Trip Report: Trail Running Kings Peak via Henry's Fork


Trail Running Kings Peak via Henry's Fork
By Kerry Regan
RUN 08/08/2026 EXT
Participants: Kerry R, Matt P, Michelle M, May R, Kiki M, Jorge T, Caroline P, Matt M, Christoph H, Eric W

Kings Peak from Henry's Fork is a classic Utah trail running route and a rite of passage for Utah trail runners. With its sweeping meadows and rugged terrain, it is a trail runner's dream! A group of 10 of us decided to give it a go. We arrived at the trailhead Friday evening, and after a brief dinner around a propane fire (thanks to May, since campfires were banned), we got to bed early for a 3:00 am wake up.

By 4:00 am we were on the trail, running through the dark. We passed a handful of other hikers and runners before reaching Henry's Fork Basin, where we could finally put away our headlamps. For much of the morning we leapfrogged with another runner, a man named Kevin, who we basically absorbed into our group. After a few short breaks, we made it to Gunsight Pass and dropped into Painter Basin.

The summit push slowed as most of us felt the elevation between 12,000 and 13,000 feet. By 9:30 am all 10 of us were standing on the top. The weather cooperated and most of the smoke that had plagued the area earlier in the week had cleared out. We took in the views, snapped some photos, and started back down. On the way, we saw Kevin and cheered him on as he too made it to the summit (he later emailed me and is planning to join us on more runs).

The way back from Kings Peak is always a slog, and this day was no exception. We stopped for water more than once and ate as much as we could, but a few of us fought some stomach issues from the elevation. Following Caroline's questionable advice, Kiki and Jorge each ate an entire Nuun tablet for electrolytes and proceeded to burp their way down the trail.

Although it was a hard run back to the cars, all of us made it back before 3:00 pm. We all stopped at the trailhead for some much needed food and cold drinks before we drove back to Salt Lake City, glad to have made it to the peak of Utah in a day.

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