Cathedral Peak is a mountain located in Yosemite National Park in California. Rising to an elevation of over 10,000 feet, it offers incredible views and is a popular hiking destination. Let’s explore this majestic mountain through 51 fun riddles!
Riddles about the Location and Geography
What U.S. state is Cathedral Peak located in?
California
What famous national park is Cathedral Peak situated in?
Yosemite National Park
True or false: Cathedral Peak has an elevation over 10,000 feet?
True
What range of mountains is Cathedral Peak part of?
The Sierra Nevada
What river flows through Yosemite Valley near the base of Cathedral Peak?
The Merced River
Riddles about Wildlife and Plants
What type of fish can be found swimming in the Merced River near Cathedral Peak?
Trout
What type of squirrel with tufted ears lives in the pine forests surrounding Cathedral Peak?
The lodgepole chipmunk
The Steller’s jay with bold blue and black feathers can often be spotted soaring near Cathedral Peak. True or false?
True
What type of pine tree with needles in bundles of five covers the slopes of Cathedral Peak?
The Jeffrey pine
What is the name of the small grey bird that makes a “chick-a-dee-dee” call commonly heard on the trails around Cathedral Peak?
The mountain chickadee
Riddles about Hiking and Adventures
What is the name of the hiking trail that leads up to the summit of Cathedral Peak?
The Cathedral Lakes/Peak Trail
True or false? The Cathedral Lakes trail is considered a challenging hike.
True
About how long does it take the average hiker to reach the top of Cathedral Peak?
8-10 hours
What icy cold lake sits at the base of Cathedral Peak that hikers can take a refreshing swim in?
Cathedral Lake
Before climbing Cathedral Peak, you should prepare essentials like hiking boots, poles, helmet and what else?
Sun protection
Riddles about Cathedral Peak’s Unique Shape
What type of towering pillar shape does Cathedral Peak resemble, giving it its name?
A cathedral spire
True or false? Cathedral Peak has very steep, almost vertical cliffs near its summit.
True
What term describes the extremely steep drop off the east side of Cathedral Peak?
The cathedral buttress
The shape of Cathedral Peak looks striking and unbalanced because one side does not match the other. What is this effect called?
Asymmetry
The ridges on Cathedral Peak are described as sharp, shattered and what other adjective?
Jagged
Riddles about Seasons and Weather
During winter, deep snow can pile up on Cathedral Peak. About how many feet of snow can blanket its summit?
30-40 feet
What causes avalanches on the slopes of Cathedral Peak following heavy winter snowstorms?
Build up of heavy, unstable snow
During spring, what dazzling sight might you see pouring over Upper Cathedral Lake near the mountain?
A powerful waterfall
In autumn, what color do the leaves on Cathedral Peak turn before falling to the ground?
Gold
What weather hazard during summer months brings lightning strikes to the top of Cathedral Peak?
Thunderstorms
Riddles about History and Culture
Native Americans have lived in Yosemite Valley for over how many years?
3,000 years
In 1864, what expedition first explored Yosemite Valley and caught a glimpse of Cathedral Peak?
The Mariposa Battalion
Famous conservationist John Muir is credited with helping establish Yosemite National Park in 1890. True or false?
True
Ansel Adams took an iconic black-and-white photo of Cathedral Peak in 1927 called what?
“Cathedral Peak and Upper Cathedral Lake”
Rock climbers pioneered routes up Cathedral Peak’s steep cliffs in the 1950s during what rebellious cultural movement?
The Beat Generation
Riddles about Size Comparisons
Cathedral Peak rises higher above Yosemite Valley than both the Statue of Liberty and Big Ben tower above their surroundings. True or false?
True
Cathedral Peak is over twice as tall as the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. True or false?
True
The towering face of El Capitan granite rock formation in Yosemite Valley rises vertically over 3 times higher than Cathedral Peak. True or false?
False, Cathedral Peak is taller
At just under a mile high from base to summit, Cathedral Peak is still dwarfed by Mt. Everest at over 5 miles high. True or false?
True
Which national monument is closest in height to Cathedral Peak – the Washington Monument or the Gateway Arch?
The Washington Monument
Riddles about Records and Superlatives
What was the year the first recorded ascent of Cathedral Peak?
1870
Who was the first woman to reach the summit of Cathedral Peak?
Alice Eastwood in 1908
The fastest known time to hike up and down Cathedral Peak is just under 2.5 hours. True or false?
True
Which US president was the first to protect Yosemite Valley and set it aside for conservation in 1864?
Abraham Lincoln
Yosemite Falls in Yosemite Valley measures 2,424 feet tall, making it one of the tallest waterfalls on Earth. True or false?
True
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed these 51 riddles about the mighty Cathedral Peak! Exploring this iconic mountain through fun mysteries and puzzles opens up a world of adventure. The steep cliffs, alpine lakes and wildflower meadows have inspired both Native peoples and pioneering conservationists for centuries. Maybe you’ll feel called to make your own journey to marvel at California’s Cathedral Peak someday! Let me know if you have any other riddles for me to solve.
