Unit 146 High Uintas East
Remote eastern Uintas wilderness — backcountry mountain goats, moose and mountain deer
Northeastern Utah — High Uintas Wilderness (East) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
498
sq mi
Public land
95%
approx.
Elevation
7,500–12,100
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
High Uintas East covers the eastern reaches of the Uinta range, from the Leidy Peak country toward the head of the range's major south-slope drainages. The majority of the unit is designated High Uintas Wilderness inside the Ashley National Forest, with very limited road access to the high goat and sheep habitat. It is a premium once-in-a-lifetime unit for mountain goats and Shiras moose, backed by high-country mule deer and elk in the timbered canyons.
Terrain
Alpine tundra, glacial lake basins and rocky cirques along the eastern crest fall away into deep, timbered south-slope canyons and rolling forest benches.
Cover: Alpine tundra and willow lake basins above timberline transition to Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir, then aspen, lodgepole and sagebrush parks at lower elevations.
Landmarks: Leidy Peak (12,028 ft) · Uinta Canyon · Hoop Lake basin · Elk Horn Loop road · eastern High Uintas crest
Access
Mostly wilderness with very limited road access to the alpine habitat; interior travel is foot or horseback only. The Elk Horn Loop road is the most popular vehicle access, feeding wilderness-edge trailheads. The Uintah & Ouray Reservation borders the southern flank — respect tribal land where hunting is prohibited.
Managers: USFS Ashley NF, USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF, SITLA, tribal
Access points: Hoop Lake trailhead · Uinta Canyon trailhead · Henry's Fork trailhead · Elk Horn Loop road · Whiterocks / south-slope forest roads
Species notes
Mountain Goat
common trophyThe eastern Uinta crest holds a solid mountain goat herd on remote alpine terrain; a strenuous, highly sought once-in-a-lifetime hunt with limited road access to the peaks.
- →Backpack in from Hoop Lake or Uinta Canyon and camp near the alpine zone
- →Glass Leidy Peak-area cliffs, talus and cirques at first light
- →Use the Elk Horn Loop road to reach the closest wilderness-edge staging
- →Be in top physical shape for multi-day high-country stalks
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose use the willow bottoms and beaver complexes of the south-slope canyons; a prized once-in-a-lifetime tag on the Uinta herds.
- →Hunt willow-lined creek bottoms and beaver ponds morning and evening
- →Glass aspen-willow edges below the alpine basins
- →Work the upper south-slope drainages where feed is thick
Mule Deer
common qualityHigh-country mule deer summer in the alpine basins and upper canyons; limited-entry backcountry bucks for hunters who hike deep.
- →Glass timberline benches and alpine willow pockets early season
- →Hunt migration routes down the south-slope canyons after storms
- →Cover ground between drainages on foot or horseback
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityElk range the timbered mid-elevation canyons and forest benches; solid general opportunity away from the alpine core.
- →Still-hunt spruce-fir benches and canyon parks at dawn
- →Use the Elk Horn Loop and forest roads to reach hunting benches, then hike off them
- →Let early snow move elk down into huntable timber
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears inhabit the timbered canyons and berry benches of the south slope.
- →Glass avalanche chutes and berry patches in late summer
- →Watch creek bottoms and aspen stands near feed
Pro tips
- →The Elk Horn Loop road is the key to efficient wilderness-edge access on this unit
- →Physical conditioning and pack stock are decisive for the goat hunt and any deep pack-out
- →Scout Leidy Peak-area glassing points on the map before committing to a trailhead
- →Respect the Uintah & Ouray Reservation boundary on the southern flank
- →Time deer and elk hunting to the first hard storms for the down-canyon movement
Watch out for
- !Designated wilderness interior — foot or horseback only, no motorized travel
- !Uintah & Ouray Reservation borders the south; hunting is prohibited on tribal land
- !Severe high-altitude weather and lightning above timberline
- !Long, rough forest roads to trailheads — carry recovery gear
- !Demanding meat pack-outs from the alpine goat country
Logistics
Stage from Vernal, Roosevelt or Whiterocks for the south-slope trailheads, or from the Mountain View, Wyoming side for northern access. The Elk Horn Loop and Ashley NF roads reach the wilderness edge, but the goat and sheep country requires foot or stock travel from there. Carry recovery gear for rough roads and pack for high-altitude weather; services are limited once you leave town.
Nearest towns: Vernal, Roosevelt, Whiterocks, Manila, Mountain View, WY
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 — Wilderness · GOHUNT — Utah High Uintas East Unit Profile
FAQ
- How big is Unit 146 in Utah?
- Unit 146 (High Uintas East) covers about 498 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,500 to 12,100 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 146?
- Approximately 95% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Ashley NF, USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF, SITLA, tribal. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 146?
- Mountain Goat, Moose, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, 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 146 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.