Arco Peak and King Mountain

Published on 2026-03-28 by Michael Stanton

Arco Peak (2000 feet up/down)

I didn't leave town until early afternoon, and decided on a whim to climb the peak above the town of Arco, helpfully decorated with graffiti from various high school graduation years. I nosed around by the hospital above town but was dissuaded by signs about private property. Turns out I could have parked here and walked up the road, saving me at least a half mile of hiking. Undeterred, I drove south of town and back on a road where I parked on the flats and walked from there.

This is a great little hike as long as it isn't summertime, when it would certainly be too hot. No trees, just sagebrush. I followed a track up to the ridge crest above town, then down, up and down up again to reach the summit of Arco Peak.

There was a great view north to the King Mountain complex. I came down to meet a nice policeman who came out to check on me because people had seen my truck parked on the flats. He had a fantastic big, calm, brown dog. He suggested I leave a note on my truck for the future because people worry about folks.

Slopes of King Mountain in the morning

View from the hang-glider site

View from the ridge, looking north

I was humbled by the concern of the local folks! He said he saw my helmet in the cab of the truck and realized I wasn't likely to go too far wrong, though recently somebody had been up there and run into trouble (maybe they got lost or didn't have good equipment come nightfall). I walked somewhat abashed to the truck, tempted to wave at folks who might watch through spyglasses!

I camped for the night below the road up Kings Mountain to the hangglider site. This is really fun. To be able to cook dinner, have a beer and enjoy the sunset over the mountains.

King Mountain (5400 feet up/down)

The next morning, I moved the truck about a mile up the road and started hiking. I met a nice local fella who does hanggliding often. He'd flown over the mountain and figured I'd have a good ascent, so long as I was ready for snow and cornices on the ridge.

The trail begins at 7800 feet, where the hanggliders take off, and boy, is it steep! I powered up about 1000 feet then switched to mountain boots for talus slopes. 1000 feet above, I got the crampons, ice axe and helmet out, then enjoyed a bit of French-technique snow climbing on the crest. It reminded me of the Moensch in Switzerland. Don't fall! The snow was firm, good for cramponing.

Now the ridge turned west and after a few minutes I was at the base of cliffs below the summit. The easiest way seemed to be to go a little left and front-point my way up snow gullies between rock ribs on the north side of the crest. This was really fun...it felt quite alpine, for someone who is out of practice with such things!

A favorite picture, looking north, with neat limestone cliffs

Looking south to the Arco Peak complex

Looking to the north summit from the middle summit

Soon I was on the summit, actually the middle summit of the complex. Now I descended then re-ascended a ridge going north / northeast to the true summit, also called North King Mountain.

Wow. I could see south to Arco Peak, and over to Jumpoff Peak from the weekend before. I saw Saddle Mountain, hopefully a peak to climb soon.

I'd removed crampons for the ridge walk between the summits. Now I got them on again and after a quick visit to the Middle Summit again, started down. It was tougher going down the front-pointing section because the snow was softer, and didn't hold the pick of my axe. Also, a crampon was mis-adjusted, so I had to stop at a strategic point in a rock gully to fix it. I could plunge the axe in when necessary the rest of the way.

A view to the Pioneer Range

On top, looking back

Looking down the north side from the summit

The "classic ridge walk" between the summits

Happy to be done with the steep stuff, I wandered on down the ridge, mostly plunge-stepping but once turning to face in at an exposed point. Finally I was below the snow and could remove the spikes. I made it down to my tennis shoes, re-applyed them, and enjoyed the steep way down to the hang-glider launch point to rest on a bench. Whew! Now just a walk down to the truck.

I was sitting on the tailgate looking up at the mountain and smoking a cigar, when another cool chap came by on foot. He was just curious how my day went, having spoken to his roommate (the guy from the morning). He plans to reach the summit next week and fly off it. Hot dawg, what amazing folks there are out here!

I was pretty exhausted from the day...drove home, listening to a mix of political news and an essay on Schopenhauer. A fine weekend. Thanks to God, good mountains and even better people 'round these parts!

Another view of that limestone cliff on the descent

My truck is actually visible, lol

On the left is the talus slope with a vertiginous trail

Park bench rest

Goodbye King Mountain!