorded ascent of Junction Peak on August 8, 1899.<ref name="Secor"/><ref name="drjordan">{{cite news |title=Dr. Jordan's Trip |newspaper=Visalia Morning Delta |location=Visalia, California |volume=16 |issue=8 |date=1899-08-30 |page=1 |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=VMD18990830.1.1 |access-date=2025-12-05}}</ref> They are credited with pioneering the {{YDS|3}} South Ridge route from Diamond Mesa to the summit. Over the course of nearly a century, several more class 3 and 4 routes were established. The first winter climb was made by the West Ridge, culminating on March 21, 1973. The first technical climb recorded on Junction was the grade III 5.7 North Buttress route.<ref name="Secor"/>
==Gallery== <div style="max-width: 500px;"> <gallery mode=slideshow> File:Junction Peak.jpg|North aspect File:Junction Peak from Tyndall.jpg|Southeast aspect, from Mt. Tyndall File:West face Junction Peak.jpg|West face of Junction Peak </gallery> </div>
== See also == * Thirteener
== References == {{reflist}}
{{Sequoia National Park}} {{Kings Canyon National Park}}
Category:Mountains of Kings Canyon National Park Category:Mountains of Sequoia National Park Category:Mountains of the John Muir Wilderness Category:Mountains of Tulare County, California Category:Mountains of Inyo County, California Category:Mountains of Northern California