Mount Lyell, Mountain summit in Yosemite National Park, California, United States
Mount Lyell, at 13,114 feet (3,997 m), is the highest point in Yosemite National Park, standing at the southeast end of the Cathedral Range about 1.25 miles northwest of Rodgers Peak. Its summit block is dark volcanic granite, loose and unstable, similar to Rodgers Peak, Mount Davis, Banner Peak and Mount Ritter. The peak divides the Tuolumne, Merced and Rush Creek drainages.
The mountain was named after Charles Lyell, a Scottish geologist whose 19th-century work fundamentally shaped modern understanding of Earth sciences. This naming honors his lasting influence on geological thought.
Climbing requires experience with technical rock and proper gear, as multiple sections demand scrambling ability. Visitors should prepare for high elevation and sudden weather changes, particularly during summer months.
Mount Lyell's ice field, Lyell Glacier, covers 65 hectares and is now classed as a permanent ice field rather than a living glacier. Climbers crossing it must check seasonal snow conditions, since a low snowpack exposes loose volcanic rock on the summit block.
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