Regional overview

The Wasatch Plateau runs north–south through central Utah between Ephraim and Salina in the west and Price, Huntington and Castle Dale in the east. It is a broad, high tableland — most of the crest sits between 3,000 and 3,400 metres — capped by the Skyline Drive scenic backway and drained by a long list of steep canyons: Huntington, Cottonwood, Ferron, Straight Canyon, Manti Canyon and, on the eastern flank, Maple Canyon near Moroni. The whole plateau lies within the Manti-La Sal National Forest.

Compared with the more famous northern Wasatch, the plateau is quieter, less developed and much longer above tree line. Access is typically by dirt Forest Service road, and the walking is defined by aspen meadows, spruce-fir forest, exposed limestone cirques and, in a couple of places (Maple Canyon most notably), massive cobble-conglomerate cliffs. Manti-La Sal National Forest sources should be checked for road status, fire restrictions and grazing-season closures before travel.

See also: Northern Wasatch, Utah · Mount Timpanogos and Utah Valley, Utah · Boulder Mountain, Utah.

Selection rationale

The five walks are chosen to reflect the range of Wasatch Plateau experiences. South Tent Mountain is the highest verified summit on the plateau, reached from Skyline Drive. Candland Mountain is a Skyline-crest ridge walk over open subalpine ground. The Left Fork of Huntington Creek National Recreation Trail covers the plateau’s signature east-flank canyon — a long, cliff-lined creek corridor with pack-stock and MTB use. Maple Canyon is the plateau’s outlier gem, an easy conglomerate-cliff loop in a canyon world-famous with climbers. Black Canyon Trail #5087 rounds out the set with an official Forest Service climb from the Ferron / Skyline side to Skyline Drive. Manti-La Sal National Forest, USDA Recreation, and USGS / National Recreation Trail database sources were prioritised; AllTrails and secondary references cross-check distance and gain. No downloadable GPX or KML was retrieved for any route.

Summary table

# Hike Country Route type Distance Gain Max elevation Difficulty
1 South Tent Mountain Summit from Skyline Drive USA Out-and-back 6.9 km 346 m 3,433 m Moderate-hard
2 Candland Mountain Trail USA Out-and-back 9.5 km 522 m ~3,159 m Moderate
3 Left Fork of Huntington Creek Trail USA Point-to-point / long out-and-back 20.6 km 401 m Not verified Hard
4 Maple Canyon Loop Trail USA Loop 4.7 km 406 m ~2,083 m Moderate
5 Black Canyon Trail #5087 USA Out-and-back / point-to-point 6.8 km 673 m 3,009 m Hard

1. South Tent Mountain Summit from Skyline Drive

Snapshot

CountryUSA (Utah, Sanpete County, Manti-La Sal National Forest)
Sub-regionWasatch Plateau — South Tent Mountain, Skyline Drive crest
StartSkyline Drive access south of North Tent; exact trailhead coordinates not verified
FinishSouth Tent Mountain summit, returning the same way
Route typeOut-and-back summit route
Distance6.9 km / 4.3 mi; AllTrails
Elevation gain346 m / 1,135 ft; AllTrails
Elevation loss~346 m on return
Maximum elevation3,433 m / 11,266 ft; secondary encyclopedic sources
Estimated time~3 hours 30 minutes; AllTrails
DifficultyModerate-hard (short but high, exposed alpine terrain)
Best seasonSnow-free late June through early October
Public transportNo public transport verified; private vehicle on Skyline Drive required
Verification statusPartially verified: route stats from AllTrails; summit elevation from secondary reference; official GPX/KML not found
Manti-La Sal National Forest ridges on the Wasatch Plateau, central Utah
Manti-La Sal National Forest ridges on the Wasatch Plateau. Photo: Intermountain Region, US Forest Service, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain).

Itinerary

Approach on Skyline Drive (Forest Road 022) from either Ephraim Canyon or Fairview Canyon. From the trail’s high starting saddle, climb south along the plateau crest to the summit of South Tent Mountain (3,433 m), the highest verified point on the Wasatch Plateau. Views span the San Pitch Mountains, the Sanpete Valley, the Fishlake plateaus and the eastern Castle Country rim.

Why it is essential

South Tent is the plateau’s high point — the natural centrepiece of any Skyline Drive walking programme.

Equipment

  • Mountain footwear
  • Wind and warm layers
  • Sun protection
  • 2+ litres of water (no reliable water on the crest)
  • Offline map and GPS
  • Headlamp

Hazards and notes

  • Exposed alpine ridge; afternoon lightning is a serious hazard in mid-summer.
  • Skyline Drive is often rough dirt; check high-clearance vehicle recommendations.
  • Snow can linger on north aspects into July.

