Experience the Manti-La Sal National Forest, 1.4 million acres of striking landscapes, from high-alpine to desert canyons, across central and southeastern Utah. The forest is composed of two distinct areas: the Manti Mountains in central Utah and the La Sal Mountains near Moab in the southeast.
The Manti Mountains is part of the Wasatch Plateau and features alpine lakes, escarpments, and dense stands of aspen, Douglas fir, and lodgepole pine. The La Sal Mountains are known for their high-elevation alpine meadows, rugged peaks, and subalpine forests, offering a contrast to neighboring Arches and Canyonlands national parks.
The forest hosts two designated Wilderness Areas, the horseshoe-shaped Dark Canyon and the badlands of Nelson Mountain. The Dark Canyon Wilderness is part of the Colorado Plateau and features incredible sculpted sandstone walls. The Nelson Mountain Wilderness sits 3,000 feet above the surrounding landscape, near the San Rafael Swell, and hosts unique geological formations.
In the La Sal Mountains, hiking and mountain biking provide spectacular views of the nearby red rock canyons of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. In the Manti Mountains, camping, hunting, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing are common, with extensive trail networks and campgrounds allowing for longer excursions.
Photo by Anthony Gaspardi- 
Photo by Aimee Burrows 
Burro Pass Trail. Photo by Shalabh Sharma 
Tuk Trail. Photo by Scott Greiner 
Photo by Sam Darby What is the History of the Manti-La Sal National Forest?
The area was once home to a small segment of the widespread Ancestral Puebloans, who were later followed by the Ute, Fremont, and Navajo. European-American exploration and settlement began in the mid-19th century, primarily by Mormon pioneers and miners. The La Sal Mountains were noted for their mineral potential, while the Manti Mountains provided timber.
Recognizing the need to conserve these valuable resources, the government established the Manti Forest Reserve in 1903 and the La Sal Forest Reserve in 1906. These were later combined and expanded to form today’s Manti-La Sal National Forest.
How to Get to the Manti-La Sal National Forest
To get to the Manti Mountains from central Utah, U.S. Route 89 runs north-south connecting gateway towns like Manti, Ephraim, and Fairview. Utah State Route 31 and Route 132 also provide access to scenic mountain corridors, connecting smaller communities to the forest.
The La Sal Mountains, near Moab, are accessible via U.S. Route 191. Moab serves as the primary gateway. From Moab, visitors can take Utah State Route 46 or local forest roads to reach high-elevation trailheads, alpine lakes, and scenic overlooks within the forest.
- Provo, Utah: 2 hours by car
- Salt Lake City, Utah: 2.5 to 3 hours by car
- St. George, Utah: 4 hours by car
There are few trails up to the peaks of the La Sal Mountains, with Manns Peak being a worthwhile—and challenging—exception. A four-mile roundtrip hike starts from the Geyser Pass parking area, following the Burro Pass trail before a steep climb up to its 12,272-foot summit, the fifth highest in the mountain range.
This unique and colorful canyon system begins on Elk Ridge at an elevation of 8800 feet. Embark on the 40-mile Dark Canyon Wilderness Loop, which cuts through sandstone and limestone descending to the upper reaches of Lake Powell at an elevation of 3,700 feet. The upper reaches provide views of Cedar Mesa Sandstone amidst a forest dominated by ponderosa pine. As the canyon descends into a more arid desert environment vegetation changes to pinyon-juniper and blackbrush.
This 86-mile route passes through the forest, carrying you over the Wasatch Plateau, up 10,000 feet above sea level, affording views of including the Wasatch Range and the San Rafael Swell.
La Sal daisy This sensitive species is found nowhere else in the world and has lavender-to-white petals during the summer. Photo by Matt Berger (CC BY) 
Red willow This tree thieves along streams and wet meadows, helping stabilize soil, reducing erosion, and providing habitat to a range of wildlife. 
Sage grouse Sage grouse: This ground-dwelling bird loves the sagebrush habitats of the forest and is known for its elaborate mating displays. 
Pronghorn One of the country’s fastest land animals, this antelope has branched horns and can be spotted in high-desert grasslands across the forest. 
Elk This majestic animal, the second largest species in the deer family after moose, is most active during dawn and dusk and during fall rutting season. 
Mountain lion This big cat, also known as the cougar, puma, panther, or catamount, primarily hunts for deer at dawn and dusk. Related Impact
Restoring the Colorado River Watershed through Nature Based Solutions
The National Forest Foundation and our partners are taking action through process-based restoration techniques that work with nature to bring life back to streams and wetlands in the Colorado River Watershed, securing water for people, wildlife, and the future.
What’s the Best First-Timer’s Adventure in the Manti-La Sal National Forest
For a short but rewarding experience of the forest’s unique canyon system, hike the 1.2-mile Maple’s Box Canyon Trail, which cuts through a narrow box canyon before reaching a waterfall.
Where to Find More Information on the Manti-La Sal National Forest
For more information or questions, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/manti-lasal.
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