Ski tour · Carson Pass

Elephants Back

Distance

1.9 mi

Vertical

1,007 ft

Summit

9,587 ft

Difficulty

Moderate

Elephants Back is a broad, rounded volcanic dome rising to 9,585 feet at the head of the Carson Pass area in Alpine County, California. The peak's smooth profile — a long, low-angled mound viewed from the southwest — earned its name; from the Mokelumne Wilderness side it really…

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The rounded volcanic dome of Elephants Back from the Winnemucca Lake trail, summer color in the foreground. — Tim Berger · CC BY 2.0

Elephants Back from the southwest, the convex south face that gives the peak its name catching winter sun. — Tim Berger · CC BY 2.0

Looking down on Elephants Back from neighboring Round Top, Winnemucca and Round Top lakes pooled below. — Tim Berger · CC BY 2.0

Elephants Back from the north, winter conifers banding the foreground above Highway 88 at Carson Pass. — Pacific Southwest Forest Service, USDA · Public domain

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