Utah: Kings Peak

13,528 ft (4,123 m)

Located far within the High Uinta Mountains of Utah, Kings Peak is the state’s tallest mountain and a long-haul favorite among hikers and highpointers. Its summit is broad, windswept, and strewn with boulders, offering panoramic views across a remote skyline of other rugged 13,000-foot peaks in this range. While the route isn’t technical, the combination of distance, altitude, and unpredictable mountain weather makes Kings Peak a serious undertaking.

Reaching this summit typically involves a 26- to 30-mile round-trip journey—depending on the route—through alpine meadows, lodgepole forests, and wide glacial basins. The most popular approach is from the Henrys Fork Trail, a gradual but sustained climb to Gunsight Pass, followed by a high plateau traverse and a final rocky scramble. Most hikers complete the adventure as a 2-3 day backpacking trip, camping near Dollar Lake or in Painter Basin. Strong, acclimatized hikers sometimes attempt it as a single-day push. Alternate routes—from the Uinta River to the south or Yellowstone Creek connecting into the Highline Trail—offer quieter paths but add mileage and complexity.

For those willing to put in the miles, Kings Peak is one of the most scenic and satisfying highpoints in the West.

Kings Peak

More to come…

In the meantime, these posts should help you in planning for this state’s highpoint: