Tectonic uplift is the primary geological process that shaped the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

The Sierra Nevada was formed primarily through a process known as tectonic uplift. This involves the upward movement of Earth's crust due to forces within the planet.Over millions of years, the Earth's tectonic plates collided and shifted, causing a large block of the Earth's crust to be uplifted and tilted eastward. This uplift created the Sierra Nevada's dramatic elevation and its characteristic steep eastern escarpment.