2026 Young Men's Camp

The road to Kings Peak begins long before the summit.

Three prep events, one big finish. A 5k Fun Run, an overnight gear check at Horsetail Falls, and a conditioning hike up Mapleton — building toward a three day backpacking trip to the highest point in Utah.

13,528' Summit Elevation
25.5 mi Kings Peak RT
3 days Main Trip
3 Prep Events
The Season

Four events. One summit.

Each event has a purpose. Aerobic conditioning, then a full gear shakedown, then a final pressure test, and finally the main event. Skip the prep and Kings Peak gets a lot harder.

Prep 1
Tuesday, June 2, 2026

5k Fun Run

A combined YM activity in Harvest Hills. Aerobic conditioning, a little competition, a lot of fun.

View run details
Prep 2
June 19-20, 2026

Horsetail Falls Overnight

Three miles into Dry Creek Canyon to shake down every piece of gear: pack, tent, stove, filter, sleeping system.

View overnight details
Prep 3
Saturday, July 11, 2026

Mapleton Canyon Day Hike

Eight miles, 3,200 feet of gain. The final pressure test before Kings Peak — anyone who finishes this finishes the summit.

View hike details
Main Event
July 30 - August 1, 2026

Kings Peak Backpacking

Three days, two nights in the High Uintas. Base camp at Dollar Lake, summit attempt on day two at 13,528 feet.

View the main trip
For Families

Not sure what to buy?

Backpacking gear can get expensive fast. The shopping guide walks through what to buy, what to borrow, and what to skip. Most boys can outfit themselves for less than $150 with a mix of borrowed and budget gear.

Open the Parent Shopping Guide
Key Dates

Schedule at a glance

DateEventWhoNotes
Tue 11/11/2025Parent and Youth NightAll YM + parentsAlready completed
Tue 3/31/2026Hike the YDeacons & PriestsAlready completed
Tue 5/5/2026Suspension Bridge HikeCombined YM/YWAlready completed
Tue 6/2/20265k Fun RunCombined YM7-8pm, Harvest Hills
Fri-Sat 6/19-20/2026Horsetail Falls OvernightAll YM + fathers3 miles, gear check
Sat 7/11/2026Mapleton Canyon Day HikeAll YM + fathers8 miles, arrive 6:45, depart 7:00 sharp
Tue 7/28/2026Pack CheckAll YM7-8pm, confirm gear and slips
Thu-Sat 7/30-8/1/2026Kings PeakAll YM + fathersMain event, 3 days
Why we do this

It is not really about the mountain.

A summit is a useful goal, but the real win is the season of preparation. Boys learn to carry their own weight, take care of their feet, look out for a buddy, and finish something hard.

Fathers come too. We need drivers and adult supervision, but more importantly this is some amazing father and son time in country that does not have cell service.

Fathers Encouraged

Every event on this site is open to fathers as well as the youth. Even if you cannot make Kings Peak itself, joining one of the prep hikes is a great way to see what your son is in for and spend a day in the mountains together.