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Slaughter Creek Wilderness

Hilly desert region with shrubs and rock outcroppings

Introduction

The United States Congress designated the Slaughter Creek Wilderness (map of the Slaughter Creek Wilderness) in 2009 and it now has a total of See Slaughter Creek Wilderness breakdown of 4,047 acres.

All of this Wilderness is located in Utah and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

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Description

Clustered together with Cougar Canyon, Doc’s Pass, and Tunnel Spring Wilderness areas along the Nevada state line, Slaughter Creek Wilderness sits in the remote northwest corner of Washington County, UT. Steep-sided canyons and mountain peaks, composed of Miocene age volcanic lava flows, ash-fall tuffs and mudflow breccias, are densely covered with pinyon pine, Utah juniper, manzanita, and scrub oak. Elevations in this wilderness range from approximately 4,800 to 7,000 feet.

Slaughter Creek, for which this wilderness was named, flows through the wilderness and many species of song birds and raptors can be viewed in the native willows and cottonwood trees that grow in the riparian zone along it. A wide variety of mammals roam here including elk, mule deer, mountain lion, ringtail, bobcat, badger, and both the common and kit fox.

Visitors to this Wilderness will experience scenic vistas and outstanding opportunities for backpacking, horseback riding, and primitive camping. This part of Washington County is rugged and remote. Visitors should plan carefully and be prepared for backcountry travel conditions. Slaughter Creek Wilderness receives between 14 and 24 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 Slaughter 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.