One of my longest day hikes but also most enjoyable..with Hotoven and Andy. Dropped into the Painter Basin because we missed the short cut trail across West Gunsight. Apparently you need to go up quite a bit directly from Gunsight Pass to avoid the cliff band and big talus slope. We were on top by 11:30 AM and it was threatening to storm by noon. 15 hours RT from Henry's Fork Trailhead. #37 State HP.
IdahoScott - Apr 9, 2014 10:52 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2007
Highpoint #20
A backpacking trip with Robyn and the dogs. Saw some moose. Summer hail. Clear summit day. Ran into some of the ironmen who do this all in a 1 day slog.
Climbed this various times from various routes, also summited in 97,2009,2011
kingchas - Dec 3, 2013 6:22 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2012
First backpacking trip
Great mountain to have for my first backpacking experience. It was long but not too difficult. We didn't stay on the summit too long because we got caught in the middle of a snowstorm. High threats of lighting chased us off. Rained a lot in lower elevations.
After spending the night at Lower Red Castle Lake, the morning revealed partly cloudy skies skirting the higher peaks. By the time I reached Kings Peak just past noon, rain, sleet, and snow had made travel more difficult and visibility meager. The subsequent hike down to Henry's Fork Lake was drearily cold. Still... a great hike despite the weather!
First time in the Uintas, a very unique mountain range indeed. Cool to see, but I'm not really drawn back. Dollar lake was a little tricky to find but a very nice place to stay. Passed a sizable flock of (domestic) sheep on the way down. We took it very chill and made it a three day trip, great time with friends.
wyomtman - Sep 3, 2013 10:00 am Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2013
4 Kings
Fun 3 day weekend, great campsite at Dollar Lake. Took the short cut from Gunsight Pass to Anderson Pass and down a chute back down to the valley. Hiked it with my wife and two good friends from Wyo, timed the rain storms perfect. Very unique Range!
Bun84067 - Aug 29, 2013 4:21 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2013
Bad forecast/good weather
Hiked in from the Henry's Fork TH and spent the night just off the trail near Dollar Lake in some trees. Got on the trail at 7:15, took the shortcut at Gunsight Pass, and summited in thick clouds before noon. Returned the same way. Rested for an hour, packed up camp, and back to the car before dusk.
No mosquitos to speak of. Some light rain a couple of times. A great trip!
technicolorNH - Aug 25, 2013 1:24 am Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2013
day trip
Took the standard route over Gunsight Pass on the way up and went down the chute and across the meadow on the way back. Twelve and a half hours ctc with a lot of sheep in the meadow for comic relief. My second long day of this road trip.
Matthew Van Horn - Aug 13, 2013 4:14 pm Date Climbed: Mar 29, 2014
Kingy
03/29/2014 Swanson ski-in
08/10/2013 From Henrys Fork trailhead: 2:36 to summit, 4:56 round trip
3/30/2013 Swanson Bros. 12:33 round trip
8/18/2012 Gilbert, King's, South King's 8:26:53 car to car (Utah Triple Crown)
3/28/2009 With the WMC annual Swanson Bros KPT. I won't say what my total trip time car to car was. It's not pretty.
Also climbed 8/08/2007
mebo1126 - Aug 12, 2013 8:59 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2013
Sad
Backpacked in for a 3 day excursion with hopes of summiting Kings Peak. First, couldn't locate dollar lake -- the trail does not seem to lead to it. However, we did create our own amazing campsite near the Gunsight Pass sign. Got up early on day 2 to summit. Started the hike in the dark and made it up through Gunsight pass and descended down into the basin. I was told there was a "short cut," but never could find it. Couldn't locate the trail. Ended up using so much energy searching for a trail that I finally gave up and hiked back to camp. All in all, it was still a great trip because the views in the area are stunning and I was able to do a fun hike to Henrys Lake.
mtybumpo - Aug 11, 2013 3:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2013
August Snowstorm
Summited just before 5 pm and had the summit all to ourselves. We hiked in from the trailhead and took the shortcut chute below Anderson Pass. While on top a snowstorm rolled in and prevented us from bagging South Kings as well. Snowed hard during the descent.
