Unit 27 Box Elder, Snowville
High-desert basins and forested island ranges on the Idaho line — a managed elk herd, general-season mule deer and Curlew Valley pronghorn
Northern Utah — Raft River & Grouse Creek Mountains · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,353
sq mi
Public land
88%
approx.
Elevation
4,500–9,925
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
The Snowville subunit anchors the far north end of the Box Elder unit, a big landscape of sagebrush basins broken by isolated mountain ranges along the Utah–Idaho border. The east–west Raft River Mountains rise to nearly 9,900 feet and carry a division of the Sawtooth National Forest, giving this otherwise arid country a genuine forested core that holds a managed elk herd, general-season mule deer and pronghorn out on the Curlew Valley flats. It is remote, lightly roaded and heavily public — a big-country hunt for people willing to cover ground.
Terrain
Wide high-desert basins near 4,500–5,000 ft rise into island ranges — the Raft River Mountains (high point ~9,925 ft at Bull Flat/Dunn Benchmark), Grouse Creek Mountains and, farther west, the Pilot Range. The Raft Rivers run east–west with gentler north and west slopes and steeper south and east faces.
Cover: Sagebrush-grass steppe and salt desert shrub across the basins; mountain brush, aspen and mixed conifer (Douglas-fir, subalpine) climb the Raft River and Grouse Creek high country, with mountain parks and meadows near the crests. Agricultural ground fringes Curlew Valley near Snowville.
Landmarks: Raft River Mountains · Grouse Creek Mountains · Pilot Range · Curlew Valley · Clear Creek drainage · Sawtooth National Forest (Raft River Division) · Grouse Creek village
Access
A mix of BLM basin country, the Sawtooth National Forest (Raft River Division) on the higher Raft River/Grouse Creek ground, SITLA state-trust sections (open to hunting) and private ranch/agricultural land in Curlew Valley and around Grouse Creek. Access is via graded county and forest roads off I-84 and the Snowville/Grouse Creek road, with high-clearance 4WD needed on the primitive spurs into the ranges. Respect private inholdings around the ag valleys and the small communities.
Managers: BLM, USFS Sawtooth NF, SITLA, private
Access points: I-84 / Snowville (US-30) corridor · Grouse Creek Road · Clear Creek drainage roads · Sawtooth NF forest roads into the Raft River Mountains · BLM basin two-tracks
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityElk are actively managed here — a Snowville-area subunit population objective was raised toward roughly 400 animals, and elk summer in the high drainages and mountain parks of the Raft River and Grouse Creek ranges before dropping to lower basins in fall. The forested island ranges give this desert country a legitimate elk hunt.
- →Hunt the aspen, conifer edges and mountain parks high in the Raft River and Grouse Creek Mountains early, then follow elk down as fall progresses
- →Work springs, seeps and meadow edges at first and last light
- →Glass the transition between the forested crests and the open sage basins
- →Be ready to cover big country between the widely separated ranges
Mule Deer
common opportunityGeneral-season mule deer use all elevations, concentrating in basin draws, mountain brush and the sparse timber of the ranges. As part of the Box Elder general unit this is an opportunity hunt with heavy pressure on the road-accessible ground, but the rougher range country holds mature bucks.
- →Hunt the mountain-brush and aspen fringes of the Raft River and Grouse Creek Mountains
- →Get away from the roads into rough draws where bucks escape pressure
- →Glass basin draws and timber pockets at dawn and dusk
Pronghorn
common qualityPronghorn work the open flats of Curlew Valley and the lower basins. UDWR added new muzzleloader pronghorn seasons on the Box Elder, Snowville unit to help distribute hunters — a solid, accessible speed-goat hunt.
- →Glass the open Curlew Valley sage flats from low rises at first light
- →Use terrain folds to close the distance across open ground
- →Watch private ag boundaries — antelope often use the edge of farmed valleys
Pro tips
- →Play the elevation: chase elk and deer high in the Raft River/Grouse Creek timber early, then intercept them lower as snow builds
- →The forested island ranges are the key — most of the unit is dry sage that holds far less game
- →Scout water sources; in this dry country game concentrates around springs and guzzlers
- →Download offline BLM/USFS/SITLA ownership layers to keep off the Curlew Valley private ag ground
- →Fuel up in Snowville — services are scarce once you head for Grouse Creek
Watch out for
- !Private ranch and agricultural inholdings around Curlew Valley and Grouse Creek — verify boundaries
- !Long distances between services; carry fuel, water and a satellite device
- !High-clearance 4WD terrain and greasy clay roads when wet
- !Early snow on the Raft River crests can close the high country
- !Heavy pressure on road-accessible general-season deer ground
Logistics
Snowville (on I-84) is the practical staging point for fuel and basics; Tremonton and Brigham City to the southeast have fuller services. Grouse Creek and Park Valley are tiny outposts — plan to be self-sufficient once you leave the interstate. Carry extra fuel, water, recovery gear and a satellite communicator; cell coverage fades fast in the ranges and back basins. High-clearance 4WD is recommended for the primitive roads.
Nearest towns: Snowville, Tremonton, Grouse Creek, Park Valley, Brigham City
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: UDWR Elk Herd Unit Management Plan — Unit #1 Box Elder (Snowville subunit objective) · UDWR Deer Herd Unit Management Plan — Unit #1 Box Elder · Utah Wildlife Board approves new hunt strategies (Box Elder, Snowville pronghorn muzzleloader seasons) · SummitPost — Utah Western Desert Ranges (Raft River/Grouse Creek/Pilot geography)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 27 in Utah?
- Unit 27 (Box Elder, Snowville) covers about 1,353 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,500 to 9,925 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 27?
- Approximately 88% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, USFS Sawtooth NF, SITLA, private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 27?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Utah agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 27 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.