UpToWhereWhat can you see from Mt Baden Powell?
Scout founder honored: Pacific Crest Trail's highest desert section landmark.
From Mt Baden Powell, the terrain-limited line of sight reaches up to 289 km. The single farthest piece of visible terrain lies 289 km to the northeast (bearing 38°), at 3,025 m elevation. These results account for Earth's curvature and standard atmospheric refraction, computed from 30-meter resolution Copernicus GLO-30 elevation data across 2,325,576 terrain samples.
Open the interactive visibility map →Visibility by direction
The horizon is most open toward the northeast, where sightlines run 230 km on average; terrain closes the view down fastest to the southeast, at 44.5 km.
| N | 205 km | |
| NNE | 172 km | |
| NE | 230 km | |
| ENE | 178 km | |
| E | 107 km | |
| ESE | 66.9 km | |
| SE | 44.5 km | |
| SSE | 172 km | |
| S | 205 km | |
| SSW | 182 km | |
| SW | 198 km | |
| WSW | 181 km | |
| W | 153 km | |
| WNW | 123 km | |
| NW | 102 km | |
| NNW | 175 km |
Farthest named landmarks in view
427 named peaks, hills and headlands stand inside this viewshed. These are the farthest ones you could pick out on a clear day:
| Landmark | Visible distance | Direction | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willow Peak | 289 km | NE · 38° | 3,025 m |
| Bonanza Peak | 288 km | NE · 39° | 3,164 m |
| McFarland Peak | 288 km | NE · 39° | 3,267 m |
| Charleston Peak | 284 km | NE · 41° | 3,600 m |
| Griffith Peak | 283 km | NE · 42° | 3,372 m |
| Spring Mountains | 283 km | NE · 41° | 3,504 m |
About Mt Baden Powell
Mount Baden-Powell, named for the founder of the World Scouting Movement, rises 9,399 feet in the San Gabriel Mountains of Southern California. It marks the highest point along the Pacific Crest Trail's desert section and intersects the historic Silver Moccasin Trail, a 53-mile Boy Scout hiking route honoring its namesake founder.
Did you know?
- Baden-Powell founded the global Scouting movement in 1907 after his military experiences during the Boer War in South Africa — he never visited this California peak that bears his name.
- Thru-hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail often treat the side trip up Baden-Powell as an early, memorable test of the entire route, well before the trail's higher Sierra Nevada sections.
- The trail near the summit passes ancient limber pines estimated at 1,500 to 2,000 years old, among the oldest living trees in Southern California.
- Formal Boy Scout marker and plaque dedicated 1957
- Despite its wild, high-altitude feel, the peak is only about a two-hour drive from downtown Los Angeles, making it a popular escape for city dwellers.
Frequently asked questions
How far can you see from Mt Baden Powell?
On a clear day the terrain allows a line of sight of up to 289 km from Mt Baden Powell. The average visible distance across all 360 directions is 156 km. Atmospheric conditions (haze, humidity) usually reduce practical visibility below the terrain-limited maximum.
What is the farthest point visible from Mt Baden Powell?
The farthest terrain visible from Mt Baden Powell lies 289 km to the northeast, at an elevation of 3,025 m. Earth's curvature and atmospheric refraction are accounted for in this calculation.
How high is Mt Baden Powell?
The observation point at Mt Baden Powell sits at 2,867 m above sea level (Copernicus GLO-30 elevation model).
How is this visibility map calculated?
UpToWhere traces lines of sight in 360 directions from the observer using 30 m-resolution Copernicus terrain data, correcting for Earth curvature and standard atmospheric refraction. You can run the same analysis for any point on Earth with the free calculator.
Run your own analysis
Want to know what you can see from your house, a summit you're planning to climb, or a plot of land? UpToWhere computes the same 360° viewshed for any point on Earth in seconds — free.
Try the viewshed calculator
