Last updated October 5, 2026
Utah 13ers: 19 Ranked Peaks of the High Uintas
Utah’s 13,000-foot mountains form a remote peakbagging project deep in the High Uintas. The important detail is the definition: modern peakbaggers commonly use 19 ranked summits with at least 200 feet of prominence. That is not the same as saying Utah has only 19 points above 13,000 feet.
How Many Utah 13ers Are There?
For the modern ranked-peak challenge, use 19 Utah 13ers. Peakbagger currently defines a ranked summit as having at least 200 feet of topographic prominence, producing a 19-peak list.
David Rose’s classic Utah Thirteeners guidebook describes 21 peaks above 13,000 feet. Modern elevation databases also identify additional 13,000-foot subsidiary summits that do not meet the 200-foot prominence threshold.
So the useful distinction is: 19 ranked Utah 13ers versus a larger number of raw 13,000-foot summits and sub-summits.
19 Ranked Peaks Is a Prominence List—not a Count of Every 13,000-Foot Point
This distinction fixes the biggest problem in older Utah 13ers lists: elevation alone does not determine whether a nearby bump counts as a separate peak.
19 peaks
Peakbagger currently applies a 200-foot prominence threshold and produces 19 ranked Utah summits above 13,000 feet.
21 peaks
David Rose’s Utah Thirteeners introduced generations of Utah hikers to a 21-summit interpretation of the High Uintas.
More than 19 points
Modern mapping includes subsidiary summits such as Second Gemini, Mount Powell North and South, and Cliff Point that rise above 13,000 feet but fail the 200-foot prominence test.
Utah’s 13ers Are Defined as Much by the Approach as the Summit.
The High Uintas are roadless wilderness on the crest. A peak that is technically moderate can still demand substantial backpacking, navigation, weather judgment and self-sufficiency.
The 19 Ranked Utah 13ers
Elevations and prominence below follow the current Peakbagger clean/average dataset. Values can differ slightly from older USGS maps and guidebook figures.
| # | Peak | Elevation | Prominence | Planning character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kings Peak | 13,529.4 ft | 6,349 ft | Utah high point · Henrys Fork classic |
| 2 | South Kings Peak | 13,517.2 ft | 352 ft | Natural extension from Kings |
| 3 | Gilbert Peak | 13,447.5 ft | 1,559 ft | Major Henrys Fork-area objective |
| 4 | Mount Emmons | 13,444.9 ft | 912.6 ft | Remote eastern crest |
| 5 | Painter Peak | 13,390.4 ft | 317.1 ft | Kings–Emmons high-country link |
| 6 | Roberts Peak | 13,296.8 ft | 560.1 ft | Remote ridge objective |
| 7 | Henrys Fork Peak | 13,273.1 ft | 553 ft | Henrys Fork / central crest |
| 8 | Gunsight Peak | 13,270.8 ft | 636.7 ft | Central crest scrambling |
| 9 | Trail Rider Peak | 13,256.2 ft | 356.9 ft | Remote crest peak |
| 10 | Mount Lovenia | 13,224.3 ft | 1,477.7 ft | Western / Blacks Fork sector |
| 11 | South Mount Emmons | 13,173.2 ft | 227.6 ft | Ranked satellite of Emmons |
| 12 | Tokewanna Peak | 13,169.2 ft | 1,290.9 ft | Western Uinta objective |
| 13 | Wasatch Peak | 13,160.8 ft | 862.1 ft | Blacks Fork sector |
| 14 | Mount Powell — Middle Peak | 13,156.2 ft | 812.7 ft | Swift Creek / central-western sector |
| 15 | Dome Peak | 13,101.0 ft | 644 ft | Central crest |
| 16 | Pinnacle Peak | 13,090.0 ft | 479.5 ft | Emmons sector |
| 17 | Wilson Peak | 13,059.1 ft | 1,305.3 ft | Swift Creek / Yellowstone sector |
| 18 | Mount Wapiti | 13,045.6 ft | 281.5 ft | Western Uinta crest |
| 19 | Quandary Peak | 13,036.5 ft | 820.2 ft | Remote western ridge objective |
Important 13,000-Foot Summits That Do Not Make the Ranked 19
These are real high points, but a prominence-based list treats them as subsidiary summits rather than independent ranked peaks.
| Summit | Approx. elevation | Prominence | Why excluded from ranked 19 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second Gemini | 13,311 ft | ~103 ft | Below 200-ft cutoff |
| Mount Powell — North Peak | 13,159 ft | ~79 ft | Below 200-ft cutoff |
| Mount Powell — South Peak | 13,137 ft | ~57 ft | Below 200-ft cutoff |
| Cliff Point | 13,064 ft | ~24 ft | Below 200-ft cutoff |
This is why the phrase “all Utah peaks above 13,000 feet” should not be used interchangeably with “the 19 Utah 13ers.”
