trips - Kings Peak - TheBackpacker.com

Trip Info

Dates: 8/23 - 8/25/04
Trip Organizer: couchtater
Location: High Uintas Wilderness

Number of Attendees: (view all)
2 yes
0 maybe

Description

Kings Peak (13,528 feet) stands taller than any other summit in Utah. The trip would depart from Salt Lake City for a 2 hour drive to the trailhead. The shortest, most popular route starts from Henrys Fork Campground. The trail gains altitude gracefully for about 5.5 miles where it offers a side trip west through a lovely and very popular lake-filled basin. If you're eager for the summit, keep on due south, past Dollar Lake and up the switchbacks to Gunsight Pass. From the pass, the trail drops east into Painter Basin and climbs west to Anderson Pass from where you scramble and leap from boulder to boulder to reach the summit. Whether you bag the peak or not, the route is rated as a great backpacking trip with numerous beautiful campsites, especially on the Henrys Fork side of the hike.

Day one would be hiking to near Dollar Lake, about 10 miles. Up early the next morning to beat the thunderstorms to the peak. From camp, the summit will be about 5 miles. Once back at camp, the group can decide whether to stay another night at camp or pack out that afternoon. Expect lots of company, this is a very popolar hike.