Chicken Creek Road to Boulder Mountain Summit — Dixie National Forest High Plateau
Utah's highest timber plateau — almost nobody's up here.
Boulder Mountain — the massive forested plateau anchoring the northwest corner of Grand Staircase country — is Utah’s highest timbered plateau and most people drive straight past it on Highway 12 without ever turning off. Chicken Creek Road and the network of USFS two-tracks branching from it off Route 12 between Torrey and Escalante let you actually get up on top: through dense stands of Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir, past dozens of small alpine lakes loaded with trout, and out onto open ridgelines where the views run from the Henry Mountains clear to the Aquarius Plateau. The summit area tops out around 11,300 feet — thin air, short seasons, and afternoon thunderstorms that mean business.
This is moderate-to-difficult terrain depending on which spur roads you choose; the main routes are manageable in a stock 4WD with high clearance, but the steeper side roads to lake access points will challenge wheel travel and traction on loose shale. Snow can linger into late June and return by October — mid-July through September is your window. Permits not required. Fuel and water before you leave Torrey or Escalante; neither resource is reliable on top. Dispersed camping is excellent throughout the Dixie National Forest sections.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 42 mi / 67.6 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 11300 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Torrey, UT |
| Land manager | Dixie National Forest — Teasdale Ranger District |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | fs.usda.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or stock Tacoma handle Chicken Creek Road to Boulder Mountain Summit?
Yes, a stock 4WD high-clearance vehicle is the minimum and will manage the route. Lifted rigs aren't required, but you'll want decent all-terrain tires — the dirt and gravel sections get loose and rutted, especially after summer storms at elevation.
When does this route typically open and close for the season?
July through September is the reliable window. Boulder Mountain sits at 11,300 feet max elevation, so snow can close the upper sections well into June and return as early as October — sometimes sooner after an early storm.
Do you need a permit or is there a fee to run this route?
No permit required and no fee to drive the route. It runs through Dixie National Forest, so standard federal land rules apply — pack it in, pack it out, follow Leave No Trace. Contact the Teasdale Ranger District if you want current road conditions before heading out.
What's the hardest section of this route and what should I actually expect?
The climb toward the summit plateau is the gnarliest stretch — steep grades, loose gravel, and narrow shelf road sections with limited pullouts. It's rated moderate, not a rock crawl, but complacency at 11,000 feet with afternoon thunderstorms building overhead will get your attention fast.
There's zero cell service up here — how far out am I from gas and resupply in Torrey?
Torrey is your last real stop for fuel and supplies before this route, and it's a small town — don't count on it being stocked like a city gas station. Fill your tank completely, carry extra fuel if your rig drinks it, and plan for the full 42-mile route plus your drive back to pavement with nothing in between.
Trail track
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