Mount Peale
Encyclopedia
Mount Peale is the highest point in the La Sal Mountains
of San Juan County
, in the southeastern part of the US state of Utah
. It is also the highest point in Utah outside the Uinta Mountains
. It is located about 20 mi (32 km) southeast of Moab
. The peak rises high above the surrounding terrain, and this rise and its isolation from higher peaks help make it the 23rd most topographically prominent
peak in the contiguous United States
and an ultra prominent peak
. Mount Peale was named for Albert Peale, a mineralogist on the Hayden Survey of 1875.
The La Sal Mountains sit on the arid Colorado Plateau
, near such famous desert landmarks as Canyonlands National Park
and Arches National Park
. However due to their height, the La Sals are heavily forested and usually snow-capped until early summer (there is one snowfield on the north side that usually lasts year round). Mount Peale can be seen on a clear day from the Wasatch Plateau of central Utah, near Orangeville
, over 115 miles (185.1 km) away.
Mount Peale can be accessed from various directions, but is most commonly climbed from the area of La Sal Pass, 10125 ft (3,086 m), about 3 mi (5 km) to the southwest of the peak. La Sal Pass is accessed from the southeast via a graded gravel road. From the pass the summit is obtained by a short but steep off-trail hike of about 2.5 mi (4 km) with about 2600 ft (792.5 m) of elevation gain. The route often involves some travel on snow, even in summer.
La Sal Range
The La Sal Mountains are located in Grand and San Juan counties, near the eastern border of the state of Utah, and rising above the town of Moab. This range is part of the Manti-La Sal National Forest and the southern Rocky Mountains. The maximum elevation is at Mount Peale, reaching 12,721 feet ...
of San Juan County
San Juan County, Utah
As of the current census of 2010, there were 14,746 people and 4,505 households. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 50.4% Native American, 45.8% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% African American and 2.3% reporting two or more races...
, in the southeastern part of the US state of Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. It is also the highest point in Utah outside the Uinta Mountains
Uinta Mountains
The Uinta Mountains are a high chain of mountains in northeastern Utah and extreme northwestern Colorado in the United States. A subrange of the Rocky Mountains, they are unusual for being the highest range in the contiguous United States running east to west, and lie approximately east of Salt...
. It is located about 20 mi (32 km) southeast of Moab
Moab, Utah
Moab is a city in Grand County, in eastern Utah, in the western United States. The population was 4,779 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat and largest city in Grand County. Moab hosts a large number of tourists every year, mostly visitors to the nearby Arches and Canyonlands National Parks...
. The peak rises high above the surrounding terrain, and this rise and its isolation from higher peaks help make it the 23rd most topographically prominent
Topographic prominence
In topography, prominence, also known as autonomous height, relative height, shoulder drop , or prime factor , categorizes the height of the mountain's or hill's summit by the elevation between it and the lowest contour line encircling it and no higher summit...
peak in the contiguous United States
Contiguous United States
The contiguous United States are the 48 U.S. states on the continent of North America that are south of Canada and north of Mexico, plus the District of Columbia....
and an ultra prominent peak
Ultra prominent peak
An ultra prominent peak, or Ultra for short, is a mountain with a topographic prominence of or more. There are a total of roughly 1,524 such peaks in the world. Some are famous even to non-climbers, such as Mount Everest, Aconcagua, and Mount McKinley , while others are much more obscure...
. Mount Peale was named for Albert Peale, a mineralogist on the Hayden Survey of 1875.
The La Sal Mountains sit on the arid Colorado Plateau
Colorado Plateau
The Colorado Plateau, also called the Colorado Plateau Province, is a physiographic region of the Intermontane Plateaus, roughly centered on the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States. The province covers an area of 337,000 km2 within western Colorado, northwestern New Mexico,...
, near such famous desert landmarks as Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is a U.S. National Park located in southeastern Utah near the town of Moab and preserves a colorful landscape eroded into countless canyons, mesas and buttes by the Colorado River, the Green River, and their respective tributaries. The park is divided into four districts:...
and Arches National Park
Arches National Park
Arches National Park is a U.S. National Park in eastern Utah. It is known for preserving over 2000 natural sandstone arches, including the world-famous Delicate Arch, in addition to a variety of unique geological resources and formations....
. However due to their height, the La Sals are heavily forested and usually snow-capped until early summer (there is one snowfield on the north side that usually lasts year round). Mount Peale can be seen on a clear day from the Wasatch Plateau of central Utah, near Orangeville
Orangeville
Orangeville is the name of several places:In Australia:* Orangeville, New South WalesIn Canada:* Orangeville, OntarioIn the United States:* Orangeville, Illinois* Orangeville, Indiana, hamlet in DeKalb County* Orangeville, New York...
, over 115 miles (185.1 km) away.
Mount Peale can be accessed from various directions, but is most commonly climbed from the area of La Sal Pass, 10125 ft (3,086 m), about 3 mi (5 km) to the southwest of the peak. La Sal Pass is accessed from the southeast via a graded gravel road. From the pass the summit is obtained by a short but steep off-trail hike of about 2.5 mi (4 km) with about 2600 ft (792.5 m) of elevation gain. The route often involves some travel on snow, even in summer.