Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Mountain Biomes in Minecraft: Peaks, Meadows and Groves
Minecraft mountains are made of several biomes stacked by height: meadows and cherry groves on the lower slopes, groves and snowy slopes higher up, and jagged, frozen or stony peaks on top, reaching up to Y=256. They and the windswept hills are the only places with emerald ore, and goats, the deep dark and exposed iron and coal ore are common there.
What are the mountain biomes?
| Biome | Where | What is special |
|---|---|---|
| Meadow | Lower slopes and plateaus | Flowers, sheep, donkeys, rabbits; the only mountain biome with villages |
| Cherry grove | Lower slopes | Pink cherry trees; see the cherry grove page |
| Grove | Slopes, humid | Spruce on snow, powder snow, snow foxes, snowy wolves |
| Snowy slopes | Slopes, dry | Snow and stone, powder snow, goats |
| Jagged peaks | Summits | Sharp snowy stone, goats, outposts |
| Frozen peaks | Summits | Packed ice and ice, goats |
| Stony peaks | Warmer summits | Bare stone with calcite strips, no animals |
Cherry groves have their own page: cherry grove.
What ores are in mountains?
Emerald ore generates only in mountain and windswept biomes, and coal and iron are more common and often exposed in cliffs. Infested stone with silverfish hides underground. See emeralds.
What are the dangers?
- Falls from cliffs; carry a water bucket.
- Powder snow in groves and snowy slopes freezes you; wear leather boots; see powder snow.
- Goats ram players off ledges; see goats.
- The deep dark is very common deep under peaks; see the warden.
What are windswept hills?
Lower, shattered hills of stone and grass near swamps, with aqua grass, snow above Y=120, llamas and emerald ore. Windswept forests add trees and windswept gravelly hills are the rarest surface biome.
Can you mine on ArtemisPvP?
Frequently asked questions
How high do Minecraft mountains go?
Up to Y=256, the top of terrain generation.
Can villages spawn in mountains?
Only in meadows, among the mountain biomes.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.