GPX / route file

Source URL Format Notes
AllTrails — South Tent Mountain Summit from Skyline Drive alltrails.com Source map / proprietary trail database Direct GPX not retrieved; do not reuse proprietary geometry directly
OpenStreetMap search openstreetmap.org Source map Reusable only under ODbL terms with attribution/share-alike

Sources

2. Candland Mountain Trail

Snapshot

CountryUSA (Utah, Sanpete / Emery County line, Manti-La Sal National Forest)
Sub-regionWasatch Plateau — Candland Mountain, Skyline crest
StartSkyline Drive access near Candland Mountain; exact trailhead coordinates not verified
FinishHigh point on Candland Mountain, returning the same way
Route typeOut-and-back ridge and summit route
Distance9.5 km / 5.9 mi; AllTrails
Elevation gain522 m / 1,713 ft; AllTrails
Elevation loss~522 m on return
Maximum elevation~3,159 m / ~10,364 ft; approximate from Skyline Drive elevations
Estimated time~4 hours; AllTrails
DifficultyModerate
Best seasonSnow-free late June through early October
Public transportNo public transport verified
Verification statusPartially verified: route stats from AllTrails; official GPX/KML not found

Itinerary

From Skyline Drive, follow the plateau ridge over Candland Mountain, a broad subalpine summit in the middle section of the crest. The route stays largely on the open plateau with sweeping views west into the Sanpete Valley and east into Castle Country.

Why it is essential

Candland is a more sustained plateau-crest walk than South Tent — a good example of the long, gentle Wasatch Plateau ridgeline character.

Equipment

  • Mountain footwear
  • Wind and warm layers
  • Sun protection
  • 2+ litres of water
  • Offline map and GPS
  • Headlamp

Hazards and notes

  • Exposed to weather and lightning.
  • Cattle grazing on the crest during the summer season.
  • Skyline Drive access can be rough and washed after storms.

GPX / route file

Source URL Format Notes
AllTrails — Candland Mountain Trail alltrails.com Source map / proprietary trail database Direct GPX not retrieved; do not reuse proprietary geometry directly
OpenStreetMap search openstreetmap.org Source map Reusable only under ODbL terms with attribution/share-alike

Sources

3. Left Fork of Huntington Creek Trail

Snapshot

CountryUSA (Utah, Emery County, Manti-La Sal National Forest)
Sub-regionWasatch Plateau — Left Fork of Huntington Creek
StartLeft Fork trailhead off SR-31 (Huntington Canyon); exact coordinates not verified
FinishUpper trail turnaround; the full corridor can be walked as a point-to-point with a second vehicle
Route typeLong out-and-back or point-to-point; National Recreation Trail
Distance20.6 km / 12.8 mi; AllTrails
Elevation gain401 m / 1,315 ft; AllTrails
Elevation loss~401 m on return
Maximum elevationNot verified — trail sits well below the plateau crest
Estimated time~7 hours 30 minutes; AllTrails
DifficultyHard (length and creek crossings)
Best seasonLate spring through autumn; check spring runoff before creek crossings
Public transportNo public transport verified
Verification statusPartially verified: National Recreation Trail status confirmed; route stats from AllTrails; official GPX/KML not found

Itinerary

From the Left Fork trailhead on SR-31 in Huntington Canyon, follow the creek upstream through a long, cliff-lined corridor of the Wasatch Plateau. The trail is signed as a National Recreation Trail and threads through cottonwood bottoms, aspen benches and small meadows below the Skyline crest. Multiple creek crossings; turnaround points at bench meadows or upper trailhead depending on time.

Why it is essential

The Left Fork corridor is the plateau’s signature long east-flank canyon walk — a linear counterpoint to the exposed Skyline routes and the plateau’s designated National Recreation Trail.

Equipment

  • Sturdy trail shoes or boots
  • Crossing-friendly footwear if creek levels are high
  • Sun and rain protection
  • 2+ litres of water plus a filter
  • Offline map and GPS
  • Headlamp

Hazards and notes

  • Multiple creek crossings; runoff dangerous in spring.
  • Shared with pack-stock and mountain bikes.
  • Long day; commit only with plenty of daylight or a shuttle for a point-to-point.
  • Confirm current Forest Service alerts before travel.

