Location and surroundings
Cone Mountain is in the Peabody Mountains of the South Boundary Ranges, part of the Boundary Ranges, Coast Mountains, Pacific Coast Ranges, and the broader North American Cordillera. It is in Alaska, United States, within Ketchikan Gateway Borough. In its range it ranks first by elevation, and it is the highest point of the Peabody Mountains.
The surrounding landscape is a remote coastal mountain environment with dense vegetation at lower levels, steep ridges, and frequent wet weather. Protected land reaches the summit area, with Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness and Tongass National Forest nearby. This is a place where travel is usually shaped by terrain, weather, and access rather than by roads or built mountain infrastructure.
Neighbouring peaks
The closest named peaks and passes give a sense of how Cone Mountain sits among lower summits and saddles in the same mountain country:
- Shed Mountain — 799 m, 5.3 km southwest
- Nakat Mountain — 887 m, 7.0 km south
- Arm Mountain — 663 m, 13.3 km southwest
- Round Hill — 461 m, 13.9 km southwest
- High Mountain — 619 m, 14.2 km west
- Cove Hill — 174 m, 17.4 km south
- Port Mountain — 290 m, 17.9 km southeast
- Harry Saddle — 508 m, 19.5 km southwest
Cone Mountain is higher than each of these neighbours, and several are much lower. The nearest of them, Shed Mountain, is more than 350 m lower, while Nakat Mountain is the closest peak above 800 m in the immediate area.
The view from the summit
Within 25 km, the highest peaks are spread around the mountain in several directions. Gap Mountain rises to 1,041 m, 21.0 km east, and is the nearest major high point. Stripe Mountain reaches 845 m, 24.9 km northeast. Hat Mountain is 611 m, 20.7 km southeast. South Quadra Mountain is 600 m, 24.0 km northwest. Lower but still notable are Klan Hill at 182 m, 20.5 km south, and Fox Hill at 172 m, 21.4 km southwest.
From the summit, the broader skyline would be dominated by nearby ridges and the higher eastern high point of Gap Mountain, with other summits scattered around the compass. In this part of Alaska, cloud and rain often limit long views even when the terrain is open.
The range
Cone Mountain belongs to the Peabody Mountains, a range that spans Canada and the United States. The range’s high point is the Peabody Mountains itself, and Cone Mountain is the highest of its 10 named peaks. That makes it the leading summit in its own small mountain group, even though it is not the highest peak in the wider Boundary Ranges system.
The range sits within the larger mountain chains of the North American Cordillera and the Pacific Coast Ranges. Cone Mountain’s position at the top of the Peabody Mountains gives it local prominence in the range hierarchy, especially in a landscape where many nearby summits are several hundred metres lower.
Climate and weather
Climate estimates from NASA POWER suggest that the summit is cold for much of the year. The warmest month is about July, with a mean temperature of about 8 °C, and the coldest is about January, at about -4 °C. Mean temperatures above freezing at the summit are most likely from May through October. The surrounding area receives about 2,900 mm of precipitation a year, with the wettest month around October at about 350 mm and the driest around May at about 145 mm.
In this coastal Alaskan setting, the main hazards are persistent rain, fog, slippery rock, saturated ground, and rapid changes in visibility. Even in the warmer months, cold wind and wet snow can appear at higher elevations, so clothing and route-finding need to match a damp mountain climate.
Best time to visit
The most practical window is usually the period when summit temperatures are above freezing: May, June, July, August, September, and October. Among those months, the drier part of the year is generally May through early summer, while October is the wettest month and often the least convenient for travel. Even then, the mountain remains a wet place, so a visit should be planned around rain and short weather windows rather than around dry ground.
For a climb here, summer and early autumn are the most workable seasons, but conditions can still be cold and damp at any time. Snow patches, slick vegetation, and poor visibility are all possible above the forested lower slopes.
Nature and wildlife
The mountain lies in a coastal Alaska environment where low elevations are typically covered by dense forest, with wetter, more open alpine ground higher up. In and around Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness and Tongass National Forest, the landscape is shaped by rain, moss, shrubs, and steep rock. Wildlife in this region commonly includes forest and mountain species adapted to wet conditions, and encounters can vary with season and elevation.
Because the summit area is within protected land, visitors should expect a relatively undeveloped setting. Travel is usually on natural ground, with limited facilities and a strong need to minimize impact on vegetation and wildlife habitat.
Guides and organised ascents
For a mountain of this height in remote, wet terrain, a certified guide can be useful if you are not comfortable with route-finding, steep ground, or changing weather. In the United States, the national mountain guide association is the American Mountain Guides Association, an IFMGA/UIAGM member, and the national alpine club is the American Alpine Club. Examples of established guiding companies working in the mountains of the country include RMI Expeditions in Ashford, Washington, and Exum Mountain Guides in Moose, Wyoming.
Guided trips in the United States usually include route planning, local judgement, and technical support where needed; the price depends on trip length, group size, hut nights if any, and equipment requirements. For Cone Mountain, any organised ascent would need to account for the wet coastal climate and the lack of developed mountain infrastructure. Some peaks in the country require permits or climbing registration from the land agency, so local rules should be checked before setting out.
Safety and preparation
Cone Mountain is not extremely high, but its setting demands respect: steep ground, wet rock, poor visibility, and cold conditions can make progress slow and tiring. Good waterproof clothing, navigation skills, and a conservative turnaround time are important. In this part of Alaska, the weather can change quickly, and saturated terrain can turn short distances into a long day.
For emergencies in the United States, the mountain rescue number is 911. Dispatchers alert the local search and rescue team, usually run by the county sheriff or a national park service. Carry a map, compass, and a charged phone, but do not rely on mobile coverage in every valley or on every ridge.
Interesting facts
Cone Mountain is the highest of the 10 named peaks in the Peabody Mountains. It is also the highest mountain in that range, which spans both Canada and the United States. The nearest higher peak in the wider area is Gap Mountain, 1,041 m, 21.0 km to the east.
Its summit area lies within or near Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness and Tongass National Forest, placing it in one of the wetter mountain environments of coastal Alaska. That combination of range position, protected land, and climate makes it a local high point rather than a heavily developed climbing destination.
FAQ
How high is Cone Mountain? It rises to 1,158 m.
Where is Cone Mountain? It is in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska, in the United States, within the Peabody Mountains of the Boundary Ranges.
Is Cone Mountain the highest mountain in the Peabody Mountains? Yes. It is the highest mountain in the range and the highest of its 10 named peaks.
What are the nearest peaks to Cone Mountain? The closest named ones are Shed Mountain 5.3 km southwest and Nakat Mountain 7.0 km south, followed by Arm Mountain and Round Hill farther away.
Is there water on the way to Cone Mountain? The mountain sits in a very wet coastal area, so snowmelt and saturated ground are common, but you should still carry your own water. Plan on about 1.5-3 litres for a day, depending on heat and route length, and treat any surface water before drinking.
Are there huts on Cone Mountain? OpenStreetMap shows no hut or shelter within 2 km of the top, so hikers usually plan the ascent as a day trip or carry their own tent.
How should I prepare for mobile phone coverage? Coverage in the hills is patchy and depends on the operator. 112 reaches emergency services over any available network, and maps should be downloaded before setting out.