Kings Peak In A Day | High Uintas Wilderness

King's Peak in a day. King's Peak (in the high Uintas Wilderness) is Utah's high point at 13,527ft. In this trip we started from Henry's Fork Trailhead. Elevation gain and total distance will vary depending on whether you drop down from Gunsight Pass or not. In the end, this trip ended up being:
~25.5 miles
~4,200ft elevation gain
~10.5 hours
This video is NOT meant to be a guide. Before you head out on any kind of adventure, make sure you research the area (regulations, current conditions, etc.) and are properly prepared. Also brush up on those LNT ethics! For more info on that, check out lnt.org
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[@spitimalamati]

You are awesome! I did this hike over three days with three of my boys. It was also 2018 and at 61 years, I was the oldest person on the mountain that day. We encountered two moose and had a standoff in the dark, but we got past them.

[@AmyRoutt]

Sounds like it was a great adventure :) What a fun memory.

[@spitimalamati]

@@AmyRoutt I ah, AHEM!, just did the hike again. I was amazed to NOT be the oldest person on the mountain, this time at age 67! On September 1, 2024, I summited just minutes after a gentleman who was five months older than me! It was a delight to repeat the hike and to repeat summiting!

[@ChristianPaulPhotography]

So good to see you guys on trail! What an adventure you guys had! So rad to do that in one day! Great video! 💪👍

[@AmyRoutt]

Thank you! So glad we saw you! haha Glad we were on a high and not like zombies by the time we ran into you! lol

[@tangenttrails]

Great outing! Thanks you taking us along.😊

[@AmyRoutt]

Thanks for watching!! :)

[@RAMtrails]

we like seeing the food! Thanks for the video. Yikes 5:00am start time, that's DEDICATION!

[@AmyRoutt]

It's even more impressive if you just knew how much of a morning person I AM NOT hahaha

[@matthewstorm5188]

You’re much more of a morning person than I am. I started Kings Peak at something like 9:30.

[@ericmcgovern3119]

He actually said he was going to laugh he busted your ass while running that was funny

[@AmyRoutt]

Especially because it was the last couple miles as well lol

[@harley-davidsonaargauschwe821]

Well done! Thanks for sharing this adventure. Greetings from Switzerland, Sophie🇨🇭

[@AmyRoutt]

Thank you!!! :)

[@matthewmacneill949]

Wow, beautiful country, looked like an amazing day! Did you mention a SAR background in an early video? Either way, the safety tips have been great in the last couple videos. The last 17 months have brought a lot of people outdoors, which is amazing, but also a lot of inexperience. Great to see you sharing your experience and preparation. Haha, also some great one liners in this video too (reaction to the snow and ice pack leakage).

[@AmyRoutt]

No SAR experience, but wilderness ranger, wildland firefighing, and working on trails for the USFS! I'm glad you have noticed my tips. I have tried to make an effort to sneak in safety/LNT tips when it's natural. I believe that everyone deserves to have access to the outdoors, it's just that some people need to be educated a bit more! Which used to be me at some point. Plus, I still feel like I evolve and learn! Yeah, I couldn't believe I said "uh-oh spaghetti-o" LMAO But I guess that's my attempt at toning it down on the cuss words. But obviously some get out. hahaha Thanks for always supporting :)

[@matthewmacneill949]

@@AmyRoutt Right! I couldn't quite remember. It definitely comes across natural and not preachy. Great to see people sharing what they have learned, how they've grown, and just getting the word out. Thanks for sharing!

[@susanroutt3204]

Shout out to Fifi!!! at 4:07 is where I said that snap you took looked almost fake, like a postcard! Beautiful. You said it was windy but WOWZZA.

[@AmyRoutt]

I didn't get it on video, but there were a couple times where we both almost got knocked to the ground and there were gusts so strong that we crouched down and held onto something so we didn't get knocked over! I guess those gusts were likely over 40mph.

[@trailandtravel]

This was a great video! Im looking this forward to doing this day hike next weekend! Thank you for sharing!

[@AmyRoutt]

Yay! Have fun out there!! Hope you see some cool animals like we did

[@cimarronMC]

Such a beautiful hike, can't believe I haven't done it before.

[@ariacheng2316]

Great video! Which Month was this? We're planning to go on July 4th weekend.

[@AmyRoutt]

Thanks! This was on August 6th. 4th of July it will be likely that there will still be some snow. Have fun!!

[@therussellfreerange5269]

I watch your videos for entertainment. You are funny. I have a small channel and learning from people like you.

[@luisvidal6456]

Nice work! What is the emergency sleeping bag you mentioned at around 12:05? I imagine it's pretty lightweight given your pack size? Thanks!

[@AmyRoutt]

Thank you! Yes, it was just a mylar type of sleeping bag. So instead of just an emergency blanket, you'd be able to get into the entire thing and seal it up by your neck. Wouldn't have been comfortable!! haha But we both could have fit in it and at least we would have been safe (if the worst case were to happen). The one I have is by the brand Ready Hour. But there's a bunch from different brands you could get off amazon.