GPX / route file

Source URL Format Notes
AllTrails — Left Fork of Huntington Creek Trail alltrails.com Source map / proprietary trail database Direct GPX not retrieved; do not reuse proprietary geometry directly
American Trails — National Recreation Trails database americantrails.org Reference / trail database NRT designation reference
OpenStreetMap search openstreetmap.org Source map Reusable only under ODbL terms with attribution/share-alike

Sources

4. Maple Canyon Loop Trail

Snapshot

CountryUSA (Utah, Sanpete County, Manti-La Sal National Forest)
Sub-regionWestern flank of the Wasatch Plateau — Maple Canyon, near Moroni / Freedom
StartMaple Canyon Campground / day-use area
FinishLoop; returns to the same trailhead
Route typeLoop
Distance4.7 km / 2.9 mi; AllTrails
Elevation gain406 m / 1,332 ft; AllTrails
Elevation loss~406 m on the loop
Maximum elevation~2,083 m / ~6,834 ft; approximate from canyon-rim elevation
Estimated time~2 hours; AllTrails
DifficultyModerate
Best seasonSpring through autumn; canyon shade extends the summer window
Public transportNo public transport verified
Verification statusPartially verified: route stats from AllTrails; maximum elevation approximate; official GPX/KML not found
South canyon wall of Maple Canyon, Utah — conglomerate cobble cliffs
South canyon wall of Maple Canyon: the plateau's signature conglomerate cliffs. Photo: An Errant Knight, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Itinerary

From the Maple Canyon Campground, walk the signed loop through the canyon’s dramatic cobble-conglomerate cliffs. The route climbs above the canyon floor onto the rim, offers views of the world-famous climbing walls, then returns down the opposite side of the canyon.

Why it is essential

Maple Canyon is a genuine geological outlier for the plateau — internationally known among climbers for its cobble-cemented walls and one of the most memorable short walks in central Utah.

Equipment

  • Trail shoes or light boots
  • Sun protection
  • 1.5–2 litres of water
  • Offline map

Hazards and notes

  • Falling cobbles and rock-climbing traffic overhead — respect closed / active climbing zones.
  • Summer thunderstorms can cause flash flooding in the canyon.
  • Campground can be very busy on peak weekends.

GPX / route file

Source URL Format Notes
AllTrails — Maple Canyon Loop Trail alltrails.com Source map / proprietary trail database Direct GPX not retrieved; do not reuse proprietary geometry directly
OpenStreetMap search openstreetmap.org Source map Reusable only under ODbL terms with attribution/share-alike

Sources

5. Black Canyon Trail #5087

Snapshot

CountryUSA (Utah, Emery County, Manti-La Sal National Forest)
Sub-regionWasatch Plateau — east flank above Ferron
StartBlack Canyon lower trailhead; exact coordinates not verified
FinishSkyline Drive junction; can be walked as an out-and-back or point-to-point
Route typeOut-and-back or point-to-point
Distance6.8 km / 4.2 mi; AllTrails
Elevation gain673 m / 2,208 ft; AllTrails
Elevation loss~673 m on return
Maximum elevation3,009 m / 9,872 ft; USDA / USGS listing
Estimated time~4 hours 30 minutes; AllTrails
DifficultyHard (steep sustained ascent)
Best seasonLate spring through autumn
Public transportNo public transport verified
Verification statusPartially verified: official FS trail number; route stats from AllTrails; official GPX/KML not found

Itinerary

From the lower Black Canyon trailhead, climb the drainage steeply through mixed conifer and aspen up onto the Skyline Drive crest. The route gains most of its 673 m in the middle section, with steady switchbacks and finally opens onto plateau meadows.

Why it is essential

Black Canyon #5087 is one of the plateau’s cleanest official Forest Service climbs from the east flank to Skyline — a compact, high-gain, all-in-one crest access route.

Equipment

  • Mountain footwear
  • Sun protection
  • Warm layers for the ridge
  • 2+ litres of water
  • Offline map and GPS
  • Headlamp

Hazards and notes

  • Sustained ascent — pace carefully in heat.
  • Exposed near the crest; watch for thunderstorms.
  • Confirm current Forest Service alerts and grazing-season conditions.

GPX / route file

Source URL Format Notes
AllTrails — Black Canyon Trail alltrails.com Source map / proprietary trail database Direct GPX not retrieved; do not reuse proprietary geometry directly
USDA Forest Service — Manti-La Sal trails fs.usda.gov Agency listing Official trail-number reference
OpenStreetMap search openstreetmap.org Source map Reusable only under ODbL terms with attribution/share-alike

Sources

Further reading