Kings Peak Utah At a Glance
Distance: 25.0 mi roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 4,480 ft
Trailhead: Henry’s Fork Trailhead
Route Type: Out & Back
Best Time: Mid-June to Mid-September
Red Tape: None
Difficulty
Grade: 7%
Exposure: Low
Class: Class 1 to Anderson Pass, Class 2 from pass to the Kings Peak summit
Overall Difficulty: Moderate
Kings Peak Description
Kings Peak, Utah, is the highest point in Utah, rising to 13,528 feet. Visiting the peak is an extremely long day hike or an incredible 2-3 day backpacking trip. The summit of Kings Peak is the tallest peak for over 160 miles in any direction. Kings Peak is also one of the 57 Ultra Prominent Peaks in the lower 48, with a prominence of 6,438 feet.
Kings Peak is located in the High Uintas Wilderness area. Covering over 475 square miles, it is one of the largest wilderness areas in the contiguous United States. With proximity to Salt Lake City, locals frequent the area in the summer months for its stunning beauty, including alpine lakes, meadows, and giant peaks.
Kings Peak is a popular destination not just because it’s the highest point in Utah but also for fishing, hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding. There are over 400 miles of trails that traverse the wilderness.
When hiking Kings Peak, expect to find a wide range of wildlife, including elk, moose, and deer. Elk herds are common in the Yellowstone Creek area. Many suggest bears are in the area, but I’ve never seen evidence of a bear at the higher elevations, which would include the entity of the Kings Peak hike.
There is no red tape to hike to Kings Peak and several routes to the summit. I took the standard route starting from the Henry’s Fork Trailhead. Kings Peak is located in the High Unitas Wilderness, and Wilderness group limits are in effect.
Henrys Fork Trail
The Parking Lot at Henry’s Fork does fill up in the summer months, especially on the weekends. The trailhead does have a campground (Henry’s Fork Campground) for the mighty trail runner that wants to get an early start on a Kings Peak day hike.
After leaving the trailhead, the first 5.3 miles are gentle and peaceful. The first milestone is the trail junction to Alligator Lake. Alligator Lake has several established campsites and is popular due to its proximity to Henry’s Fork Trailhead. With Kings Peak as your objective, passing Alligator Lake is my recommendation.
The early miles of the Henry’s Fork trail is well-shaded along the Henrys Fork River. Access to the river is limited over this stretch. The trail rises only 1,000 feet until reaching Elkhorn Junction. The trail intersects with the North Slope Highline Trail and a Sheep Bridge that crosses the river.
After crossing the bridge at Elkhorn Junction, the open terrain and majestic views of the High Uintas come into sight. Another two miles of easy hiking, and you’ll arrive at Dollar Lake. The lake cannot be seen from the trail, but several well-worn social paths mark the spot.
Dollar Lake is the most popular camp spot and receives heavy use. The large space spreads everyone out pretty well. You will find it relatively quiet if there isn’t a large Boy Scout troop nearby. Better solitude can be found further up the trail.
Gunsight Pass to Anderson Pass
From Dollar Lake, it’s another two miles to the top of Gunsight Pass. The top of Gunsight Pass is marked with a large rock cairn and offers views into Henry’s Fork Basin to the north and Painter Basin to the South. The pass is smothered by two 13k peaks; Gunsight Peak to the Northeast and Dome Peak to the Southwest.
Shortly after departing the top of Gunsight Pass, you’re faced with a decision. Do I stay on the trail or leave the comfort of the trail and take what locals call the Gunsight Pass Cutoff? Staying on the trail means descending into Painters Basin and a longer trip. The Cutoff saves roughly 6 miles but is rocky and requires some navigation. The Cutoff is the way for those comfortable with class 2 trail and basic navigation.
No matter your choice, the goal is to reach the top of Anderson Pass. If you’re toting an overnight pack, I recommend leaving your pack at the top of Anderson for the final push.
Anderson Pass to Kings Peak
Several hiker’s trails lead from Anderson Pass to the summit of Kings Peak up the North Ridge Route. There is no official USFS-established trail. Following a few of these paths of least resistance is tempting as you navigate your way to the top, but many of them will lead to more difficult scrambling. Your best bet is to stay on the top of the ridge until the last few hundred feet, where a few cliffs will require you to lose the ridgeline.
