![]() ![]() The trailhead is easily accessed from the Highline Trail parking area along Mirror Lake Highway. Hayden Peak is recommended if you don't have time for a multi-day backpacking trip deeper into the Uintas, but really need a hit of wildflowers and low oxygen. If you get winded, just ask the resident mountain goats for advice. The good news is Hayden Peak trail is only 3.6 miles, but the bad news (for non-trail runners) is that it’s steep with 2,103 feet of elevation gain. Here’s a peak in the Uintas that you can hike in a day. Hayden Peak | 12,081 feet | High Uintas Wilderness Highly recommended for experienced adventurers who can use GPS. Some people complete the challenging 14.4 mile hike in a day, but with the drive out there it’s wise to make it an overnight trip. The Deep Creek Range is an oasis of aspen and pine trees with views at the top of the stark beauty of the Great Basin. Ibapah Peak is what you might call “in the middle of nowhere.” In the west desert near the Utah Nevada border, Ibapah is isolated and unvisited. The trail is a moderate 3-mile trek to the top although it is not well marked and you may want your GPS. You’re going to have to hike Delano Peak to really understand what's going on down there. Situated in between the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau, the Tushars are geologically unique with geothermal activity and a volcanic history. You might be thinking that the third highest mountain range in Utah has got to be the famous Wasatch Mountains, right? Nope! Head further south to Beaver, Utah, to the Tushar Range. A cool getaway from the desert heat, hike the challenging 4.8-mile trail or go onto summit 12,482 Mount Tukuhnikivatz as well. It has the honor of being the second most prominent peak in Utah, meaning it sticks out like a Winnebago on a salt flat. Often snow-covered even in summer, Mount Peale is the highest peak in Utah outside of the Uinta Mountains. ![]() Mount Peale | 12,726 feet | La Sal MountainsĮver wonder about that peak in the distance behind Delicate Arch? It’s Mount Peale. ![]() And of course you can earn another crown and hike 13,512-foot South Kings Peak nearby, or any of the other thirteeners in the area, although trail quality varies considerably. Most people do this 25-mile hike over a few days, camping at one of the lakes in Henry’s Fork basin along the way. Every peak in Utah over 13,000 feet is in the Central Uinta Range with Kings Peak wearing the crown. If you want to get high and stay high, the High Uinta Wilderness is the place for you. Stay safe you responsible recreators! Kings Peak | 13,528 feet | Uinta Mountains If this all sounds intimidating, a guide service can help you navigate not only the trail, but the altitude as well. Plan a few days of altitude acclimation into your trip to let your body adjust before heading to the trailhead. You can avoid getting sick by taking it nice and easy. Symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness, vomiting and shortness of breath. Altitude sickness occurs when your body has trouble adjusting to lower oxygen pressure. Safety first: When ascending peaks it’s important to prepare for the altitude, especially if you are coming from a low elevation place like Florida. We have a few from each category in our list. Elevation is measured starting at sea level, and prominence is how tall a peak is when compared with its surroundings. We chose some of the highest peaks in Utah that also happen to be great hikes.Ī quick note: There is a difference between elevation height and prominence. With 80 mountain ranges across the state, Utah has high points from the deserts of Moab to the alpine mountains of the Wasatch Front. The oxygen deprivation might even make you feel funny. Just hike to the top of one of its highest peaks. There is a way to legally get high in Utah. ![]()
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