[@daegudiva]

Type 2 adventure is more meaningful when it might become a Type 3 adventure 😁🕶👣

[@AmyRoutt]

So true!!!! hahaha

[@matthewwong944]

The thing on your forehead, (kind of looks like a camera to me haha), looked uncomfortable 😂. It’s also amazing too see the land change from mainly rocks to trees :D

[@AmyRoutt]

My headlamp? Definitely comfortable! Doesn't bother me at all! :) Yeah, I love getting up into the high alpine. Crazy how the whole ecosystem changes when you cross the treeline!

[@matthewwong944]

@@AmyRoutt ohh whoops. Anything on my head is uncomfortable to me 😅

[@dorindaalberthal4414]

Hi Amy. Just watched your video from 2021 hiking Kings Peak. Looks amazing! I wondered if it’s a easy trail to follow and your thoughts on hiking it solo. I solo hiked R2R In a day solo this past May which was amazing! Any help is appreciated! Safe and happy trail, 🥾

[@AmyRoutt]

Amazing! I would love to do R2R in a day! It's been on my list. Kings Peak is VERY easy to follow. The last part up to the peak could be confusing for some, if they aren't used to scrambling. But the direction is up, so it's very easy to figure out! As far as going solo, I think it is suitable for solo as long as you're prepared. And in reality there are always many people on that trail, so you wouldn't be alone the whole time. I hope that helps!

[@dorindaalberthal1316]

@@AmyRoutt thanks Amy. Super helpful. If it helps I hiked from South Bright Angel trail to the North Rim. More water and bathrooms and though it’s steeper going up the North Rim that way worked best for me. Safe travels to you

[@erickelly5395]

i just did Kings in a day yesterday 10 July 2023. i was the only person that did the summit. would've been nice to see others in case something bad happened

[@schumi246]

How’s the road,I drive a Subaru Outback, and was wanting to do this, this summer, is that enough car to get there??

[@AmyRoutt]

Absolutely! The dirt road to get there has been well-graded both times that I've been there.

[@schumi246]

@@AmyRoutt also, is sleeping in your car allowed at the TH??

[@AmyRoutt]

@@schumi246 From my understanding, it is. There are even some first come, first served campsites

[@matthewstorm5188]

An Accord is enough car to get to the trailhead.

[@schumi246]

@@matthewstorm5188 that’s what I’ve heard from other places as well.

[@breannaivie9973]

What time of year did you guys do this??

[@AmyRoutt]

August 6th

[@BS2Dos]

👍👍

[@aarontaylor6156]

Did it a few years ago, two friends in white out conditions, we only knew we were at the top because of gps. Went back to camp and woke up the next morning to 11 degrees 😂 Had alot of fun but was cold

[@AmyRoutt]

That's crazy!! haha

[@aarontaylor6156]

Thanks for the reply Amy! Getting ready to do Mt Elbert next Tuesday my first 14er, did Nebo last week, have done the beat out got a little hung up in the boulder field at the bottom, missed the trail eventually found it. Another time up Bells canyon up the back of lone peak to the top found the Jacob's ladder trail ran out of water for a few hours but my wife picked me up at the trail head. Twin peaks, Timpanogus, Box Elders a good one Olympus is great to train on Hayden in the Uintas. Love the mountains and enjoyed your video, thanks ✌️

[@AmyRoutt]

@@aarontaylor6156 Have fun next week! I haven't done that one yet!!

[@flymanff]

Why ???

[@war3840]

Nice, now I want to watch Lord of The Rings 👍

[@HikingEngineer]

hey! I wrote you one time years ago after I watched your Buckskin Gulch video. I started my own hiking youtube channel this past August! I have a video on Kings too haha from this past August. Hope you are doing well! My channel might help you find some new stuff!

[@kiltrohiker5568]

You guys are crazy!!... @kiltrohiker

[@AmyRoutt]

Like I told you, you think that now! One day you might try it yourself!

[@kiltrohiker5568]

@@AmyRoutt you guys make it look so easy... but yeah, maybe for my second time... I haven't have even a first time yet.

[@beescheeseandwineplease889]

Haha, funny watching skinny people worry about not getting enough calories

[@AmyRoutt]

Gotta replenish those glycogen stores if you're doing a 26 mile day at high altitude! Especially if you're running a lot of it, vs walking.

[@matthewstorm5188]

Climbing Kings Peak is NOT sitting on a couch and watching TV! It is a serious 26 mile hike with over 4000ft of climbing that is going to have most hikers on the trail for 12+ hours. You are easily going to torch 2000+ calories on this one. And carbs are actually BETTER in the hypoxic environment at high altitude. So yes, you have to worry about getting enough calories.

[@nawnaw1749]

More enjoyable camping near dollar lake

[@AmyRoutt]

I've done that, as well! :) Both were enjoyable trips. Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy it when you did it in a day! Definitely stick to what you enjoy. Have fun out there!

[@nawnaw1749]

@@AmyRoutt, nice

[@matthewstorm5188]

Strokes for folks. It depends on what you like, really. Although Kings Peak is a long hike, backpacking is still optional rather than a necessity. Personally, I would rather NOT have to carry a large, heavy overnight pack all the way to Dollar Lake and back. But that’s just me.