A Nearby Summit Can Be Higher Than 13,000 Feet Without Being a Ranked 13er.
The 200-foot prominence rule prevents every small ridge bump from becoming an independent completion objective.
Think in Access Zones—not 19 Separate Trailhead Trips
These are practical planning zones, not official Forest Service peak groups. Several summits can reasonably be approached from more than one drainage.
Kings / Gilbert / central crest
The best-known northern approach. It serves the classic Kings Peak trip and provides access toward Gilbert, Gunsight, Henrys Fork Peak and nearby high country.
Emmons / Painter / eastern crest
Useful for remote eastern objectives where approaching every summit from Henrys Fork would create unnecessary mileage.
Powell / Wilson
Swift Creek provides a logical access corridor for the Mount Powell and Wilson Peak side of the central Uintas.
Tokewanna / Wasatch / Lovenia sector
Western and northwestern approaches serve the Lovenia–Tokewanna–Wasatch portion of the ranked list.
The Ranked Peaks Follow the High Uinta Crest
Route planning becomes much easier once the list is treated as a long east-west wilderness system rather than a set of independent day hikes.
Distance From Help Matters More Than a Summit’s Yosemite Decimal Grade.
Most ranked Utah 13ers are hiking and scrambling objectives in normal summer conditions. The seriousness comes from long approaches, off-trail navigation, storms and slow evacuation.
Start With Kings Peak—Then Learn the Range Before Chasing the Remote List
Completion order should build wilderness competence, not simply descend the elevation table.
Use Bald Mountain or another shorter Uinta summit to learn how you move above 11,000 feet without combining altitude with a multi-day approach.
Kings Peak is the clearest introduction because the standard Henrys Fork approach is established and teaches backpacking, pacing and high-elevation weather.
Add South Kings or a compact central objective after proving you can manage the approach, summit day and exit efficiently.
Move into the Emmons, Powell/Wilson and western groups once off-trail navigation and remote camp systems are routine rather than new.
Before committing to the remote groups, use the Mountain Readiness Assessment to check endurance, navigation, altitude and wilderness experience.
Kings Peak Teaches the Logistics the Rest of the List Will Demand.
The standard route is comparatively straightforward, but the long approach, altitude and wilderness setting make it a much better introduction than choosing a remote 13er because it looks shorter on a map.
Mid-July Through Mid-September Is the Simplest Snow-Free Planning Window
That is a planning window, not an opening/closing date. Snowpack and early autumn storms vary materially from year to year.
| Period | Typical planning issue | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| June–early July | Lingering snow, wet trails, stream crossings and mosquitoes. | Experienced early-season parties after current-condition checks. |
| Mid-July–August | Best trail access, but frequent afternoon convection/lightning risk. | Core backpacking and peakbagging season. |
| Early–mid September | Cooler nights, shorter days and possibility of early snow. | Often excellent with a stable forecast. |
| Late September onward | Increasing snow and winter-weather uncertainty. | Conditions-based travel rather than routine summer planning. |
The Rules That Matter Before You Build a Base Camp
Trailhead fees and current orders vary by access point. Wilderness-wide restrictions are the more durable planning layer.
Maximum 14 people
Forest Service wilderness guidance prohibits groups larger than 14 people. Larger groups must separate into independent parties.
200-foot separation rule
Do not camp within 200 feet of an occupied campsite, designated trail or water source under the published wilderness restrictions.
Wilderness means foot or stock
Motorized and mechanized forms of transportation are prohibited within designated wilderness.
The High Uintas Are Not a Collection of Summit Parking Lots.
Camp placement, water protection, group size and low-impact travel matter because the same basins often support repeated multi-day peakbagging trips.
What Actually Makes the Utah 13ers Serious?
The difficulty is cumulative. A moderate scramble can become a serious problem when it sits a full day’s walk from a road.
Lightning above treeline
Much of the summit travel is exposed. Early starts and conservative retreat decisions are fundamental.
