Mount Peale

Mount Peale
Mount Peale at extreme right edge of photo - taken from Arches National Park.
Elevation	12,721 feet (3,877 m)
Location	San Juan County, Utah, United States
Range	La Sal Mountains
Prominence	6,161 ft (1,878 m)[1]
Coordinates	38°26′19″N 109°13′45″W / 38.43861, -109.22917Coordinates: 38°26′19″N 109°13′45″W / 38.43861, -109.22917
Topo map	USGS Mount Peale (UT)
First ascent	unknown (probable prehistoric ascent)
Easiest route	La Sal Pass Route: 2.5 mile hike/scramble

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.^[2][3] It is located about 20 mi (32 km) southeast of Moab. The peak rises high above the surrounding terrain (8,700 ft (2,700 m) above Moab, for example), and this rise and its isolation from higher peaks help make it the 23^rd most topographically prominent peak in the contiguous United States and an ultra prominent peak.^[1] Mount Peale was named for Albert Peale, a mineralogist on the Hayden Survey of 1875.^[3] 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 often snow-capped in winter.^[4] Mount Peale can be seen on a clear day from the Henry Mountains of central Utah, over 100 miles (160 km) away. Mount Peale can be accessed from various directions, but is most commonly climbed from the area of La Sal Pass, 10,125 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 (4.0 km) with about 2,600 ft (800 m) of elevation gain. The route often involves some travel on snow, even in summer.^[4][3]

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