Kings Peak - Uintas

From near the beginning of the trail looking southwest over Henrys Fork River.
At this time of the year, most of this water comes from springs.
When you return, this trail stretches into a never-ending sadistic treadmill.
You will think that you must have passed the Alligator Lake sign,
but no, you still need to keep walking, and walking, and walking.




From near Alligator Lake looking south toward Kings Peak.
From here, you get a pretty undistorted view of the peak, showing it's many false summits.




After Elkhorn Crossing and the footbridge, the trail flattens out and the valley opens up.
From left to right: Gunsight Peak, West Gunsight peak, Kings Peak and Henrys Fork Peak.
We saw 3 moose from near this area.




Still trudging along. The strange thing about this part of the hike
is how you never seem to get any closer to the peak, it always looks close.
We stopped around this area and camped. From here it's about 6 miles to the peak.
Soon after this area, there's a huge mudbog that you basically have to walk through.
My shoe came off in the mud on the way back, boy was that fun.




The next morning, after about an hour of sleep, I woke up with my teeth a chatterin',
and fidgeted around trying to start a fire to warm my aching body.
Finally the sun came out.
Looking west toward Mount Powell 13,137' and Flat Top Mountain 12,168'




Kings Peak patiently waiting to beat the crap out of us.




Anderson Pass slippery scree slope.
The ridge to Kings Peak is visible above.




We walked off trail straight toward Anderson Pass Scree and found this little waterfall.




From the base of Anderson Pass Scree looking up toward the hardest part of the hike.




Gloria and Jared going up the scree, some parts of this chute were incredibly steep.
In the background is Flat Top Mountain.

Going down, the trail becomes nearly vertical,
try to find the deep piles of small rocks to the right.
With some coordination, you can slide step with very little impact.




Almost to the top of Anderson Pass Scree. This took us about 45 minutes to climb.
There were many reckless hikers descending, kicking loose rocks down the trail on us.




From near the top of Anderson Pass Scree,
looking west over Henrys Fork Peak and Flat Top Mountain.
Lake Banchard is visible below Flat Top.




Looking north, over Henrys Fork.




Looking northeast over Gilbert Peak, Gunsight Peak, and West Gunsight Peak.




The ridge up to Kings Peak.




Looking south from the real Anderson Pass toward Kings Peak on the right.




Jared and Gloria hiking up to Anderson Pass.
Looking northeast over West Gunsight peak toward Gilbert Peak 13,442.
The top of the Anderson Pass Scree is is visible in the middle of the picture.




The famous, yet deceptive false summit of Kings Peak.




A closer look at the ridge below Kings Peak.




Two hikers that took the Gunsight Pass route.
We were walking right next to them before they split off down Gunsight Pass.
We were on the peak for over an hour before they even got up on the ridge.
The Anderson Scree saved us about 2 hours one way.
Sadly, they decided not to go all the way to the peak.
They were only about 20 minutes from the top.
Behind is Henrys Fork Lake in the foreground and Grass Lake in the background.




Looking back up Kings Peak as we walked down the ridge.




From Anderson Pass looking west over Yellowstone Creek,
Garfield Basin and most of the Uinta Mountains.




From near Anderson Pass looking east toward West Gunsight Peak
and the Anderson Pass Scree on the left.




Flat Top Mountain with Cliff Lake below.




Going down the Anderson Pass Scree




Looking up southeast toward West Gunsight Peak.
Gloria was dirt-skiing down the loose rocks.




Looking back to West Gunsight Peak and the Anderson Pass Scree.




Looking east toward Gunsight Peak




Looking southeast toward Gunsight Peak.

UINTA MOUNTAINS

ALL UINTA LINKS

Thanks to Gloria and Jared
Thanks to Horace from S Jordan for IDing Lake Blanchard.

