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.
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.
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.
Camping
You can camp at the trailhead in Henrys Fork Campground, and there are many camping sites along the approach hike.
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 LinksImages
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Uinta Mountains
