Uinta Mountains
Overview
Kings Peak is the highpoint of Utah, and of Duchesne County. It is the seventh highest of the U.S. State Highpoints. It is located approximately 42 miles north of Duchesne in the High Uintas Wilderness Area in the Ashley and Wasatch National Forests. The mountain was named after Clarence King, who was the first director of the US Geological Survey. The standard hiking route is a 28.8 mile round trip, so the peak is usually climbed as part of a backpacking trip.
Contributed by PellucidWombat: The present-day Kings Peak wasn't known to be the highest point in Utah before the mid 1960s. The USGS hadn't determined whether the current Kings Peak or South Kings Peak was the highest of the two summits prior to satellite measurements taken in 1966. Prior to this discovery, the USGS had marked South Kings Peak as the highest peak in Utah. Any hikers going to Utah's highest summit prior to 1966 would have scaled South Kings Peak instead of the now official Kings Peak!
Kings Peak's topographic prominence, 6,348 feet, ranks 19th in the contiguous 48 states. It is one of 57 so-called "Ultra" prominences, those with more than 5,000 feet of prominence. For the complete list of Ultras, see this page.
Thanks to Brian Jenkins for this link to more information about Henrys Fork Campground and the trail.
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Getting There
To climb Kings Peak using the primary route, the Henrys Fork approach, drive south from Interstate 80 on Wyoming State Route 414 for 6 miles to Mountain View, WY. Route 414 turns west through Mountain View and becomes Route 410 as the road turns south at the west end of town. Drive Route 410 toward Robertson, WY for 6.7 miles to the point where it turns west. From this point, drive Uinta County Road 283 (also named Forest Road 072) south toward Grahams Reservoir and Bridger Lake for 12.1 miles to Forest Road 017. Turn left on Forest Road 017 and continue south 6.8 miles to Forest Road 077. Drive south on Forest Road 077 for 2.8 miles, and turn right on the road to Henrys Fork Campground and the Henrys Fork Trailhead.
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Red Tape
Even though Kings Peak is within the High Uintas Wilderness, no wilderness permit is required to climb the mountain.
When To Climb
Generally the best conditions for climbing Kings Peak occur from June through September, depending on snow and weather conditions.
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Camping
You can camp at the trailhead in Henrys Fork Campground, and there are many camping sites along the approach hike.
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Mountain Conditions
Information regarding the conditions for climbing Kings Peak can be obtained from:
Wasatch-Cache National Forest
8236 Federal Bldg.
125 S. State Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84128
(801)524-3900
Click here for additional information.
Weather Forecast for Central Uinta Mountains.
External Links
- Kings Peak Trip Report
- Utah's 12000+ Foot Peaks with 300+ Feet Prominence
Utah's 12000+ Foot Peaks with 300+ Feet Prominence
- Kings Peak Lives Up to its Name
An article about Kings Peak on the Great Outdoors website.
- A Kings Peak pictorial
This is on the Utah Film Bank website.
- Royal Treasure '05
Additions and Corrections
[ Post an Addition or Correction ]
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| Scott | Untitled Comment | |
Voted 10/10 | The register comes and goes. It wasn't there on my visits, but has been on other's visits. | |
| Posted Jan 5, 2006 2:04 pm | ||
| woodstrider | Untitled Comment | |
Hasn't voted | Thanks Scott for the information. I don't feel so dumb now- it may not have been there in that time frame. I had a great visit regardless. | |
| Posted Jan 19, 2006 3:31 pm | ||
| Dmitry Pruss | Untitled Comment | |
Voted 10/10 | It' s the forest service which is charged with removing registers from up there. Ever year there is something different, sometimes a few registers, sometimes none. There used to be a Highpoint plaque in late 90s, and a geocache around 2002-2004, and a fallen officer plaque in 2005, but all of them end up being removed from the top as unapproved in the designated wilderness. I guess the latest plaque actually has been approved, but by a wrong office of the FS, so it had to go in the end. | |
| Posted Jan 28, 2006 2:24 pm | ||
| POWERJL | Untitled Comment | |
Hasn't voted | The majority of folks heading up TR 117 (Henry's Fork Trail) are camping at Dollar Lake, and when we were there recently (7/29), there were over 200 people at Dollar lake alone. Due to heavy use the USFS has placed a no camping restriction within 1000' of both Dollar and Henry's Fork lakes. FOR SMALL PARTIES ONLY! (1, 2 or 3 people) I would recomend continuing past Dollar lake and camping closer to Gunsight Pass. There is a small pond approx. 100m to the sw of the trail at around 11,000' which have a couple good spots to pitch a tent, and a larger pond / small lake at about 11,630' , approx. 5km ssw from the trail. These are small areas and will NOT support the large groups the BSA likes to bring in. Be aware that the USFS (as they should) are enforcing the no camping closer than 200' from trails or water sources. If your really up to it, go on over Gunsight pass into the basin on the other side. Although its above tree-line there are a lot of places to camp, running water, and a lot of solitude. One final note. In addition to speaking with a very frustrated USFS Ranger who was cleaing campsites, there is a lot of trash in the area. Please, if you pack in, pack it out! | |
| Posted Aug 4, 2005 2:52 pm | ||
| woodstrider | Untitled Comment | |
Hasn't voted | There seems to be a summit register on Kings Peak. I discovered this, after I had been there, when I saw a photo of it in the Highpointers magazine. It is bright red. I wish I had known about it so that I could have signed it. Well, I guess another trip is warranted. | |
| Posted Jan 5, 2006 1:39 pm | ||
| Scott | Untitled Comment | |
Voted 10/10 | The register comes and goes. It wasn't there on my visits, but has been on other's visits. | |
| Posted Jan 5, 2006 2:04 pm | ||
| woodstrider | Untitled Comment | |
Hasn't voted | Thanks Scott for the information. I don't feel so dumb now- it may not have been there in that time frame. I had a great visit regardless. | |
| Posted Jan 19, 2006 3:31 pm | ||
| Dmitry Pruss | Untitled Comment | |
Voted 10/10 | It' s the forest service which is charged with removing registers from up there. Ever year there is something different, sometimes a few registers, sometimes none. There used to be a Highpoint plaque in late 90s, and a geocache around 2002-2004, and a fallen officer plaque in 2005, but all of them end up being removed from the top as unapproved in the designated wilderness. I guess the latest plaque actually has been approved, but by a wrong office of the FS, so it had to go in the end. | |
| Posted Jan 28, 2006 2:24 pm | ||
| ClimbingRandy | Mountain Bikes? | |
Hasn't voted | The approach from Henry's Fork doesn't appear to increase in elevation too quickly and also covers what appears to be open plains. Has anyone ridden a mountain bike the majority of the way to Gunsight pass? Is it permitted by USFS? | |
| Posted May 25, 2013 3:05 pm | ||
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| McCannster | Re: Mountain Bikes? | |
Voted 10/10 | Bikes aren't allowed on that trail, as it enters a wilderness area very quickly and wheeled vehicles aren't permitted in wilderness areas. | |
| Posted Jun 14, 2013 11:40 am | ||
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