Unit 12 Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless
A 100% public, non-motorized roadless pocket of the Book Cliffs that grows big, undisturbed bulls and bucks for those willing to hike or ride in.
Eastern Utah — Book Cliffs (Roadless) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
89
sq mi
Public land
100%
approx.
Elevation
4,183–9,484
feet
Motorized
wilderness
access
Overview
The Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless is a small, premium limited-entry unit inside the larger Book Cliffs complex of eastern Utah. Because it is a designated roadless area closed to motorized travel, hunters must hike or use horses and mules to reach game, which keeps pressure low and lets bulls and bucks mature. It is one of Utah's high-age-class elk units and a coveted draw for backcountry-oriented hunters. The roadless block drains four main canyons — West Willow Creek, She Creek, Little Creek, and East Willow Creek.
Terrain
Steep, rugged Book Cliffs terrain rising from desert benches to timbered ridgelines over 9,400 ft. Deeply incised canyons and long glassing ridges define the country, and travel is physically demanding on foot or horseback.
Cover: Desert shrub and pinyon-juniper on the lower benches grading up through mountain brush, oakbrush and aspen to spruce-fir and Douglas-fir on the high north slopes and ridgetops.
Landmarks: West Willow Creek · She Creek · Little Creek · East Willow Creek · Book Cliffs escarpment
Access
Entirely public land, but strictly non-motorized inside the roadless boundary — no vehicles. Access is by foot, horse or mule from trailheads at the edge of the roadless area; the main canyons carry heavier horse traffic while the ridges between them offer solitude and glassing. Do not cross onto the adjacent Uintah & Ouray (Ute) tribal lands, which border the Book Cliffs and require tribal permission.
Managers: SITLA, BLM, UDWR (state wildlife management)
Access points: West Willow Creek trailhead/drainage · Little Creek drainage · East Willow Creek drainage · Book Cliffs perimeter roads (park and pack in)
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common trophyThe marquee species and the reason to draw this unit. Harvested bulls average roughly 7.7 to 9.1 years old, putting it among Utah's oldest age-class elk units. Low, non-motorized pressure lets bulls reach full maturity.
- →Pack in and camp deep to hunt away from the horse traffic in the main canyons
- →Glass the ridges between the four drainages at first and last light
- →Call in the timber transitions during the rut; still-hunt north-slope spruce-fir in warm weather
- →Be prepared to pack a bull out miles by horse or on your back
Mule Deer
common trophyA draw buck-deer opportunity hunted only in the roadless portion of the Book Cliffs. Because few hunters penetrate the roadless country, bucks grow old and heavy-antlered in a largely undisturbed environment.
- →Glass the oakbrush and mahogany benches and canyon breaks at dawn
- →Hunt high ridgelines and mid-elevation brush where mature bucks hold
- →Cover ground on foot to reach pockets others won't hike to
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears use the oakbrush and aspen drainages of the Book Cliffs, offering a secondary opportunity for drawn hunters.
- →Focus on oakbrush draws and berry/mast pockets
- →Glass green feed on the canyon slopes in early season
Pro tips
- →Draw it, then commit to the backcountry — this is not a road-hunting unit
- →Get past the crowded main-canyon horse traffic and hunt the ridges between drainages
- →Line up horses or mules early; packing a mature bull out on foot is brutal
- →Confirm the tribal boundary and stay off Ute reservation land
- →Scout glassing ridges ahead of time — the country rewards optics and patience
Watch out for
- !No motorized access anywhere inside the roadless boundary
- !Adjacent Uintah & Ouray (Ute) tribal land — do not trespass
- !Water is scarce on the lower desert benches; plan sources
- !Physically demanding terrain and long pack-outs
- !Early snow on high ridges can complicate horse travel
Logistics
Vernal is the main outfitting and resupply town to the north; Green River and Price serve the south end. This is a full backcountry operation — plan for a horse/mule pack-in or a heavy backpack effort, water planning on the dry lower benches, and self-sufficient camps well inside the roadless boundary. Many hunters use outfitters familiar with the drainages.
Nearest towns: Vernal, Ouray, Green River, Price
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: UDWR Hunt Boundary — Book Cliffs Little Creek Roadless (Limited Entry) · GOHUNT Utah Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless unit profile · Utah Big Game Application Guidebook 2026
FAQ
- How big is Unit 12 in Utah?
- Unit 12 (Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless) covers about 89 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,183 to 9,484 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 12?
- Approximately 100% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: SITLA, BLM, UDWR (state wildlife management). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 12?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Utah agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 12 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.