Unit 635 Zion
Slickrock canyon country wrapped around Zion National Park — deer winter range below, pine-and-aspen flats above, with the park itself off-limits.
Southwestern Utah — Zion / Kolob Terrace · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,726
sq mi
Public land
75%
approx.
Elevation
3,666–8,726
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
The Zion unit (DWR Deer/Elk Herd Unit #29) lies northeast of St. George and west of US-89, with Zion National Park sitting in the heart of the unit and closed to hunting. It sits at the junction of the Mojave Desert, Colorado Plateau and Great Basin, producing dramatic canyons, mesas and monoliths. Much of the south end is prime mule deer winter range, while the north end holds pine forest, aspen and better water. Deer are the marquee species; elk are present in modest numbers on the north end.
Terrain
Extreme relief from the low Coalpits Wash desert around 3,666 feet up to Horse Ranch Mountain at 8,726 feet, cut by deep sandstone canyons, buttes, mesas, arches and monoliths at the meeting point of three ecoregions.
Cover: South end is desert and pinyon-juniper mule deer winter range; the north end carries grass flats mixed with ponderosa pine forest and large aspen stands, with springs, small lakes and perennial streams.
Landmarks: Zion National Park (closed to hunting) · Kolob Terrace · Kolob Reservoir · Horse Ranch Mountain · Smith Mesa · Kanarra Mountain · Coalpits Wash
Access
A checkerboard of BLM, Dixie National Forest and SITLA trust land surrounds a large closed core — Zion National Park and all tribal trust lands within the boundary are excluded from hunting. Significant private ground lines the park boundary and the sections around Kolob Reservoir, where much of the elk concentrates. Kolob Terrace Road is the main artery into the huntable north end.
Managers: USFS Dixie NF, BLM, National Park Service (closed), SITLA, private
Access points: Kolob Terrace Road (from Virgin) · Kolob Reservoir Road · SR-14 (Cedar Canyon) on the north boundary · New Harmony / Kanarraville access · Smith Mesa Road
Species notes
Mule Deer
common opportunityThe unit's headline species. The south end is important mule deer winter range while the higher north end holds summer and fall deer in pine and aspen. Hunted primarily as general-season with a limited-entry component.
- →Work the pine-and-aspen edges and grass flats of the north end and Kolob Terrace early in the season
- →Glass the pinyon-juniper and desert benches of the south end as cold weather pushes deer onto winter range
- →Hunt water sources — springs and small lakes — on the drier stretches
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityElk are not abundant but a modest number use the north end, becoming more concentrated on the private property along the park boundary and the private sections around Kolob Reservoir.
- →Focus on the north-end timber and aspen near Kolob Reservoir
- →Locate bulls at dawn along the private-boundary edges of the huntable public ground
- →Be meticulous about the park and private boundaries where elk hold
Cougar
common opportunityCougars are well distributed through the canyon and mesa country following the deer.
- →Cut tracks on fresh snow along canyon rims and mesa edges
- →Hunt near deer winter concentrations on the south end
Pro tips
- →Know exactly where Zion National Park and tribal trust boundaries are — the huntable ground wraps around a large closed core and mistakes are easy in this terrain
- →The north end (Kolob Terrace) is where the pines, aspen, water and most of the elk are — start there
- →Time the south-end desert benches to cold snaps that move deer onto winter range
- →Much of the elk sits on private near Kolob Reservoir; secure access or hunt the public edges
- →Carry water and plan routes carefully in the broken slickrock canyon country
Watch out for
- !Zion National Park and all tribal trust lands within the boundary are closed to hunting
- !Extensive private ground along the park boundary and around Kolob Reservoir
- !Rugged canyon terrain and heat on the low south end — water and navigation are real hazards
- !Elk concentrate on private, limiting public opportunity
Logistics
Cedar City and the St. George/Hurricane corridor provide full services, lodging and fuel. Virgin is the gateway to Kolob Terrace Road and the huntable north end; Springdale (the Zion gateway) has abundant lodging but is at the closed park core. Dispersed camping is available on Dixie NF and BLM ground away from the park.
Nearest towns: Cedar City, Hurricane, Virgin, Kanarraville, New Harmony, Rockville, Springdale
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: UDWR Deer Herd Unit Management Plan #29 Zion (2020) · UDWR Elk Herd Unit Management Plan #29 Zion (2023) · GOHUNT — Utah Zion Unit Profile · USFS Dixie National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 635 in Utah?
- Unit 635 (Zion) covers about 1,726 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,666 to 8,726 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 635?
- Approximately 75% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Dixie NF, BLM, National Park Service (closed), SITLA, private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 635?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Utah agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 635 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.