Uinta Mountains - Definition and Overview

The Uinta Mountains are a high chain of mountains in northeastern Utah in the United States. A subrange of the Rocky Mountains, they run east to west for approximately 100 mi (160 km) east of Salt Lake City. The peaks range in height from 12,000-13,500 ft (3,700-4,100 m), with the highest being Kings Peak at 13,528 ft (4,124 m), the highest point in Utah.

The south and east sides of the range are largely within the Colorado River watershed. The Green River, the principal tributary of the Colorado, flows in a tight arc around the eastern side of the range. The Bear River, the largest tributary of the Great Salt Lake, rises on the northern side of the range.

The range is snow-covered in winter. Several of the most popular ski resorts in Utah are located in the western end of the range.

Nearly the entire range is within the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. The highest peaks of the range are protected as part of the High Uintas Wilderness Area.