King's Peak in 1 Day

King's Peak in 1 day

Left Salt Lake at 5:00 pm and we could have been to the Henry's fork campground at between 8:30 or 9pm but we took a wrong turn. The directions on Summit Post are good but there is very little signage so when we saw a sign that said China Grove straight we thought "we don't want to go there" so we turned right oops :-( Follow these Instructions:

Henrys Fork campground, drive south from Interstate 80 Take the Fort Bridger exit then drive through Fort Bridger until you get to Wyoming State Route 414 turn towards Mountain view, it is 6 miles to Mountain View, WY. At the end of Mountain view veer right onto Route 410. Drive Route 410 toward Robertson, WY for 6.7 miles to the point where it turns west (you go straight on 283). From this point, drive Uinta County Road 283 (also named Forest Road 072) south toward Grahams Reservoir and Bridger Lake (there are no signs for Grahams Reservoir or 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.

We got to the Henry's Fork trail head campground at 10 pm. We got up at 3:30 am and left at 3:45am. We covered the first 7 miles in the dark with flashlights. We had a little trouble at Elkhorn crossing because the wood sign says bridge left and we went left but there was no bridge. See Picture:

Apparently the bridge was washed out and a new bridge was built further up. It took a while but we found the new bridge 2 to 3 hundred yards upstream. On the way up we talked about taking the toilet bowl shortcut but decided on Gunsight pass. At the top of the pass there is a shortcut to the right marked by carin's. See the picture of the boulder field going up to Anderson Pass

We reached the summit in 5 hours and 23 minutes from the parking lot. See summit picture.

On the way down we decided to take the toilet bowl shortcut. It is on the left down from Anderson pass. In my opinion it was not worth the risk. We both fell several times and it was fairly treacherous. I can't imagine trying to go up this route.

If you decide to do the shortcut, when you get to the bottom you just head right and you will see some carin's. We made it back to the parking lot in 11 hours. We got our tent folded up and in the car just as the rain hit. Perfect timing. :-)

See picture of new bridge at Elkhorn crossing.

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