Unit 145 High Uintas Central
Utah's alpine rooftop — Kings Peak, backcountry mountain goats and once-in-a-lifetime hunts
Northeastern Utah — High Uintas Wilderness (Central) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
466
sq mi
Public land
98%
approx.
Elevation
8,000–13,528
feet
Motorized
wilderness
access
Overview
High Uintas Central takes in the very highest and most remote heart of the Uinta Mountains, including 13,528-foot Kings Peak, Utah's tallest summit. Nearly the entire unit sits inside the High Uintas Wilderness, split by the range crest between the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache and Ashley National Forests. It is a premium, physically demanding once-in-a-lifetime unit best known for a strong, high-success mountain goat herd, with Shiras moose, high-country deer and elk sharing the glacial basins.
Terrain
Glacially carved alpine basins, sheer cirques, talus fields and hundreds of high lakes ringed by the highest peaks in Utah, dropping into deep timbered canyons on both slopes.
Cover: Extensive alpine tundra, willow and sedge lake basins above timberline, giving way to Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir forest, then aspen and lodgepole lower in the canyons.
Landmarks: Kings Peak (13,528 ft) · Henry's Fork Basin · Lake Fork drainage · Yellowstone / Swift Creek drainage · China Meadows
Access
One of the most remote big-game units in Utah. Almost entirely designated wilderness — travel is by foot or horseback only, with no roads penetrating the interior. Maintained trails climb the canyon bottoms to passes above 11,000-12,000 feet; access is from trailheads at the edge of the wilderness on both slopes.
Managers: USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF, USFS Ashley NF, SITLA
Access points: China Meadows trailhead (north slope) · Henry's Fork trailhead (north slope) · Lake Fork trailhead (south slope) · Yellowstone / Swift Creek trailhead (south slope)
Species notes
Mountain Goat
common trophyCentral holds the highest terrain in the range and good numbers of mountain goats with historically high hunter success — a marquee once-in-a-lifetime hunt in Utah's alpine core.
- →Glass high cirques, talus and cliff bands above 11,500 feet at dawn
- →Backpack or pack-string in via Henry's Fork or Lake Fork and camp high for days
- →Be in excellent physical shape and prepared for a strenuous, multi-day stalk
- →Set up on ridge glassing knobs to locate bands before committing to a route
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose use the willow bottoms and lake basins of the lower canyons; a coveted once-in-a-lifetime tag on the Uinta herds.
- →Hunt willow flats and beaver-pond complexes in the canyon bottoms morning and evening
- →Glass the aspen-willow transition below the alpine zone
- →Work drainages like Henry's Fork and Lake Fork where feed concentrates
Mule Deer
limited qualityDeer summer high in the alpine basins and timbered upper canyons; limited-entry opportunity with backcountry bucks for those willing to hike deep.
- →Glass alpine willow pockets and timberline benches early
- →Hunt the high basins before storms push deer down the canyons
- →Cover country on foot or horseback between drainages
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityElk range the timbered mid-elevation canyons and parks; numbers are lower and the terrain is demanding.
- →Still-hunt spruce-fir benches and canyon parks
- →Focus on feed edges and wallows in the upper drainages
- →Use early snows to find elk lower in the canyons
Pro tips
- →Physical conditioning is the single biggest success factor — train for sustained high-altitude climbing
- →Pack stock dramatically extends your range and eases the meat pack-out from Kings Peak country
- →Scout via topo and satellite for glassing knobs above the basins before you commit boots
- →Build in weather buffer days; a locked-in storm can strand you high
- →Treat this as a once-in-a-lifetime expedition and start planning logistics months out
Watch out for
- !Designated wilderness — foot or horseback travel only, no motorized or mechanized access
- !Severe high-altitude weather and lightning above timberline
- !Extreme remoteness — self-rescue capability and satellite communication strongly advised
- !Brutal meat pack-outs from the alpine core
- !Altitude sickness for hunters not acclimated to 11,000-13,000 feet
Logistics
This is a full backcountry operation. Stage from Mountain View/Evanston, Wyoming for the north-slope trailheads or from Roosevelt/Duchesne for the south-slope drainages. Expect long drives to trailheads, then multi-day travel by foot or stock into the interior. Pack for high-altitude weather, water is abundant from the lakes, and there are no services once you leave the highway.
Nearest towns: Mountain View, WY, Evanston, WY, Roosevelt, Duchesne, Kamas
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: UDWR Uinta Mountains Mountain Goat Unit Management Plan · UDWR Big Game Application Guidebook 2026 · USFS Ashley National Forest — High Uintas Wilderness · GOHUNT — Utah High Uintas Central Unit Profile
FAQ
- How big is Unit 145 in Utah?
- Unit 145 (High Uintas Central) covers about 466 square miles, ranging from roughly 8,000 to 13,528 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 145?
- Approximately 98% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF, USFS Ashley NF, SITLA. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 145?
- Mountain Goat, Moose, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Utah agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 145 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.