Notch Peak Road
Utah's tallest cliff in the middle of nowhere
The limestone wall rises 2,700 feet straight up from the desert floor like some ancient god dropped a skyscraper in the Utah backcountry. Notch Peak’s west face is one of the tallest cliffs in North America, and the 45-mile Notch Peak Road gets you to its base through country so empty you’ll question if you took a wrong turn somewhere near Timbuktu. This isn’t a trail for weekend warriors—it’s a proper backcountry commitment that demands a high-clearance 4WD and enough fuel to get you back to Delta, the nearest real town 30 miles from the trailhead.
The route starts innocently enough on maintained dirt before degenerating into rocky two-track that’ll test your vehicle’s clearance and your patience. Expect washouts, loose rock, and sections where the trail disappears entirely into washes that require some route-finding skills. The moderate rating assumes you know how to read terrain and aren’t afraid to stack rocks under your diff when needed. Stock vehicles with good tires and experienced drivers can make it, but anything lowered or mall-rated will leave parts scattered across the desert. No cell service exists out here, so mechanical failures become real problems real fast.
Plan this as an overnight trip during the shoulder seasons—April through May or October through November when temperatures won’t cook you alive. Summer turns this place into a furnace, and winter brings snow that closes the higher elevations. Water doesn’t exist on the trail, so carry everything you need plus extra. Dispersed camping is allowed throughout the BLM land, and finding a spot with a million-dollar view of the cliff face isn’t hard. The night sky alone justifies the fuel burn, with zero light pollution revealing stars most people never see.
You don’t come here for technical rock crawling or Instagram-worthy waterfalls. Notch Peak Road delivers something rarer—absolute solitude beneath one of the West’s most impressive geological features. It’s Utah desert at its most honest: harsh, remote, and utterly indifferent to your presence. Drive it for the silence, the stars, and the humbling reminder that some places still require real effort to reach.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 45 mi / 72.4 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7200 ft |
| Best season | April-May, October-November |
| Minimum vehicle | 4WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Delta, UT |
| Land manager | Bureau of Land Management |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle Notch Peak Road, or do I need a lifted rig?
A stock 4WD high-clearance truck or SUV can handle this trail under normal conditions. Lifted rigs have more margin on the rougher sections, but factory clearance is workable if you're not pushing it in wet weather.
When does the road get snowed out or turn to impassable mud?
Winter months (December through March) bring snow and ice that make the route sketchy or impassable. Spring mud after snowmelt — typically late March into early April — can swallow you whole. Stick to April-May and October-November for solid conditions.
Do I need a permit to drive or camp out here?
No permit required. Notch Peak Road is BLM land and dispersed camping is free. No fees, no registration — just don't camp within 200 feet of water sources and pack out everything you pack in.
What's the hardest section of the trail and what does it actually throw at you?
The roughest stretch is on the approach toward the cliff base — loose rock, embedded boulders, and eroded dirt that can kick your suspension around. Nothing technical enough to require lockers, but it demands attention and a confident line, especially on the descent.
How far is the nearest fuel stop, and is there any water source on trail?
Delta, UT is your last reliable fuel stop, roughly 45 miles from the trailhead — fill up before you leave town, no exceptions. There is no reliable water source on the trail, so carry all drinking water with you for the full trip.
Trail track
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