Soldier Creek Road — Fishlake National Forest High Plateau to Richfield via Tushar Mountains

The Tushar Mountains sit between Beaver and Richfield in south-central Utah and top out above 12,000 feet — making them the third-highest range in the state, yet most overlanders have never wheeled them. Soldier Creek Road (Forest Road 117) climbs out of Beaver Canyon on US-153, crests the Tushar plateau through bristlecone pine and subalpine meadows, then drops toward Richfield via the Sevier River drainage. Along the way you pass within striking distance of Delano Peak at 12,173 feet, cross open tundra benches with unobstructed 360-degree views, and thread through aspen stands that turn violent orange in late September. The road surface is graded dirt and gravel with embedded volcanic rock on the upper sections — passable for most stock high-clearance rigs in dry conditions but genuinely technical when wet.

This is a moderate run, though altitude and weather can tip it harder fast — afternoon thunderstorms roll in with zero warning July through August. Minimum vehicle is a high-clearance 2WD in dry summer conditions, though 4WD is strongly recommended for the upper plateau. Best season is July through early October; the road closes with first heavy snow, typically by November. Fuel in Beaver before you go — there’s nothing on route. No permit needed. Dispersed camping throughout the Fishlake National Forest sections. Cell service is gone above the canyon. The payoff: a true four-season alpine experience in Utah that the crowds at Capitol Reef and Zion have never heard of.