Charles Frederick Hoffmann (February 29, 1838 – June 20, 1913) was a German-American topographer working in California U.S. from 1860 to 1880.

He was recruited by Josiah Whitney to join the California Geological Survey because of his valuable skill as a topographer.

Hoffmann achieved a number of first ascents in the Sierra Nevada: In 1870 he married Lucy Mayotta Browne.

Later, he was a mining engineer at Virginia City, Nevada, San Francisco, California, and Mexico.

[1] Mount Hoffmann, a high peak in central Yosemite National Park, is named after him.