Southern Utah’s High Country:

Islands of Diversity

DIXIE NATIONAL FOREST FISHLAKE NATIONAL FOREST MANTI-LA SAL NATIONAL FOREST

Southern Utah’s High Country

US Department of Agriculture • Forest Service

Intermountain Region • Ogden, Utah

23.250.401.06/99

Southern Utah’s high country is made up of three national forests: 

 the Dixie, Fishlake, and Manti-La Sal. From rugged brush covered 

 foothills to mature forests with dense stands of timber and lush alpine 

meadows, the forests’ natural wonders are the essence of the high country. These forests contain 5 million acres of America’s public land. 

Dixie

Fishlake

Manti-La Sal

National Forests
Long before 

 humans left their 

 mark upon the land, 

wind and water shaped 

the face of the forests. 

Geological giants rose 

from the valley fl oors 

where erosion exposed 

unique characters of 

stone. Spectacular 

multi-colored cliffs and 

steep walled gorges 

lined the southern rim of 

the Great Basin. Crystal 

blue lakes formed on 

mountain tops. Rivers 

and streams carved out 

canyons and deposited 

fertile soil below where 

trees and other vegetation fl ourished. Animals 

fi lled the forests with 

new life. Today the 

National Forests in 

Southern Utah are rich 

in nature’s heritage. 

Ahistory of  human infl uence 

 is readily apparent in 

the National Forests in 

Southern Utah. Spanish explorers, trappers, mountain men, 

miners and western 

pioneers followed in 

the footsteps of the 

Native Americans who 

occupied the land for 

centuries. This historic 

heritage is preserved 

in Native American 

ruins, mines, pioneer 

homes and cabins and 

structures built by the 

Civilian Conservation 

Corps during the Great 

Depression.

A rich heritage 

of natural and 

human history in 

Southern Utah’s 

High Country

A Civilian 

Conservation 

Corps pavilion 

stands the test 

of time on the 

Dixie NF.

CCC workers place a

campground stove circa 1933.

Dwellings 

built by 

Anasazi 

Indians 

centuries 

ago have 

stood the 

test of time.

Pioneers blazed trails westward in the 1800’s.

Trappers found 

abundant game in the 

Southern Utah forests.

Quiet solitude on a mountain lake.

A red-tailed hawk 

alert for his prey on 

the Fishlake NF.

Craggy red towers 

contrast with the 

green of pine and 

juniper.

Doe on Monroe Mountain, 

Fishlake NF.

A stately monolith 

expresses nature’s 

lofty attitude.

MARY TULLIUS

UTAH STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Summer in the 

 high county 

 offers a myriad of 

outdoor delights. Rock 

climbing, “ATVing,” 

and mountain biking 

are favored activities. 

Other visitors enjoy 

photography and 

watching the abundant 

wildlife. Summer is the 

busiest time of year 

on the Dixie, Fishlake, 

and Manti-La Sal 

National Forests with 

trails, campgrounds, 

recreation residences, 

picnic areas, lodges 

and resorts receiving 

extensive use. Reservations may be made 

for some campgrounds 

(see map page). A 

list of outfi tters and 

guides is available 

from the Forests. Using 

the land safely and 

respectfully helps keep 

these recreation opportunities available 

for the future.

Spring . . .

a forest awakening

Sensational . . .

high country summer

The new 

life of 

spring; 

a mule 

deer 

fawn.

A prickly pear cactus fl ashes 

neon-pink fl owers. Canoeing in Salina Reservoir, 

Fishlake NF.

Horse packing 

on the Whipple 

Trail on the 

Dixie NF.

Backpackers hike the cool recesses of the 

Left Fork Huntington

Creek National

Recreation Trail on

the Manti-La Sal NF.

Tent camping in the 

Southern Utah forests.

So much to see from a 

vista on the Fishlake NF.

Nothing is more  beautiful than 

 late spring in Southern 

Utah’s High Country. It 

is heralded by rushing streams, green 

aspen, brilliant sun 

and clean crisp air. Elk 

and deer return to the 

high country from their 

winter range. It’s time 

to begin fi shing, hiking 

to the snowline, or driving the Scenic Byways. 

