King & 3 Queens - Richmond
Date: 08/05/2024
Partner: Kristi Henes
Trailhead: Richmond Pass TH
Summits: Richmond Peak (UR) - King and 3 Queens (UR)
Distance: 8m
Elevation Gain: 4350ft
Duration: 6hrs
GPX
Richmond Peak 14ers.com Page
King and 3 Queens 14ers.com Page
The well maintained Richmond Trail to the pass is a calf burner. I often complain about too many switchbacks, but not this time. The views in the upper basin are well worth the hike. We skipped the class 3 ridge between South Hayden and King and 3 Queens (K3Q) due to my recently broken finger. It felt a bit odd to drop down and skip a ridge but it was fun none the less. The final pitch to King's summit is manky but worse than it looks in the pictures.
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8m - 4350ft - 6hrs
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The trail to Richmond Pass is well maintained albeit consistently steep.
![King 3 queens 03]()
Red Mountain across the way to the south
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The upper basin really opens up. Richmond on the left - South Hayden on the right
![King 3 queens 05]()
South Hayden
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From the top of Richmond Pass the views of Sneffels and the Yankee Boy peaks is impressive
![King 3 queens 07]()
Climbing to Richmond Peak's northeast ridge. King and 3 Queens in the distance
![King 3 queens 08]()
Northwestern views with United States Mountain in the foreground - Emma and Gilpin dominating views in the distance
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Final pitch to Richmond Peak
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Summitting Richmond with Yankee Boy peaks as a backdrop
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Descending Richmond's northeast ridge. With my newly broken index finger we would skip South Hayden(L) and it's C3 ridge to King and 3 Queens( in the distance).
![King 3 queens 12]()
We opted to drop below South Hayden and gain it's west ridge after the class 3 section
![King 3 queens 13]()
Heading up to King and 3 Queens west ridge. Ascending our descent route off of K3Q might be easier going than this loose section we climbed.
![King 3 queens 14]()
Although this section of ridge was cool!
![King 3 queens 15]()
Looking back to the class 3 coming off South Hayden. If I were to traverse this section of ridge I think I would go from K3Q to South Hayden
![King 3 queens 16]()
It's good to be the King
![King 3 queens 17]()
Manky 2+ to the summit of King. It climbs easier than it looks but still manky
![King 3 queens 18]()
Southern views to South Hayden from the summit
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The tedious down climb from the summit of King
![King 3 queens 20]()
Can't complain about the views though
![King 3 queens 21]()
Descending on the grass was smooth - we picked up the Full Moon Trail to the left of the prominent bump in the center
![King 3 queens 22]()
Hiking the Full Moon Trail back to the Richmond Trail. South Hayden behind
![King 3 queens 23]()
A final view of K3Q before hiking down the Richmond Trail to the truck