Message Board Page Posts: 31 NAME CITY DATE Chris West Jordan 2009-05-12 I was about 17 when i hiked kings i am 23 now and i am about to climb it again, climbing that mountan made me learn alot about my self i almost didn't climb the rest of the way up but i could hear my friends yelling to me that i was so close and to just push through the pain and make it to the top...needless to say i stood up and finished the climb to the top it changed my life and i think about it everyday. i can not wait to get to the top and write my name in that book again. Eastlin kielsmeier syaruse 2009-03-28 I'am 13 years old and i went to kings peak with scouts. This experience has changed my life for ever. And when i grow up i will take my son up there. I think about it every day and want to go there again. Aaron 2008-12-16 Hi there is it possible for me to use some of the pictures from your website for my non public GCSE project. please reply A.S.A.P Blaine Layton SLC, Ut 2008-08-25 Just got back from taking 7 scouts up Kings. Wish I had seen your site before we went. Photos are great and gives a great feel for the trip. We camped by the small waterfall. We chose to take the route through Gunsite Pass, Painter Basin and then Anderson Pass. It was long and but the last portion up the ridge to the summit is great. On the way back I choose to take my son down the Anderson Scree or Chute. The other leaders were to take the scouts back through Gunsite. As they watched us decend the chute they decided to also try it. My son and I found a good flat rock and watched the show. No one got seriously hurt but there were some potentially dangerous slips. I highly recommend hiking poles. My advise is only take the chute if you and your party are experienced with steep scree. We passed one party that was going up and they got into trouble and ended up turning back. Next time I will go up and down the chute. Our three day trip had perfect weather and our scouts were prepared and tough. I would take them again anytime. Andy Orem Ut 2008-04-27 I am taking my varsity and venture scouts on a six day backpacking trip at the end of June with Kings Peak being the main part of our trip. But we also want to make it a 50 miler. Any suggestions? Mark Des Moines, IA 2008-03-02 Took my wife on her 1st backpack trip, Aug 07. Got to Anderson Pass via Gunsight, when realization of distance back to tent made us reconsider continuing. We may be back to actually summit. But, for now we are enjoying our pictures, and planning other high points. Matthew Cunningham Taylorsville, Utah 2008-02-17 I'm a 15-year old Eagle Scout who had the opportunity last summer to ascend this beautiful mountain with my scout troop on our annual hike. I was almost to the top of the pass about to go up to the summit when, sadly, I was told to go back down because of our time constraints. I always look forward to the time I can actually complete the climb and feast my eyes upon a breathtaking sight. What slowed me was that my older brother had gone through hell that day and I wanted to make sure that he made it safely to our temporary camp before I went up with the rest of the guys. I'm glad that I waited for him before going up; he was really having a hard time. Phil SLC, UT 2008-02-04 Great photos. I just cleared 2 feet of snow out of my driveway. I still have a few months to kill. Your photos are giving me spring feaver! Travis Woodland Hills 2008-01-03 Incredible website and pictures showing the beauties of the state I love. Don't be critical of the horse riders. We tolerate you bikers and all who love the outdoors should stick together. Alicia A boise idaho 2007-11-18 We are trying to find the best time of year to hike kings peak. please let us khow your recomendations Thanks Michael Proudfit Highland, Utah 2007-09-16 #3 This weekend! don't go in July--too many bugs. Sept. weather was perfect! Crisp and cool. You will always see moose! still haven't seen big foot yet. Herb H. Provo, Ut 2007-08-09 I am hiking Kings peak with a good friend next weekend glad to see what i am up again Joe Webb Lyman, WY 2007-06-24 I'll be making my third climb up King's Peak (via Henry's Fork Trail head and Gunsight Pass)this week. Your photos are a good mental preparation for a beautiful hike. Nae Bangerter Roosevelt, Utah 2007-06-14 These pictures were amazing! I liked your commentary on each photo. Great web page as well. Dean Richesin San Juan Capistrano, CA 2007-01-18 Gary, Nick, Logan--are you in or out? Looks fabulous guys!! Rick Lavigne Denham Springs, LA 2006-11-28 Donig some reaserch about the hikie to the peak. Nice photos. Good info. Any info on hiking in from Mountain Home, UT via Uinta River? Looking at a 4 day hike in and back. Thanks. Gabby SLC, UT 2006-11-27 This is a great website. I think you should add a little more about the mount. instead of just how to get there and what yoy saw. Mechale Maxwell Bountiful, UT 2006-09-18 Wow!! these pictures bring back so many memories! I hiked to the summit when I was 11, what a hard yet rewarding hike losttreasurem an pocatello,ida ho 2006-09-14 rockin! Dave McGinn Orem, Utah 2006-08-11 Made my second summit this summer. These are wonderful pictures of a very challenging but rewarding hike. Thanks Dave McGinn Orem, Utah 2006-08-11 Made my second summit this summer. These are wonderful pictures of a very challenging but rewarding hike. Thanks sam robbins pleasant grove, utah 2006-08-05 I climb kings peak 13 years ago, and ready to go again Tony Anderson Salt Lake, Utah 2006-07-22 I really loved this hike. It was challenging and it was really fun. kevin jenson midvale, utah 2006-06-25 the pictures helped me see what i'm up against in a few weeks, and they were real nice. I really liked your descriptions. robert childs st george utah 2006-04-07 hello again, i have looked at other web sites and i have to say yours is the best by a long shot. great pics and description. i hope the weather is good for a trip i am planning up there. by the way if you go up again drive around poison mountain. its the only place where its possible to see moose, elk, deer and antelope in the same place and maybe the bighorn sheep which i have seen towards hoop lake. thanks again. keep on truckin. good numbers dxr george briggs Leicester 2005-12-01 I climbed King's peak several times in 74-76 studying alpine plants. Whenever I have a particularly rough day I think about that final ridge!! Skylar Stubbs West Jordan, Utah 2005-07-10 The pictures are way cool I'm going to be hiking up Kings Peak in about a week, I'm hoping it will be a good experince. Charles Stanford Pittsburgh 2005-01-31 I hiked King's Peak going the same route in late July 2002, and once we got to the top of the scree we were in the clouds. It's nice to be reminded of the trip and see some of the views I missed. I must go back some day. Chris Bradley Logan, Utah 2004-07-12 I'll be on the peak this Friday - thanks for the preview. This will be my 6th time! It's a beautiful part of Utah. Lorenzo Gonzalez Rochester, Michigan 2004-06-22 Looking forward to a July trip to SLC and some backpacking in the Uintas and Wasatch - thanks for the wonderful appetizer!!! mandy dallas, tx 2004-03-22 wow... never been hiking or to utah before but these pics make someone want to go Name Comments E-mail* City * Your E-mail will never be distributed or displayed. You will not be put on mailing lists.