Unit 620 Wasatch Mtns, West
The steep, forested Wasatch backbone above Salt Lake and Utah valleys — a premium trophy elk unit hunted alongside a general-season deer tag.
Northern Utah — Wasatch Front / Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,223
sq mi
Public land
70%
approx.
Elevation
5,500–11,750
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
The west half of the Wasatch Mountains unit forms the dramatic eastern wall of the Salt Lake and Utah valleys, from the Cottonwood canyons and Mount Timpanogos south past Provo Peak toward Mount Nebo and Diamond Fork. It is the western portion of Utah's limited-entry, trophy-managed Wasatch Mountains elk unit, which produces mature bulls in the 320-340 class with a few pushing higher. Deer are hunted on a general-season buck tag; trophy-class bucks survive by living high in rugged, roadless country. Public land is abundant — mostly Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest — but the terrain is steep and much of the north end near Salt Lake carries firearm restrictions, favoring archery and backcountry hunters.
Terrain
Rugged, steep mountain country. Valley floors and rolling foothills near 5,500 ft climb abruptly to a high crest with large meadows, flats and glacial cirques above timberline, topped by Mount Timpanogos (11,752 ft) and Mount Nebo (11,928 ft on the south end). Steep creek drainages cut down to the valley on both sides.
Cover: Oakbrush, bigtooth maple and mountain mahogany on the lower slopes; dense aspen and spruce-fir on the mid and upper mountain; open alpine meadows and rock above timberline.
Landmarks: Mount Timpanogos · Mount Nebo · Provo Peak · American Fork Canyon · Provo Canyon · Hobble Creek and Diamond Fork · Big/Little Cottonwood Canyons
Access
The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest covers most of the high country and provides strong public access, but the mountain is steep and roads mostly follow the major canyons — American Fork Canyon (SR-92 / Alpine Loop), Provo Canyon (US-189), Hobble Creek, Diamond Fork and the Nebo Loop. Interior high country is largely roadless and reached on foot. IMPORTANT: much of the north end near the Salt Lake valley falls in firearm-restricted (archery/extended-archery) areas around the metro. Private ground rings the valley bases and canyon mouths.
Managers: USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF, private, SITLA
Access points: American Fork Canyon / Alpine Loop (SR-92) · Provo Canyon (US-189) · Hobble Creek Canyon · Diamond Fork / Spanish Fork Canyon (US-6) · Nebo Loop Scenic Byway · Big and Little Cottonwood canyon trailheads (north)
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common trophyThe premium draw. This is the western half of the limited-entry, trophy-managed Wasatch Mountains elk unit, which annually produces mature bulls in the 320-340 range with occasional bulls above 340. Bulls hold the high aspen benches, timbered basins and roadless heads of the canyons.
- →Hike well past the roads into the high aspen-conifer basins where mature bulls hold
- →Locate rutting bulls by bugling in the timbered heads of American Fork, Hobble Creek and Diamond Fork drainages
- →Glass alpine meadows and timber edges at first light near Timpanogos and Provo Peak
- →Be prepared for steep, physical country — the best bulls live where access is hardest
Mule Deer
common qualityA general-season buck deer unit with good deer numbers; the biggest bucks survive by living high in the rugged, roadless upper elevations where few hunters go. Deer drop toward the mid-slope oakbrush with snow.
- →Backpack into isolated high canyons and peaks away from the canyon roads
- →Glass oakbrush and maple benches at dawn on the lower and mid slopes
- →Plan later hunts around the first snows that push deer down out of the high timber
- →Focus effort in the north where firearm restrictions thin the hunter numbers if archery hunting
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose inhabit the willow bottoms and aspen-conifer riparian pockets of the Wasatch. Once-in-a-lifetime limited-entry tags produce good bulls for the few who draw.
- →Glass willow-lined creek bottoms and beaver ponds at dawn and dusk
- →Check aspen-conifer riparian stringers in the higher drainages
- →Still-hunt quietly through dense willow and spruce pockets
Mountain Goat
limited trophyThe Timpanogos and central Wasatch cliffs hold a mountain goat herd hunted on rare once-in-a-lifetime tags. Goats live the high rock and alpine ledges.
- →Glass the cliff bands and alpine faces of Mount Timpanogos and the high crest
- →Plan a physical, high-elevation stalk with time to reach the rock
- →Watch snow-line — goats move with early storms
Cougar
common opportunityCougars follow the deer through the oakbrush foothills and canyon breaks all along the Wasatch Front — a productive houndsman unit after snow.
- →Cut tracks on canyon and forest roads after fresh snow
- →Focus on the deer-wintering oakbrush foothills at the mountain base
- →Work the steep canyon breaks where deer concentrate
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears use the oakbrush-maple and aspen belts of the Wasatch. Best in fall when bears feed heavily on oakbrush mast and berries.
- →Glass oakbrush and maple draws during fall mast
- →Check aspen and berry pockets in the mid-elevation canyons
- →Hunt near canyon-bottom food sources at dawn and dusk
Pro tips
- →The trophy bulls and biggest bucks live where the roads end — plan to hike and be fit for steep country
- →Know exactly where the firearm-restricted archery zones begin near the Salt Lake valley before you hunt the north end
- →Use the canyon roads as access, not hunting ground — get over the ridge away from the traffic
- →Time later deer hunts to the first real snow that concentrates animals lower
- →Scout on weekdays to avoid the heavy Wasatch Front recreation crowds
- →For once-in-a-lifetime goat, focus glassing on the Timpanogos cliff bands
Watch out for
- !Firearm restrictions (archery/extended-archery zones) across much of the north end near Salt Lake — verify legality of your weapon
- !Steep, physical terrain with real fall and exposure risk
- !Early snow closes the Alpine Loop and upper canyon roads
- !Heavy non-hunting recreation traffic in the accessible canyons
- !Private land at the canyon mouths and valley bases — respect boundaries
Logistics
This unit sits directly against the Wasatch Front metro, so lodging, fuel, groceries and gear are abundant in Provo, Orem, American Fork and Salt Lake — you can hunt hard and sleep in town. Forest campgrounds line American Fork Canyon, Provo Canyon, the Nebo Loop and Hobble Creek for those who want to base high. Trailhead parking fills fast on weekends given the recreation traffic.
Nearest towns: Provo, Orem, American Fork, Spanish Fork, Payson, Heber City, Salt Lake City
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: UDWR Wasatch Mountains Elk Herd Unit Management Plan #17 · UDWR Wasatch Mountains Deer Herd Unit Management Plan #17 · UDWR Utah Hunt Planner · GOHUNT Wasatch Mtns West Unit Profile
FAQ
- How big is Unit 620 in Utah?
- Unit 620 (Wasatch Mtns, West) covers about 1,223 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,500 to 11,750 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 620?
- Approximately 70% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF, private, SITLA. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 620?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Moose, Mountain Goat, Cougar, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Utah agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
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