Visitors may choose to 

ride horseback, spend 

a day with the camera, take a sprint on 

a mountain bike or a 

spin in their all-terrain 

vehicle.

Wildfl owers grace Sevenmile 

Valley, Fishlake NF.

Spring sunshine coaxes pine tree buds 

into bloom.

Rider 

and his 

mount 

enjoy 

the 

balmy 

spring 

air.
Hot Color - 

Frosty Nights . . .

fall in the forest

Snow and ice  turn Southern 

 Utah’s High Country 

into a winter wonderland. Ice fi shermen, 

down-hill and cross 

country skiers, sledders, 

snowmobile and snowshoe enthusiasts can 

indulge in their favorite 

“cool experience” in 

the versatile terrain of 

the forests. 

Winter . . .

time for cool experiences

Autumn nights  bring freezing 

 temperatures and spectacular fall colors to 

Southern Utah’s High 

Country. The forests are 

renown for their display of incandescent 

red, gold and orange 

leaves of the oak and 

aspen. Weekdays are 

fairly quiet in the campgrounds but trails and 

roads remain busy with 

hunters, fuelwood gatherers, hikers and adventurers on all-terrain 

vehicles. Weekends are 

active as visitors take 

advantage of the pleasant fall days.

A bow hunter aims at 

his prey.

Fall visitors 

are attracted to 

Bowns Reservoir 

on the Dixie NF.

All-terrain vehicles “Tread 

Lightly” on the Fishlake NF.

Hunters are 

prepared for 

inclement fall 

weather.

Fall colors 

begin with 

gold in the 

canyons.

Downhill skiing at Brian Head 

on the Dixie NF. Snowmobiling in Daniel’s Pass, 

Fishlake NF.

Cross-country skiing offers 

exhilarating sights on the 

Manti-La Sal NF.

Ice fi shing on Fish Lake.
N

Richfield

Sevier Bridge

 Reservoir

UINTA

NF

UINTA

NF

UINTA

NF ASHLEY

NF

MANTI-LA SAL

FISHLAKE

NATIONAL

NATIONAL

DIXIE NATIONAL FOREST

MANTI-LA SAL

NATIONAL

FOREST

DIXIE NATIONAL

FOREST

FOREST

FOREST

Fillmore

Delta

Duchesne

Provo

Beaver

Hanksville

Green River

Strawberry Strawberry

Reservoir

Utah Lake

Cedar City

Price

Beaver

River

Sevier

River

Panguitch

Moab

Manti

Nephi

U T A H

15

70

15

70

15

70

89

191

6

191

6

191

50

89

6

6

50

56

9

14

12

276

276

211

24

95

24

62

20

21

257

72

28

10

68

Bryce

Canyon

Natl

Park

Grand

Staircase - Escalante

National Monument

Capitol Reef

 National

 Park

Canyonlands

National

Park

Hovenweep

National

Monument

Rainbow Bridge

National Monument

Natural Bridges

National Monument

Arches

 National 

 Park

Glenn Canyon

National

Rec

Area

Cedar Breaks

Natl Monument

Little Sahara

Recreation Area

Zion

 National

 Park

73

89

18

St George Kanab

163

261

95

262

Page

163

191

666

46

Blanding

Monticello

128

191

River

Sevier

Lake

Piute

Reservoir

Sevier

Virgin

River

Kanab

Creek

Paria

River

Lake Powell

San

Juan

River

Dirty

Devil

River

Colorado

River

Fremont River

Muddy

Creek

San

Rafael

River

Price

River

Green

River

White

River

River

Fish

Lake

Escalante

River

For More Information

Dixie National Forest (DNF) ......................................................................................435-865-3700

 www.fs.fed.us/outernet/dixie_nf/welcome.htm

Fishlake National Forest (FNF) ...................................................................................435-896-9233

Manti-La Sal National Forest (MLSNF) ........................................................................435-637-2817

 www.fs.fed.us/r4/mantilasal

Note: There are fees for some recreation sites and campgrounds on the National Forests. Call 

ahead for information. To make campground reservations call:

National Forest Campground Reservation System ..................................................1-800-280-2267

National Park Campground Reservations ................................................................ 800-365-CAMP

National Park and Monument information, call Utah Travel Council ......................1-801-538-1467

Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument .......................................................435-644-4300

 www.blm.gov/monument

State Parks and Monuments - Moab ...........................................................................435-259-3750

 Cedar City ............................................................435-586-4497

Moab Interagency Visitor Center .............................................................................1-800-635-6622

 www.canyonlands_utah.com

Moab Interagency Visitor’s Center: www.moab.net/

Castle Country Regional Info. Center .........................................................................435-637-5060 

Sanpete Area Information: www.lofthouse.com/usa/utah/sanpete/index.html

Highway/Road Conditions ......................................................................................1-800-492-2400 

Avalanche awareness information and current snow and mountain weather conditions advisory 

for the Moab area: www.avalanche.org/~lsafc or (435) 259-SNOW

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national 

origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all 

programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape, 

etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To fi le a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Offi ce of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence 

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

TREAD LIGHTLY!

✔ Travel only where permitted and obey travel regulations.

✔ Respect the rights of others.

✔ Educate yourself about public and private land boundaries.

✔ Avoid non-durable surfaces, stream sides and waterways.

✔ Operate your ATV safely and responsibly.

LEAVE NO TRACE

✔ Plan ahead and prepare properly.

✔ Camp and travel on durable surfaces.

✔ Pack out what you bring into the forests.

✔ Properly dispose of what you can’t pack out.

✔ Leave natural things where and how you found them.

✔ Minimize the use and impact of campfi res.
“Getting away from 

it all” takes on new 

meaning in the pristine 

beauty of the wilderness and back country 

areas of the Dixie, 

Fishlake and MantiLa Sal National Forests. 

Enjoy nature’s grandeur 

and “Leave No Trace” 

of your visit. Take only 

pictures and a sense of 

wonder from this place 

of perfect solitude.

The paths less traveled

A unique 

adventure: Pink 

Ledges nature 

walk in Red 

Canyon on the 

Dixie NF.

A 

backpacking 

opportunity: 

a trail into 

the Dark 

Canyon 

Wilderness 

on the MantiLa Sal NF.

Horseback explorers surrounded by pristine 

forest on the Fishlake NF.

Camp in 

solitude in the 

wilderness 

and 

backcountry.

Mountain lake in the LaSal Mountains.
BACKWAY

Taking the high road �����

Leisure driving to  amazing places 

 via car, or recreational, 

or all-terrain vehicle 

is a pure pleasure in 

Southern Utah’s High 

Country. Scenic Byways 

and Backways cross 

the forests, allowing 

an unsurpassed view 

of nature’s diverse 

offerings. Off road 

and all-terrain vehicles 

must “Tread Lightly” on 

unpaved forest roads 

and trails. Call ahead 

for road conditions. 

Campgrounds and 

picnic areas are conveniently located along 

these travelways.

SCENIC

BACKWAYS

Designated backcountry roads. 

Conditions may vary 

from pavement to 

unmaintained dirt 

roads. Most can be 

driven by passenger 

car. Be prepared 

and check road and 

weather conditions 

before starting.

SCENIC

BYWAYS

Regularly traveled 

major roads that offer 

a unique combinations 

of recreational 

adventures and scenic 

attractions. 

Fall colors attract photographers 

on scenic drive.

Mountain biking in Taylor’s Flat, 

Fishlake NF.

Scenic Byways and Backways 

lead visitors to more 

adventures. All-terrain vehicle trails to Scenic 

Backways are clearly marked.

Rock tunnel in scenic Red Canyon on 

the Dixie NF.
Southern Utah’s

high country neighbors The Dixie, Fishlake and MantiLa Sal National 

Forest’s high country 

is surrounded by a 

neighborhood of 

national and state 

parks and monuments, rugged plains, 

high deserts and 

pastoral low country. 

A visit to this Southern 

Utah neighborhood, 

where everyone feels 

welcome, is a feast of 

outdoor adventure.

VICTOR JACKSON

MARY TULLIUS

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Goblin Valley State Park.

Angels Landing, 

Zion National 

Park.

Bicycling in 

Canyonlands 

National Park.

Navajo Trail, Bryce Canyon 

National Park.

Capitol 

Dome, 

Capitol Reef 

National 

Monument.

State and National Parks

and Monuments