The Wilderness Study Area (WSA) extends 8 miles from north to south, and 4
miles from east to west. Located in the Henry Mountains, this dome-shaped
mountain rises nearly 3,000 feet above the surrounding plains and benches to
an elevation of 9,187 feet. Roughly 79 percent of the area has outstanding
opportunities for primitive recreation. Portions of the WSA are range for
Henry Mountain Bison Herd, cougar, and peregrine falcon.

The Wilderness Study Area (WSA) extends 8 miles from north to south, and 4 miles from east to west. Located in the Henry Mountains, this dome-shaped mountain rises nearly 3,000 feet above the surrounding plains and benches to an elevation of 9,187 feet. Roughly 79 percent of the area has outstanding opportunities for primitive recreation. Portions of the WSA are range for Henry Mountain Bison Herd, cougar, and peregrine falcon.

Bird's eye view of the park

Bull Mountain

At an elevation of over 8,000 feet, and surrounded by pine and aspen trees,
Dandelion Flat includes fire rings, grills, picnic tables, benches, potable
water, and restrooms. It is designated for day use.

At an elevation of over 8,000 feet, and surrounded by pine and aspen trees, Dandelion Flat includes fire rings, grills, picnic tables, benches, potable water, and restrooms. It is designated for day use.

Dandelion Flat Picnic Area

This remote BLM Byway is a single-lane road for 68 miles with a dirt surface.
There are numerous rough sections, steep grades, and blind curves. The route
ascends from the desert floor, traversing badlands, and buttes, canyons and
cliffs, through slopes of spruce and ponderosa to the alpine elevations of
Bull Creek Pass. The wildlife match its diversity. Mule Deer, antelope,
bighorn sheep, mountain lion and bison all inhabit the Henry Mountains.
Developed campgrounds are on the byway at McMillan Springs campground and just
north of it at Lonesome Beaver Campground.

This remote BLM Byway is a single-lane road for 68 miles with a dirt surface. There are numerous rough sections, steep grades, and blind curves. The route ascends from the desert floor, traversing badlands, and buttes, canyons and cliffs, through slopes of spruce and ponderosa to the alpine elevations of Bull Creek Pass. The wildlife match its diversity. Mule Deer, antelope, bighorn sheep, mountain lion and bison all inhabit the Henry Mountains. Developed campgrounds are on the byway at McMillan Springs campground and just north of it at Lonesome Beaver Campground.

Bull Creek Pass Backcountry Byway

Poison Springs Road, a rough single-lane tract in some places, a well defined
roadbed in others, is the only motorized route which crosses the Dirty Devil
River between Hanksville and Hite on Lake Powell. Beginning at Utah Highway
95, it dips into a progressively narrower and steeper canyon, while descending
through scenic sandstone formations as it follows Poison Springs creek. Once
across the Dirty Devil River, the route follows the impressive and colorful
Big Ridge in North Hatch Canyon, past Fiddler Butte to the boundary with the
National Park Service's Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Poison Springs
Road is frequently closed by washouts and high water levels and is not
recommended for novices or most street-legal vehicles except high clearance
ones. There are no developed facilities in the Poison Spring Canyon area.

Poison Springs Road, a rough single-lane tract in some places, a well defined roadbed in others, is the only motorized route which crosses the Dirty Devil River between Hanksville and Hite on Lake Powell.  Beginning at Utah Highway 95, it dips into a progressively narrower and steeper canyon, while descending through scenic sandstone formations as it follows Poison Springs creek. Once across the Dirty Devil River, the route follows the impressive and colorful Big Ridge in North Hatch Canyon, past Fiddler Butte to the boundary with the National Park Service's Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Poison Springs Road is frequently closed by washouts and high water levels and is not recommended for novices or most street-legal vehicles except high clearance ones. There are no developed facilities in the Poison Spring Canyon area.

Poison Spring Canyon

The Blue Hills, in the northern and western portion of the WSA, are low mesas
and barren badlands carved by erosion from blue-gray marine shales. The Mt.
Ellen portion of the WSA consists of steep slopes and rounded peaks, including
Mt. Ellen, with large basins and wide canyons. Mt. Ellen is part of the Henry
Mountains, well-known in American geology for classical studies of intrusive
mountain structures, upturned sedimentary rocks, and stream gradients. Mt.
Ellen is the largest structural dome in the Henry Mountains, with a diameter
of 12 to 15 miles. Predominant vegetation at the lower elevations is pinyon-
juniper and saltbrush. Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and alpine fir grow at the
higher elevations.

The Blue Hills, in the northern and western portion of the WSA, are low mesas and barren badlands carved by erosion from blue-gray marine shales. The Mt. Ellen portion of the WSA consists of steep slopes and rounded peaks, including Mt. Ellen, with large basins and wide canyons. Mt. Ellen is part of the Henry Mountains, well-known in American geology for classical studies of intrusive mountain structures, upturned sedimentary rocks, and stream gradients. Mt. Ellen is the largest structural dome in the Henry Mountains, with a diameter of 12 to 15 miles. Predominant vegetation at the lower elevations is pinyon-juniper and saltbrush. Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and alpine fir grow at the higher elevations.

Mt. Ellen-Blue Hills

State Route 95, Utahs Bicentennial Highway, runs through North Wash toward the
northern end of Lake Powell. Aside form the highway traffic, the most likely
reason most folks visit North Wash is to climb, hike, and canyoneer. The
highway offers very easy access to some of the most popular and extraordinary
techincal canyon adventures. From the "Irish Canyons" to the "Hog Canyons",
there are canyons here for all levels of experience. While there is a restroom
at Hog Springs Picnic Area, no other facilities are developed in North Wash.
There is plenty to see and do in North Wash, but if you feel like reaching
out, North Wash is also centrally located and a short drive from other popular
hiking areas such as Poison Spring, Trachyte, Maidenwater, and Trail Canyons.

