Mount Peale: A Short, Steep Hike to the Highest Peak on the Colorado Plateau

Mule Deer in a La Sal Mountains Meadow

Mule deer crossing one of the green high-country meadows below Mount Peale — a striking change from the red-rock desert surrounding nearby Moab.

Summer Life in the Mount Peale High Country

A tiny encounter along the Mount Peale route. The mountain's alpine environment is significant enough that Mount Peale and neighboring Mount Tukuhnikivatz have been protected as a Forest Service Research Natural Area since 1988.

Loose Scree High on Mount Peale

The character of Mount Peale changes quickly above the trees: broad slopes of loose scree and talus replace the meadows and forest, with the La Sal Mountains opening out below.

Approaching Mount Peale Through the La Sal Mountains

The approach into the La Sal Mountains, rising unexpectedly green above southeastern Utah's desert country. Beneath the scenery is an unusual geological story: the La Sals were formed by magma intruding below sedimentary rock and pushing the overlying layers upward.

Photo gallery