Off-trail crest travel
Several ranked peaks lack maintained summit trails. Carry offline maps plus an independent navigation backup.
Do not assume cellular service
A satellite messenger is a strong choice for remote groups, but it does not replace an itinerary, first-aid ability or self-rescue planning.
Repeated travel above 13,000 ft
The combination of high camps and multiple summits can reveal altitude problems that never appear on shorter Utah day hikes.
Talus and loose blocks
Uinta summit ridges can be slow and tiring even when they are not technically difficult.
Distance multiplies consequences
A sprain or navigation error deep in the wilderness can become an overnight problem rather than a quick trailhead retreat.
Use Prepare to Climb to build the weather, navigation, communication and turnaround systems before moving into the remote completion groups.
A Good Utah 13ers Plan Leaves Room for Weather Days and Failed Summits.
The objective is not to force every planned summit. A completion project rewards efficient grouping, but it also rewards the discipline to walk away from an exposed ridge when the day deteriorates.
Build the Project in Four Stages
The best sequence is the one that adds one new problem at a time: altitude, backpacking, off-trail travel and finally multi-peak remoteness.
Shorter Uinta objectives such as Bald Mountain: altitude, storms and exposed terrain without a wilderness approach.
Kings Peak: multi-day load management, camp systems and the state’s highest summit.
Add a compact two- or three-peak campaign where navigation and off-trail ridge movement become part of the trip.
Finish with the remote Emmons and western objectives after route-finding, wilderness camping and weather decisions are familiar.
For climbers considering the 13ers as part of a wider Utah progression, browse First-Hand Climbs & Field Reports for documented mountain experience and progression context.
Utah 13ers FAQ
The key is keeping “13,000-foot summit” and “ranked 13er” separate.
How many Utah 13ers are there?
Global Summit Guide uses 19 ranked Utah 13ers, following the modern 200-foot prominence convention used by Peakbagger and SummitPost-style peakbagging lists. Other counts exist because older guidebooks and raw elevation inventories use different definitions.
Why does David Rose’s guidebook say 21?
The classic Utah Thirteeners guidebook describes 21 peaks above 13,000 feet. Modern elevation data and prominence-based ranking conventions divide the summits differently. Both numbers can be meaningful when their definitions are stated.
What is the highest Utah 13er?
Kings Peak is Utah’s highest mountain. The current Peakbagger dataset gives an elevation of about 13,529 feet, while many Forest Service and traditional references use 13,528 feet.
Is Second Gemini one of the ranked 19?
No under the 200-foot prominence convention. It rises above 13,000 feet but has only about 103 feet of prominence in the current Peakbagger dataset.
What replaced Second Gemini on the corrected list?
South Mount Emmons is a ranked summit with about 228 feet of prominence and belongs in the 19-peak prominence list.
What is the best first Utah 13er?
Kings Peak is the clearest first objective for most experienced backpackers. The standard Henrys Fork route is long but comparatively straightforward, making it a better introduction than a remote off-trail peak.
When is the best time to climb Utah 13ers?
Mid-July through mid-September is the simplest planning window for mostly snow-free travel, but snowpack, thunderstorms and early autumn storms vary each year. Check current forecasts and trail conditions before every trip.
Do Utah 13ers require technical climbing gear?
Most standard summer routes are hiking and scrambling objectives rather than technical rope climbs. Snow or ice can change that immediately, and several remote ridges require strong route-finding and exposure judgment.
What are the High Uintas Wilderness group rules?
Published Forest Service guidance limits groups to 14 people and includes restrictions on campsite spacing, travel methods and camping near trails, water and occupied sites. Check current Forest Service orders before departure.
Keep This Page as the 13ers Completion Hub
Individual hiking guides should own route detail. This page should remain the list definition, peak inventory and completion strategy.
Let Kings Peak Teach You Whether You Want the Full Utah 13ers Project.
If you finish Kings wanting more wilderness rather than less, the remaining 18 ranked peaks become a remarkable multi-year High Uintas project. Build the skill set first, then build the list.
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Global Summit Guide is an independent mountaineering resource founded in 2026. The team combines first-hand trekking and climbing experience with in-depth research and professional health and nutrition review to help climbers choose objectives, prepare properly, and stay safe.
Health, altitude, and nutrition content is reviewed by Taylor Ludlow (Registered Nurse) and Brigg Hoopes (Nutritionist).
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