Took the Girl on her first backpacking trip, for a simple overnighter.
Started in from Henrys Fork, camped about .25-mile above Dollar Lake, away from the mosquitoes.
Summited among a couple different Scout troops. Waited out a storm for over an hour just below Gunsight Pass, then once the thunder passed made it back to our tent to pack up camp in the pouring rain.
The last 11 miles of our 21-mile day were in rain. She did it all with a smile and a spring in her step. I think I will keep her. :-)
Made it back to the trailhead at 9 p.m., just in time to hit up some bad pizza in Mountain View.
I took the "contour" short cut from Gunsight up to Anderson pass on the way up, and took the chute below Anderson Pass down into the basin on the way down. Cool area, but crowded (as expected). 10 hours 50 mins ctc, highpoint # 26.
Beautiful area. Only saw 7-8 people the entire two days we were there, pleasantly surprised. We took gunsight pass route from dollar lake, then hiked out that evening for a long day. Mosquitos were only bad thing about an awesome trip, and peak.
mjp20k - Aug 13, 2014 6:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2014
Kings successStandard route via Henry's Fork and Gunsight Pass; with Mark Duffy
Hotoven - Jul 10, 2014 3:06 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2014
Long Day HikeDid the Henry Folk trail, started at 4:00am and returned at around 7:30pm? Nice day out, a few storms, and some wildlife spottings.
Bark Eater - Jul 7, 2014 12:14 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2014
Uintas SuccessOne of my longest day hikes but also most enjoyable..with Hotoven and Andy. Dropped into the Painter Basin because we missed the short cut trail across West Gunsight. Apparently you need to go up quite a bit directly from Gunsight Pass to avoid the cliff band and big talus slope. We were on top by 11:30 AM and it was threatening to storm by noon. 15 hours RT from Henry's Fork Trailhead. #37 State HP.
IdahoScott - Apr 9, 2014 10:52 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2007
Highpoint #20A backpacking trip with Robyn and the dogs. Saw some moose. Summer hail. Clear summit day. Ran into some of the ironmen who do this all in a 1 day slog.
michaelblodgett - Dec 29, 2013 12:31 am
Kings Peak 13,528Climbed this various times from various routes, also summited in 97,2009,2011
kingchas - Dec 3, 2013 6:22 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2012
First backpacking tripGreat mountain to have for my first backpacking experience. It was long but not too difficult. We didn't stay on the summit too long because we got caught in the middle of a snowstorm. High threats of lighting chased us off. Rained a lot in lower elevations.
JonathanHeywood - Sep 20, 2013 6:25 pm Date Climbed: Sep 17, 2013
Limited VisibilityAfter spending the night at Lower Red Castle Lake, the morning revealed partly cloudy skies skirting the higher peaks. By the time I reached Kings Peak just past noon, rain, sleet, and snow had made travel more difficult and visibility meager. The subsequent hike down to Henry's Fork Lake was drearily cold. Still... a great hike despite the weather!
yojimbo722 - Sep 17, 2013 9:56 am
three day backpack tripCamped at Dollar Lake. Should have taken the chute back - up and back through Gun Sight Pass made for a long day.
wyomtnlady - Sep 6, 2013 12:55 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2013
chillin like kingsFirst time in the Uintas, a very unique mountain range indeed. Cool to see, but I'm not really drawn back. Dollar lake was a little tricky to find but a very nice place to stay. Passed a sizable flock of (domestic) sheep on the way down. We took it very chill and made it a three day trip, great time with friends.
wyomtman - Sep 3, 2013 10:00 am Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2013
4 KingsFun 3 day weekend, great campsite at Dollar Lake. Took the short cut from Gunsight Pass to Anderson Pass and down a chute back down to the valley. Hiked it with my wife and two good friends from Wyo, timed the rain storms perfect. Very unique Range!
