The Citadel | |
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![]() The Citadel viewed from the northeast, on the John Muir Trail in Le Conte Canyon | |
Highest point | |
Elevation | 11,738 ft (3,578 m)[1] |
Prominence | 298 ft (91 m)[1] |
Parent peak | Peak 12020[2] |
Isolation | 0.54 mi (0.87 km)[2] |
Coordinates | 37°03′55″N 118°36′40″W / 37.0652267°N 118.6111447°W[3] |
Geography | |
Location | Kings Canyon National Park Fresno County California, U.S. |
Parent range | Sierra Nevada[1] |
Topo map | USGS North Palisade |
Geology | |
Type of rock | granite |
Climbing | |
First ascent | June 24, 1951[4] |
Easiest route | class 2, from Ladder Lake[1] |
The Citadel is an 11,738-foot-elevation (3,578-meter) mountain summit located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Fresno County of central California, United States.[3] It is situated in northern Kings Canyon National Park, 20 miles (32 km) west-southwest of the community of Big Pine, and 2.4 miles (3.9 km) south of Langille Peak. Topographic relief is significant as it rises 3,400 feet (1,000 meters) above Le Conte Canyon in approximately one mile. The long approach to this remote peak is made via the John Muir Trail. The Northeast Arête, also known as Edge of Time Arête, is considered one of the classic climbing routes in the Sierra Nevada.[5]
According to the Köppen climate classification system, The Citadel is located in an alpine climate zone.[6] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Sierra Nevada mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks, causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the range (orographic lift). Precipitation runoff from this mountain drains into the Middle Fork Kings River.
Non-technical routes:[7]
Established rock climbing routes:[8]