Mount Winchell, Mountain summit in the Sierra Nevada, California, United States

Mount Winchell is a mountain summit in California's Sierra Nevada, rising to about 13,800 feet with steep ridges on multiple sides. The peak offers different climbing approaches depending on which direction climbers choose to ascend.

Two peaks near Mount Winchell were christened Mount Winchell in the 1870s, but neither is the present summit. Elisha Winchell named one for his cousin Alexander Witchell, a founding member of the Geological Society of America. The United States Geological Survey later applied the name to the current peak. Harvey C. Mansfield Sr., John M. Newell and Windsor B. Putnam made the first recorded climb in June 1923, via the class 3 east arête.

The name Mount Winchell was first applied by Elisha Winchell to honor his cousin Alexander Witchell, a founding member of the Geological Society of America. The United States Geological Survey later transferred the name to the present peak. The first recorded climb was in June 1923 by Harvey C. Mansfield, Sr., John M. Newell and Windsor B. Putnam, who took a class 3 scramble up the east arête.

Two main routes lead to the summit, one through Glacier Canyon and another via Bishop Pass Trail. Before climbing, get familiar with conditions since weather at this elevation can change quickly.

The summit sits at the boundary between Kings Canyon National Park and John Muir Wilderness, marking an important natural line. This location makes it a notable point where two major protected areas meet.