Visit Wilderness

Contiguous to the Deep Creek North unit, Deep Creek Wilderness is located near the northeast corner of Zion National Park. In fact, Deep Creek Wilderness shares its southern border with the Park. The elevation ranges from a low of about 5,000 feet to a high of 7,000 feet, creating an environment for dense stands of trees and shrubs.

The perennial stream of Deep Creek flows for approximately 4.8 miles through the Deep Creek Wilderness and was designated as a “wild” river segment for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic River System. Approximately 1.2 miles of two tributaries to the North Fork of the Virgin River also flow through the Deep Creek Wilderness and have been designated as “wild” rivers.

This extensive cover, availability of water, and a contiguous landscape of wildlands, creates habitat for a wide variety of animals. Mule deer, elk, mountain lion, and bobcat are the larger animals that make a home here. Just a few of the smaller mammals include badgers, marmots, and ringtail. Numerous birds species can be observed in the Wilderness including golden eagle, screech owl, chukar partridge, and wild turkey. The remote canyons of the Wilderness provide suitable nesting habitat for the Mexican spotted owl, a threatened species. Common plant species in the area include Ponderosa pine, two-needle pinyon pine, single-leaf pinyon pine, Gambel oak, scrub or Dixie live oak, banana yucca, Mojave hedgehog cactus, Utah yucca, Greenleaf manzanita, firecracker penstemon, giant red Indian paintbrush, Fremont cottonwood, single-leaf ash, Engelmann’s spruce.

Deep Creek Wilderness receives between 14 and 16 inches of precipitation each year. Summer temperatures often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit with temperatures in excess of 90 at higher elevations and day and night temperatures differing by over 30 degrees. Winters are cold and often wet with temperatures ranging from highs of 50 to 60 degrees during the day to lows well below freezing at night. There are no maintained trails in the Wilderness.

Leave No Trace

How to follow the seven standard Leave No Trace principles differs in different parts of the country (desert vs. Rocky Mountains). Click on any of the principles listed below to learn more about how they apply in the Deep Creek Wilderness.

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

For more information on Leave No Trace, Visit the Leave No Trace, Inc. website.

Rules & Regulations

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Learn more about why regulations may be necessary in wilderness.