Bun84067 - Aug 29, 2013 4:21 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2013
Bad forecast/good weatherHiked in from the Henry's Fork TH and spent the night just off the trail near Dollar Lake in some trees. Got on the trail at 7:15, took the shortcut at Gunsight Pass, and summited in thick clouds before noon. Returned the same way. Rested for an hour, packed up camp, and back to the car before dusk.
No mosquitos to speak of. Some light rain a couple of times. A great trip!
technicolorNH - Aug 25, 2013 1:24 am Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2013
day tripTook the standard route over Gunsight Pass on the way up and went down the chute and across the meadow on the way back. Twelve and a half hours ctc with a lot of sheep in the meadow for comic relief. My second long day of this road trip.
Matthew Van Horn - Aug 13, 2013 4:14 pm Date Climbed: Mar 29, 2014
Kingy03/29/2014 Swanson ski-in
08/10/2013 From Henrys Fork trailhead: 2:36 to summit, 4:56 round trip
3/30/2013 Swanson Bros. 12:33 round trip
8/18/2012 Gilbert, King's, South King's 8:26:53 car to car (Utah Triple Crown)
8/13/2011 10 hours RT
3/27/2010 Swanson Bros annual King's Peak ski-in, 16:50 RT
3/28/2009 With the WMC annual Swanson Bros KPT. I won't say what my total trip time car to car was. It's not pretty.
Also climbed 8/08/2007
mebo1126 - Aug 12, 2013 8:59 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2013
SadBackpacked in for a 3 day excursion with hopes of summiting Kings Peak. First, couldn't locate dollar lake -- the trail does not seem to lead to it. However, we did create our own amazing campsite near the Gunsight Pass sign. Got up early on day 2 to summit. Started the hike in the dark and made it up through Gunsight pass and descended down into the basin. I was told there was a "short cut," but never could find it. Couldn't locate the trail. Ended up using so much energy searching for a trail that I finally gave up and hiked back to camp. All in all, it was still a great trip because the views in the area are stunning and I was able to do a fun hike to Henrys Lake.
mtybumpo - Aug 11, 2013 3:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2013
August SnowstormSummited just before 5 pm and had the summit all to ourselves. We hiked in from the trailhead and took the shortcut chute below Anderson Pass. While on top a snowstorm rolled in and prevented us from bagging South Kings as well. Snowed hard during the descent.
huskertriguy - Jul 26, 2013 11:32 pm Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2013
Lady's First Backpacking TripTook the Girl on her first backpacking trip, for a simple overnighter.
Started in from Henrys Fork, camped about .25-mile above Dollar Lake, away from the mosquitoes.
Summited among a couple different Scout troops. Waited out a storm for over an hour just below Gunsight Pass, then once the thunder passed made it back to our tent to pack up camp in the pouring rain.
The last 11 miles of our 21-mile day were in rain. She did it all with a smile and a spring in her step. I think I will keep her. :-)
Made it back to the trailhead at 9 p.m., just in time to hit up some bad pizza in Mountain View.
State highpoint #33.
McCannster - Jul 17, 2013 9:18 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2013
In a DayI took the "contour" short cut from Gunsight up to Anderson pass on the way up, and took the chute below Anderson Pass down into the basin on the way down. Cool area, but crowded (as expected). 10 hours 50 mins ctc, highpoint # 26.
Walkoutnow - Jul 7, 2013 11:22 pm Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2013
HP #13Beautiful area. Only saw 7-8 people the entire two days we were there, pleasantly surprised. We took gunsight pass route from dollar lake, then hiked out that evening for a long day. Mosquitos were only bad thing about an awesome trip, and peak.
xDoogiex - Jul 5, 2013 8:58 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2013
Did it in one dayShould of done it in 14 hrs but got lost on a talus heap and that killed my time. Awesome peak. Good way to celebrate the 4th of july
av8r0023 - Jul 2, 2013 1:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2013
King's PeakI recently bagged King's Peak on June 29th. Here is the trip report: http://av8r0023-vacation.blogspot.com/2013/07/adventures-in-utah.html