Highpointing: It's Not Just For Mountaineers

Mount Sunflower, Kansas. Ebright Azimuth, Delaware. Hawkeye Point, Iowa. Hoosier High Point, Indiana.

They may not have the name recognition of Mount McKinley (Denali), Mount Rainier, Mount Whitney, and Mount Hood. And they certainly are far, far easier to get to! But all these places have something in common. Each is the highest natural spot in its state.

Welcome to the world of Highpointing. Thousands of otherwise sane people have set out to drive, stroll, hike, or climb to the highest point in each of the 50 states. Many never plan to make it to the tougher highpoints like Denali (in Alaska), Rainier (in Washington) or Granite (in Montana), but they've discovered the fun in planning trips to locate the unusual "summits" of Sunflower (located on the flatlands of Kansas), Ebright Azimuth (yes, a suburban neighborhood can be the site of a state highpoint), Hawkeye Point (located at the end of a feeding trough on a farm in Iowa), and Lakewood Park (turn right at the restrooms, and stroll a short way along a path in a Florida park).

Of the 50 state highpoints, 14 are drive-ups. You drive right up to the highpoint, or so close to it you could toss a rock and hit it. Probably 8 more are extremely easy, involving a round-trip walk or hike of 30 minutes or less. In fact, only about 9 or 10 of the state highpoints involve more than a hike along a good trail. OK, some of these trails require long hikes that may gain a fair amount of elevation. Still, if you're in good condition, and can walk for many hours, you can manage to check off about 40 state highpoints!

Why do people get into highpointing? It's a great way to see our country. You'll find highpoints in popular resort areas (Mount Mansfield at Stowe in Vermont), National Parks (Clingmans Dome, in Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee), and State Parks (Mauna Kea in Hawaii; Harney Peak in Custer State Park, South Dakota). But many highpoints are well off the beaten path, and will take you to beautiful and interesting parts of the country that you may have otherwise overlooked. Eagle Mountain is in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of Minnesota. Oklahoma's highpoint, Black Mesa, is near the very tip of the panhandle. Taum Sauk Mountain in Missouri is in a beautiful region of the Ozarks. Visit when the autumn leaves are at their peak, climb the nearby Lookout Tower, and prepare to be thrilled.

There are also many interesting things to see and do near the highpoints. Take in a concert by the Boston Symphony Orchestra or Boston Pops at Tanglewood in Massachusetts. Looking for something less cultured? How about the Boll Weevil Monument in Florida? Or the Wisconsin Concrete Park, featuring concrete sculptures of horses, soldiers, and heroes? If food and drink are more to your liking, don't miss a tour of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory in Vermont, Great Adirondack Brewing Company in New York, or stop in at the Hilltop Restaurant in L'Anse, Michigan for the most decadent (and largest) sweet rolls you can imagine.

Happy Highpointing, everyone!

About The Author

Diane Winger is co-author of "Highpoint Adventures - The Complete Guide to the 50 State Highpoints", and other guidebooks. Visit www.HighpointAdventures.com to learn more about hiking, climbing, and travel adventures in the great outdoors.

MORE RESOURCES:

RELATED ARTICLES

Highpointing: It's Not Just For Mountaineers
Mount Sunflower, Kansas. Ebright Azimuth, Delaware.

Ultralight Backpacking Skills - A Three Day Test
On Lake Michigan, at the end of the Stonington Peninsula, there's a stretch of empty beach. Part of the Hiawatha National Forest, it's framed on either side by private property, with no easy access.

Yachats, OR: An Outdoor Lovers Paradise on the Oregon Coast
There is something about a town tucked between the mountains and the sea. Often, it feels like one has reached the far end of the world when he or she arrives in a place like this.

Greek Food
A meal in Greece is highlighted with a selection of hot and cold plates known as mezedes. Soups are few but they are meals by themselves.

A Torrent of Influences - Tourism in Goa
Sun, Sand and Surf - an apt description for Goa? But Goa is much more. Ancient temples and old churches? Yes.

Bunbury Western Australia
The first recorded mapping of what is now Koombana Bay and the eventual City of Bunbury, was in 1803 by the French explorers Nicolas Baudin and Louis de Freycinet, from their ships the Geographe and Casuarina. In 1831 there was a temporary English military settlement with the first settlers moving to the area named after Lieutenant Henry William St Pierre Bunbury in 1838.

Inflatable Boats: An Overview
Inflatable boats are made from flexible material, usually rubber, canvas, or neoprene, and hold air at high volume but low pressure. They need to be fitted with a frame to which an oarlock mount is firmly attached.

Two Person Hammocks - Snuggle With Your Beau in Style
How many of you take the time to just relax in a hammock? When I even think of a hammock, I just want to fall asleep. A single person hammock is great but two person hammocks are even better.

River Cruise in Bangkok - Sightseeing on the Chao Phraya
A river cruise in Bangkok gives an insight to the community life on the Chao Phraya River and the legacies on this river of kings, a picture of stark contrasts.It needn't have to be an elaborate affair; you can cut the frills and expenses.

Drive Me to WA Today!
Western Australia Driving Adventure Great Australian Road Trip Large is not the word for it. Massive doesn't cover it either.

Scuba diving in South Africa
This truly beautiful country at the southern tip of dark and mysterious Africa offers diving and wildlife experiences beyond your wildest dreams..

Old Barney -- A Visit to Barnegat Light, New Jersey
Barnegat Light, NJ is the home to "Old Barney" a historic lighthouse located at the northern tip of Long Beach Island. Long Beach Island, or "LBI" as the vacationing folks like to say, is a narrow island nearly twenty miles long and six miles at sea off the coast of Ocean County, NJ.

Ten Skills - A Backpacking List
Have you ever had a backpacking trip that was a disaster - even though you brought everything you needed? Maybe you had matches, but couldn't get that fire going. You need more than good gear to assure a safe and enjoyable wilderness experience.

Unforgettable Cape Cod Vacations: The National Seashore Gift
Take a captivating trip through the Cape Cod National Seashore with miles of white sandy beaches, trails and hikes to take your breath away, and majestic dunes. Just keep reading and you can visit all those places right now.

Where to Find Some of the Best Beaches in the World
We think that Cape Town has some of the best beaches in the world.You can choose beaches which are on the Indian Ocean, with warm water, or those on the colder Atlantic Ocean.

Inflatable Boat Trailers
An inflatable boat trailer is needed if the user has a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB), since those boats have only a deflatable collar surrounding a solid hull. RIB's are regular boats in many ways.

Tanzania Safari Top Five National Parks and Game Reserves
Ask about perfect wildlife destinations and a Tanzania safari will be at or near the top of the list every time.But what about the national parks and game reserves within the country itself? Which are the best to visit because they can't all be equally good.

Boondocking America
Boondocking is fun! Boondockers go anywhere they want, at any time they want and at any speed they want! If you are a member of Loners on Wheels (LoW) or any other single RV'ing group you will want to boondock at least some of the time.Boondocking provides an almost perfect way to see America for little housing costs.

The Royal Barge Procession - Splendor on the Chao Phraya River
The Royal Barge Procession in Bangkok, conducted on very rare occasions, is a spectacular royal armada on the Chao Phraya River. This procession is normally conducted on the following occasions: When the King ascends the throne.

Tent and Outdoor Gear Care and Repair
TENT CAREYou should seal all floor seams and those seams on the rainfly. This will make the tent waterproof.