King Peak (Nevada)

King Peak
King Peak, looking south.
Highest point
Elevation11,036 ft (3,364 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence1,311 ft (400 m)[1]
Coordinates40°28′36″N 115°28′14″W / 40.4765955°N 115.4706087°W / 40.4765955; -115.4706087[2]
Geography
Parent rangeRuby Mountains
Topo mapUSGS Franklin Lake NW
Climbing
Easiest routeFrom the Ruby Crest Trail: steep hike

King Peak is the southernmost summit above 11,000 feet (3,400 m) in the Ruby Mountains of Elko County, in northeastern Nevada in the western United States. To the west is Rattlesnake Canyon, and to the east is Overland Creek Canyon, which drains into the Ruby Valley). The Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail passes just to the east on its way north from Overland Lake. The summit is located at about 29 miles (47 km) southeast of the community of Elko, in the Humboldt National Forest and the Ruby Mountains Wilderness.

The peak is named for Clarence King, who explored this region in 1869 during the Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel and later became first chief of the United States Geological Survey.[3]

King Peak, looking west from the Overland Lake Trail.

References

  1. ^ a b "King Peak, Nevada". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
  2. ^ "King Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
  3. ^ Moore, James Gregory (2006). King of the 40th Parallel: Discovery in the American West. Stanford, Calif: Stanford General Books. ISBN 0-8047-5222-2.