King Peak is the southernmost summit above 11000 feet (3,352.8 m) in the Ruby Mountains

Ruby Mountains

The Ruby Mountains comprise one of the many mountain ranges of the Great Basin in the western United States. They are the predominant range in Elko County, in the northeastern section of the state of Nevada. To the north is Secret Pass and the East Humboldt Range, and from there the Rubies run...

 of Elko County

Elko County, Nevada

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 45,291 people, 15,638 households, and 11,493 families residing in the county. The population density was 3/sq mi . There were 18,456 housing units at an average density of 1/sq mi...

, in northeastern Nevada

Nevada

Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...

 in the western United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. To the west is Rattlesnake Canyon, and to the east is Overland Creek Canyon, which drains into the Ruby Valley

Ruby Valley

Ruby Valley is a large basin located in south-central Elko and northern White Pine Counties in the northeastern section of the state of Nevada in the western United States. From Secret Pass it runs south-southwest for approximately 60 miles to Overland Pass...

). The Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail

Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail

right|Location of the Ruby Crest Trail within Nevada.right|thumb|Overland Lakeright|thumb|North Furlong Lakeright|thumb|Lamoille Lake and Dollar Lakes...

 passes just to the east on its way north from Overland Lake

Overland Lake, Nevada

Overland Lake is a glacial tarn in the Ruby Mountains of Elko County in the northeastern part of the state of Nevada. It is located at the head of Overland Canyon at approximately 40°27.6'N and 115°27.4'W, and at an elevation of 9,450 feet . It has an area of approximately 15 acres ,...

. The summit is located at about 29 miles (47 km) southeast of the community of Elko

Elko, Nevada

Elko is a city in Elko County, Nevada, United States. The population was 18,297 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Elko County. The city straddles the Humboldt River....

, in the Humboldt National Forest and the Ruby Mountains Wilderness

Ruby Mountains Wilderness

The Ruby Mountains Wilderness is a protected wilderness area in the Ruby Mountains of Elko County, in the northeast section of the state of Nevada in the western United States. It covers an area of approximately 90,000 acres , and is administered by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.-External...

.

The peak is named for Clarence King

Clarence King

Clarence R. King was an American geologist, mountaineer, and art critic. First director of the United States Geological Survey, from 1879 to 1881, King was noted for his exploration of the Sierra Nevada. He was born in Newport, Rhode Island.-Career:...

, who explored this region in 1869 during the Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel

Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel

The Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel was a geological survey made by order of the Secretary of War according to acts of Congress of March 2,1867, and March 3, 1869, under the direction of Brig. and Bvt. Major General A. A. Humphreys, Chief of Engineers, by Clarence King, U. S....

 and later became first chief of the United States Geological Survey

United States Geological Survey

The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...

.