State Route 95, Utahs Bicentennial Highway, runs through North Wash toward the northern end of Lake Powell. Aside form the highway traffic, the most likely reason most folks visit North Wash is to climb, hike, and canyoneer. The highway offers very easy access to some of the most popular and extraordinary techincal canyon adventures. From the "Irish Canyons" to the "Hog Canyons", there are canyons here for all levels of experience. While there is a restroom at Hog Springs Picnic Area, no other facilities are developed in North Wash. There is plenty to see and do in North Wash, but if you feel like reaching out, North Wash is also centrally located and a short drive from other popular hiking areas such as Poison Spring, Trachyte, Maidenwater, and Trail Canyons.

North Wash Recreation Area

The dirt access route runs easterly across the Burr Desert flat lands ending
at the cliff tops of the Dirty Devil River. Views across, up, and down the
canyon are stunning and have as backdrops the Abajos, the La Sal, and the
Henry Mountains. Burr Point Overlook is also occasionally used as a trailhead
to access the Dirty Devil River. This access however has been described as
challenging, techincal, and risky. There are no developed facilities at Burr
Point Overlook.

The dirt access route runs easterly across the Burr Desert flat lands ending at the cliff tops of the Dirty Devil River. Views across, up, and down the canyon are stunning and have as backdrops the Abajos, the La Sal, and the Henry Mountains. Burr Point Overlook is also occasionally used as a trailhead to access the Dirty Devil River. This access however has been described as challenging, techincal, and risky. There are no developed facilities at Burr Point Overlook.

Burr Point Overlook

Mt. Hillers is a rugged peak with steep slopes carved by narrow canyons. Mt.
Hillers is 5 to 6 miles across, and is cut by several radial narrow, steep,
v-shaped valleys separated by elongated, jagged ridges. Hogbacks formed from
upturned sedimentary rocks flank the mountain, and are vertical in the Pink
Cliffs area. Vegetation is predominantly sagebrush and pinyon-juniper
woodlands on the southern slopes. Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and bristlecone
pine grow on the northern and the higher slopes.

Mt. Hillers is a rugged peak with steep slopes carved by narrow canyons. Mt. Hillers is 5 to 6 miles across, and is cut by several radial narrow, steep, v-shaped valleys separated by elongated, jagged ridges. Hogbacks formed from upturned sedimentary rocks flank the mountain, and are vertical in the Pink Cliffs area. Vegetation is predominantly sagebrush and pinyon-juniper woodlands on the southern slopes. Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and bristlecone pine grow on the northern and the higher slopes.

Mt. Hillers

Surrounded by the slick, red walls of southern Utah's desert, this beautiful
picnic area along the Bicentennial Scenic Byway makes the perfect stop. The
area offers a wonderful view of the Henry Mountains, and ancient pictographs
and petroglyphs dot canyon walls. From the picnic area, a primitive trail will
take you a mile up canyon to a refreshing waterfall and pool. The site
consists of a suspended bridge, shade structures, picnic tables, grills,
restroom, sidewalks, and interpretive kiosks. It is designated for day use.

Surrounded by the slick, red walls of southern Utah's desert, this beautiful picnic area along the Bicentennial Scenic Byway makes the perfect stop. The area offers a wonderful view of the Henry Mountains, and ancient pictographs and petroglyphs dot canyon walls. From the picnic area, a primitive trail will take you a mile up canyon to a refreshing waterfall and pool. The site consists of a suspended bridge, shade structures, picnic tables, grills, restroom, sidewalks, and interpretive kiosks. It is designated for day use.

Hog Springs Recreation Area

The first few miles of the east end side of Sheets Gulch is along a sandy wash
bottom surrounded by low hills before coming up to the east side of the
Waterpocket Fold in Capitol Reef National park. As with the other canyons in
the area, Sheets Gulch is extraordinary in scenery and challenge. There are no
devleoped facilities along the Notom Road, including at the Sheets Gulch
Trailhead.

The first few miles of the east end side of Sheets Gulch is along a sandy wash bottom surrounded by low hills before coming up to the east side of the Waterpocket Fold in Capitol Reef National park. As with the other canyons in the area, Sheets Gulch is extraordinary in scenery and challenge. There are no devleoped facilities along the Notom Road, including at the Sheets Gulch Trailhead.

Sheets Gulch

Named by John Wesley Powell during a mapping expedition in the late 1800s,
this river and its many tributaries offered an impregnable fortress hideout
for Butch Cassidy and other outlaws during the early 1900s. Today backpackers
and canyoneering enthusiasts retrace the steps of these early explorers. This
area still offers a primitive opportunity where self reliance and pre-planning
are required.

### **ADVISORY**

NPS Announces Developed Area at Hite, Utah Closed Until Further Notice \- may
impact your plans on the Colorado River (1/11/2024).

Named by John Wesley Powell during a mapping expedition in the late 1800s, this river and its many tributaries offered an impregnable fortress hideout for Butch Cassidy and other outlaws during the early 1900s. Today backpackers and canyoneering enthusiasts retrace the steps of these early explorers. This area still offers a primitive opportunity where self reliance and pre-planning are required.

<h3>ADVISORY</h3>

<a href="https://www.nps.gov/glca/learn/news/20240111.htm" rel="nofollow">NPS Announces Developed Area at Hite, Utah Closed Until Further Notice</a> - may impact your plans on the Colorado River (1/11/2024).