Atlas › Cedar Mesa / Bears Ears
Fish Canyon
verified 2026-05-12
Ungraded
Moderate flood risk
Blanding, UT
Wetter, brushier of the two. Slickrock streambed, pools, Ancestral Puebloan sites.
Pets allowed but not recommended (crux climb).
Logistics
| Manager | BLM Monticello Field Office / Bears Ears NM |
|---|---|
| Permit | BLM Cedar Mesa day-use permit required: $5/person/day, $10/person/week, or $40/car/year. Buy at Recreation.gov, the Monticello Field Office, or the Kane Gulch Ranger Station. Overnight uses a separate calendar permit (spring quota in effect Mar-Jun and Sep-Oct). Permit desk: 435-587-1510. |
| Distance | 16-17 mi loop with Owl |
| Elevation | ~1600 ft |
| Time | 1-3 day backpack |
| Technical | Strenuous. 15-ft crack downclimb crux (Class 4-5). |
| Season | Spring, fall |
| Flood risk | Moderate |
| Vehicle access | Off Hwy 261; HC recommended on TH dirt road |
| Crowd | Low |
| Coordinates | 37.4225, -109.9525 |
Sources
- permits: https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/permits-and-passes/lotteries-and-permit-systems/utah/cedarmesa
- faqs: https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/permits-and-passes/lotteries-and-permit-systems/utah/cedar-mesa/faqs
- fish owl brochure: https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/Utah_BENM_Fish_Owl_Creek_Canyons_Brochure.pdf
- heroPhoto: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Owl_And_Fish_Canyon_Area_(26772187216).jpg