Mt. Ritter
Ritter Range, near Mammoth · near Mammoth Lakes · Eastern Sierra
Mountaineering
At a glance
- Grade
- scramble
- Elevation
- 13143
- Best season
- July–September; snow in the chute lingers into summer
What is here
- Terrain
- alpine-rock
- Amenities
- Agnew Meadows / River Trail approach · Thousand Island / Ediza Lake camps · Guide services offer Ritter & Banner · Muir's celebrated 1872 solo
- Best for
- A historic, scenic class-3 alpine classic
- Features
- John Muir's famous 1872 solo ascent · Dark high point of the Ritter Range · Above iconic Thousand Island Lake · Class-3 with an early-season snow finish
Worth knowing
- Hazards
- Steep snow in the summit chute early season · Loose volcanic-metamorphic rock — helmet essential · Altitude on a long day from Thousand Island Lake · Afternoon storms; the dark rock draws weather
- Beginner friendly
- No
Guides, rentals and operators
- Guided trips
- Yes
Mountaineering detail
- Skills
- scrambling · snow-ice · altitude
- Style
- mixed-alpine
- Altitude
- 3
- Route notes
- The dark, brooding high point of the Ritter Range and the peak John Muir famously soloed in 1872 — the southeast glacier-and-chute route is a class-3 climb with an early-season snow finish, set amid some of the Sierra's most photographed scenery
- Beta note
- ~13,143 ft; Class 3 SE Glacier/chute; steep snow early season, axe & crampons
- Intl tip
- One of the Sierra's most storied peaks — John Muir soloed it in 1872 and wrote a gripping account of the climb. Its SE glacier-and-chute route goes at class 3, with a steep early-season snow finish needing axe and crampons. Rising with Banner Peak above the iconic Thousand Island and Ediza lakes, it's a long day on dark, loose metamorphic rock (wear a helmet) from a backcountry camp. Pairs naturally with Banner; guide services run the two together.
- Directions note
- Standard approach from Agnew Meadows via Shadow Lake / Ediza (summer shuttle from Mammoth may be required)
The guide
Mt. Ritter is one of the Sierra's most storied peaks — John Muir soloed it in 1872 and wrote a gripping account of freezing on …
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to Mt. Ritter — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 37.6903, -119.1994