The views from the top of Kings Peak are breathtaking. You can see the entire span of magnificent Kings-Emmons Ridge, the rounded top of Gilbert Peak, and the beautiful lakes spotted across Henry’s Fork Basin. Dollar Lake, Bear Lake, Henrys Fork Lake, and many other small lakes are all visible.
The Summit of Kings Peak also offers views to many of the 13k peaks of the Uinta Mountains. West Gunsight Peak (also known as Dome Peak) and Henrys Fork Peak surround the view into the basin. South Kings Peak to your south looks much further away than it is. Remember to snap pictures with the iconic Kings Peak sign to remember your accomplishment.
Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the Unitas, especially in July and August. The good news is that the thunderstorms aren’t clockwork like you see in the Colorado Rockies. The bad news is that you still need to go back over Gunsight Pass and are exposed the entire way.
Aim to hit the summit before 10am to leave ample time to scramble back down to Anderson Pass and get to the comfort of Henry’s Fork Basin before any storms roll in. You should leave ample time to return to the safety of Dollar Lake before anything gets too spicy.
The High Uintas Wilderness is filled with trails, trailheads, options, and opportunities. There are many different routes to the summit and several ways to turn a summit of Kings Peak into a multi-day, loop, or lollipop-style backpacking trip vs. the standard out and back. Several routes to hike Kings Peak are listed below.
If you’re feeling adventurous at the summit, consider tagging South Kings Peak. South Kings Peak is the second tallest peak in Utah at 13,504 feet. The addition adds another 1.6 miles and 700 feet of elevation gain/loss roundtrip from the top of Kings.
Getting There
The Henry’s Fork Trailhead in the Uinta mountains is located about 140 miles east of Salt Lake City, Utah. To get to the trailhead from Salt Lake City, follow these steps:
East on I-80 from Salt Lake City towards Park City.
Exit 34 in Wyoming for 80 bypass, then south on 414.
The dirt roads begin to Henrys Fork Trailhead – be prepared!!
Use Google Maps and follow signs from here. Cell service is limited, so have it downloaded in advance.
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Trail Map
Alternate Routes
Swift Creek: Swift Creek Trailhead, Yellowstone Trail to the Highline Trail to Anderson Pass. 39.5 miles, 7200 +/- feet elevation. Camp by the Yellowstone Creek.
China Meadows: China Meadows Trailhead, Smiths Fork Pass to the Highline Trail to Anderson Pass. 37.0 miles, 6500 +/- feet elevation. Camp by the iconic Lower Red Castle Lake or by Yellowstone Creek.
Kings Peak FAQs
How hard is Kings Peak in Utah?
The long approach makes climbing the highest point in Utah unique. The standard route is anywhere from 28-34 miles round trip. The Kings Peak hike also requires that you ascend Gunsight Pass twice, once on the way to the summit and once on the way back. This adds to the elevation gain.
The Kings Peak hike is one of the more difficult to assign a difficulty rating to. Overall the hike isn’t very challenging until the final push, where a few low-difficulty scrambling moves are required.
Kings Peak isn’t nearly as demanding as Granite Peak, the highest point in Montana, or Gannett Peak, the highest point in Wyoming. Kings Peak doesn’t require technical skills like Mount Rainier or Mount Shasta when climbing in the summer. If you’re concerned about the difficulty, I recommend you break up hiking the highest peak in the Uinta mountains into a 3-day backpacking adventure and camping at (or past) Dollar Lake.
How long does it take to hike Kings Peak?
A Kings Peak hike takes the average hiker 16-24 hours of hiking time to complete. The long 28-34 mile approach means that every hiker’s Kings Peak experience will differ. While trail runners and speed hikers can complete the hike in one day, most people do it as a 2 or 3-day backpacking trip.
What time of year is best to hike Kings Peak?
Kings Peak is best enjoyed from mid-June, when the snowpack has melted, until mid-September or before the first big storm of the season. For the hearty few with mountaineering experience and gear, Kings Peak can be enjoyed all year long.
