The Fish Creek Canyon Wilderness Study Area's four main canyons are up to 700 feet deep. The canyons meander somewhat and contain numerous rock fins, alcoves, pinnacles, step-like pour offs on the canyon floors, and impressive natural arches. In addition to pinyon-juniper woodland and sagebrush, desert shrubs are common. Ponderosa pine is found in the drainages of the northern part of the WSA. The WSA includes land extensively occupied by Ancestral Puebloan dwellers from about 200 A.D. to 1300 A.D. A stabilized archeological site, Comb Wash Overlook, has 4 tower bases, a wall on the mesa rim, and rock shelter dwellings below.
Recreation Map of Fish and Owl Creek Trail in the Fish Creek Wilderness Study Area (WSA) near the Bears Ears National Monument (NM) Shash Jáa Unit in Utah. Published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Brochure of Fish and Owl Creek Canyons in the Bears Ears National Monument (NM) in Utah. Published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Fish Creek Canyon WSA
https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/utah/fish-creek-canyon-wsa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar_Mesa
The Fish Creek Canyon Wilderness Study Area's four main canyons are up to 700 feet deep. The canyons meander somewhat and contain numerous rock fins, alcoves, pinnacles, step-like pour offs on the canyon floors, and impressive natural arches. In addition to pinyon-juniper woodland and sagebrush, desert shrubs are common. Ponderosa pine is found in the drainages of the northern part of the WSA. The WSA includes land extensively occupied by Ancestral Puebloan dwellers from about 200 A.D. to 1300 A.D. A stabilized archeological site, Comb Wash Overlook, has 4 tower bases, a wall on the mesa rim, and rock shelter dwellings below.
Welcome to Fish Creek
and Owl Creek Canyons
What You Can Do to Protect the
Bears Ears National Monument:
Leave All Artifacts Where You Find Them
Don’t take or add to “Display Rocks”
These drainages both cut diagonally across the
eastern edge of Cedar Mesa, coming together
several miles before they enter Comb Wash.
Both are deep canyons with abundant geolgical
features. Maps needed for this area are either
the Trails Illustrated Grand Gulch Plateau map,
or the following USGS 7.5 quads: South Long
Point, Bluff NW, and Snow Flat Spring Cave.
Don’t Touch Rock Writing or Add Your Own
Steer Clear of Walls
Structures can be easily damaged
GPS Reveals Too Much
Remove location data for online photos
Fish and Owl
Creek Canyons
Bears Ears National Monument
Don’t Bust the Crust
Stay on existing trails
$
Pay Your Fees
Your small fee supports protecting this area
Know Where Pets are Allowed
Pets are never allowed in archeological sites
Nevill’s Arch is a prominent feature in Owl Creek. The Arch sits high
on a “fin” in the Cedar Mesa sandstone jutting out into the canyon.
Many of the pools in these canyons have
extensive hanging gardens, offering a wide
variety of vegetation. The rare Kachina Daisy
can be found in one of these springs. The
vegetation varies from sage flats in the lower
ends of the canyons to cottonwood trees and
pine stands on the wider benches in the upper
forks.
Tracks of bobcats, mountain lion, ringtail and
an occasional bear may be seen in the canyons.
Small fish may be found in the pools, including
killi fish, chubs, suckers, and shiners or dace.
Toads and frogs can be seen and heard, and
there is also evidence of beaver activity in the
lower reaches of Fish Creek.
Enjoy Archaeology without Ropes
Using climbing gear to access sites is illegal
Camp and Eat Away from Archaeology
No Fires in the Canyons of Cedar Mesa
Use existing fire rings when on the rims
Go to the Bathroom Away from Sites
Pack out all toilet paper
It is your responsibility to know the rules and
regulations, as they may be different inside and
outside the Bears Ears National Monument.
For maps, trip planning information, and rules,
regulations, and recreation permits, contact the
BLM at (435) 587-1510.
To Report an Emergency Call 911
Cell phone service is unreliable in this area - you
may need to walk or drive out to a high point.
Map & Guide
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Fish Creek Canyon
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Wilderness Study Area
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Natural
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Fish and Owl
Creek Canyons
Trailhead
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Owl
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The junction of Fish and Owl is quite wide. Fish is
narrower than Owl but is gentle, without impasse in
the first five miles. The upper forks of Fish Creek are
all blocked by boulders and rock fall. Once you pass
this fork of Fish, begin watching to the south. The
trail climbs out of the canyon on the steep talus slope
approximately 600 feet in a 10 to 12 foot crack which
may require passing packs or a short rope to reach the
top. The trail then goes through the pinyon and juniper
forest and across several small drainages for 1.5
miles back to the trailhead.
k
Pic
The recommended route is to enter Owl and exit Fish
Canyon. The first three miles of Owl are steep and
mostly slickrock, with several large pour-offs to be
circumvented. One of the detours involves going into
a small side canyon on the north side of the main
canyon and scrambling down some rocks. Nevill’s
Arch is approximately five miles in Owl Creek.
Bears Ears
Fo
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The main loop is approximately 17 miles long. Three
days is recommended to do this hike. Permits are
required for day use and overnight hiking. Overnight
permits must be obtained at the Kane Gulch Ranger
Station March 1st - June 15th and September 1st to
October 31st. At other times of year, permits may be
obtained at traihead fee stations.
G
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Hiking in Fish and Owl Creeks
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Ka
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The road access to the trailhead is one mile south of
Kane Gulch Ranger Station on State Route 261. Turn
east and drive approximately five miles on a dirt road
to a drill hole which is the parking area. This road is
passable to passenger vehicles during good weather.
If it rains or snows, this road can become impassable
even to 4WD vehicles. There is a kiosk and restrooms
at the trailhead.
Kane Gulch
Ranger Station
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Getting There
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Nevills
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Snow Flat
Road
North
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McLoyd Canyon Moon House RMZ
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Legend:
a
Ranger Station
State Routes
BLM Wilderness Study Area (WSA)
Trailhead
Class B Roads
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Toilet
Class D Roads
Pay Station
Suggested Hiking Route
Interpretive Sign
Bears Ears National Monument
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Confluence
Private
State Institutional Trust
Lands Administration (SITLA)
Water Conditions
Visit with Respect
Owl Creek is usually dry from
Nevill’s Arch to the confluence
with Fish Creek. Fish Creek
generally has intermittent
water from two miles up
Even springs can dry up, so always
canyon from the conf