The Sphinx is a double-summit granitic pillar in Kings Canyon National Park on the western side of California’s Sierra Nevada crest, at the northern end of the Great Western Divide near Bubbs Creek and the South Fork Kings River. Its north face is especially striking, rising about 4,000 feet above the canyon in just one mile, and its runoff drains into the South Fork Kings River. Named in 1891 by John Muir and later officially recognized, it is the more northerly and slightly lower of the two associated peaks. The mountain also holds an important place in Kings Canyon climbing history, including the region’s first completed rock climb and notable later ascents.