25 Mountain Ranges You Need To Visit If You Are A Fan Of Nature

From the rugged peaks of the Alps to the sleepy foothills of the Smoky Mountains, these are the 25 Mountain Ranges You Need To Visit If You Are A Fan Of Nature. 1. Sierra Nevada: Mostly found within the state of California, the Sierra Nevada features Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the continental US at 4,421 meters. It is also home to the largest alpine lake in North America, Lake Tahoe. Furthermore, both Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks attract numerous visitors year round. 2. Hohe Tauern: The Hohe Tauern (High Tauern) are home to Austria’s highest mountains as well as the largest nature preserve in the Alps. For several months during summer you can enjoy the splendor of the mountains using the Grossglockner High Alpine Road. 3. Cascades: Extending from Washington all the way down to northern California, the Cascades include numerous volcanoes. 4. Bernese Alps: One of the largest Alpine ranges, they are also the most glaciated. Thanks to modern rail links, the northern part of the range is often visited by tourists throughout the year. 5. Teton Range: Part of the Rocky Mountains in Idaho and Wyoming, the Teton Range lacks foothills in the east which contributes to a very sharp rise out of the valley floor. 6. Dolomites: Part of the Italian Alps, the Dolomites have become a tourist mecca and are famous for their natural beauty. 7. Scandinavian Mountains: Sometimes called the Scandes, in the west these mountains drop sharply into the North Sea to form the famous fjords of Norway. 8. Kunlun Mountains: Another range found in Asia, the Kunlun Mountains form the northern border of the Tibetan Plateau. 9. Hindu Cush: A subrange of the Himalayas, the Hindu Cush stretch between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Due to conflict in the region it is not the safest place to visit, but apart from that the mountains are some of the highest and most impressive in the world. 10. Andes: The longest land based mountain range in the world, the Andes run most of the length of South America and are also the world’s highest mountain range outside of Asia. 11. Southern Alps: Covering a vast portion of New Zealand’s southern island, the climate here is very cold with snow all year round at the highest points. 12. Great Dividing Range: Australia’s largest range and the third longest land based range in the world, the Great Dividing Range stretches for nearly 3,500 km (2,175 mi). 13. Western Ghats: Running parallel to the western coast of India, this mountain range is one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet. 14. Atlas Mountains: Separating the Mediterranean coastline from the Sahara Desert, the Atlas Mountains stretch across northwestern Africa. 15. Tatras: Forming part of the border between Poland and Slovakia, the Tatras are significantly smaller than the Alps in terms of land area but just as rugged and rocky in terms of appearance. 16. Smoky Mountains: Although they’re not the highest mountains on our list, the Smoky Mountains are part of the most visited region in the United States. As you can guess, the mountains are appropriately named as quite often a natural fog encompasses them. 17. Caucasus Mountains: Located between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountains are considered to divide Europe and Asia in this region. 18. Pyrenees: Forming the border between France and Spain, they are home to the small country of Andorra. 19. Brooks Range: Located in the remote northern regions of Alaska and Canada, this range was once known as the Arctic Mountains. 20. Apennines: Not as high as some of the ranges we’ve encountered so far, these mountains run down the center of the Italian peninsula. Although they are mostly green or semi-arid there is one glacier to be found Corno Grande, the highest peak. 21. Alaska Range: Outside of Asia and the Andes, this North American range is the highest in the world. 22. Julian Alps: Covering Slovenia and Italy, this part of the Alps is named after Julius Caesar. 23. Tian Shan: A large system of mountains in central Asia, the highest summit is Victory Peak on the border of Kyrgyzstan and China. Locally, the range is known as the Celestial Mountains. 24. Graian Alps: The Graian Alps are home to Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in all of the European Alps. 25. Olympic Mountains: Found in the state of Washington in the United States, the range sits right next to the Hoh Rainforest, the largest temperate rainforest on the continent. Due to the high precipitation of the region, the Olympics mountains are home to numerous glaciers.