Unit 688 La Sal, Potash/South Cisco
Red slickrock desert rising to 12,700-foot alpine peaks near Moab — a trophy limited-entry elk and deer unit with desert bighorn in the canyons below
Southeastern Utah — La Sal Mountains / Canyon Country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,464
sq mi
Public land
85%
approx.
Elevation
4,000–12,721
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
The La Sal, Potash/South Cisco unit sweeps from the Colorado River desert northeast of Moab — the Potash road, Cisco flats and slickrock canyon country — up into the alpine La Sal Mountains, Utah's second-highest range, crowned by 12,721-foot Mount Peale. Managed for trophy bull elk, it is a coveted limited-entry unit producing 300- to 330-class bulls with a shot at bigger, backed by limited-entry mule deer and desert bighorn sheep in the low canyons. Public access is good across the Manti-La Sal National Forest high country and surrounding BLM desert.
Terrain
One of Utah's most dramatic elevation spans. From roughly 4,000-foot desert benches along the Colorado River near Potash and Cisco, red slickrock canyon country climbs through pinyon-juniper and oak to steep timbered canyons and the alpine crest of the La Sals at Mount Peale (12,721 ft), Mount Mellenthin and Mount Tukuhnikivatz.
Cover: Salt desert scrub, blackbrush and slickrock in the lowlands; pinyon-juniper and Gambel oak on the mid-elevation benches; aspen and mixed conifer (spruce-fir, Douglas-fir) on the mountain slopes; alpine tundra above treeline on the highest peaks.
Landmarks: Mount Peale · Mount Mellenthin · Mount Tukuhnikivatz · La Sal Mountains · Colorado River / Potash Road · Castle Valley · Cisco flats · Manti-La Sal National Forest
Access
Good public access — the Manti-La Sal National Forest covers the high mountain core and BLM manages the vast surrounding desert and canyon country, with SITLA sections (open to hunting) mixed in. Private inholdings and ranchland cluster around Moab, La Sal, Castle Valley and the mountain foothills. The La Sal Loop Road rings the range; desert access is via the Potash road, US-191, I-70 near Cisco, and a web of BLM two-tracks that turn to slick clay when wet.
Managers: USFS Manti-La Sal NF, BLM, SITLA, private
Access points: La Sal Mountain Loop Road (from Moab / Castle Valley) · US-191 south of Moab (La Sal Junction) · Potash Road / SR-279 (Colorado River) · I-70 exits near Cisco / Thompson Springs · Geyser Pass and Forest roads into the high La Sals
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common trophyThe marquee hunt. La Sal is a trophy-managed limited-entry elk unit with healthy herds, good genetics and a solid bull-to-cow ratio, averaging 300–330-class bulls with a real chance at 330–350. Bachelor groups summer high near the peaks and drop into the timbered canyons as fall progresses.
- →Glass high alpine basins and timberline meadows around Mount Peale and Mount Mellenthin early in the season
- →Work the steep timbered canyons dropping off the peaks toward the desert as elk move down
- →Bugle the dark-timber pockets and set up on wallows during the rut
- →Cover ground between the alpine summer range and mid-elevation oak-brush transition
Mule Deer
common trophyLimited-entry mule deer with the age structure to grow big bucks across the mountain-to-desert gradient. Deer use the high aspen and oak brush in early fall and shift to the pinyon-juniper benches and canyons with weather.
- →Hunt the oak brush and aspen edges on the mountain flanks at dawn and dusk
- →As storms hit, drop to the pinyon-juniper benches and canyon rims where bucks migrate
- →Glass the broken slickrock and cedar country below the peaks for older deer
- →Focus on transition zones between timber and desert
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyDesert bighorn sheep inhabit the red-rock canyon country in the low elevations near the Colorado River, Potash and Cisco, hunted under a prized once-in-a-lifetime tag. A classic canyon-country desert sheep hunt below the alpine La Sals.
- →Glass the slickrock rims, ledges and side canyons above the Colorado River corridor
- →Watch water sources and shaded north-facing ledges during the heat of the day
- →Plan long, rugged approaches into the canyon country far from roads
- →Locate and evaluate mature rams with long-range optics well before the hunt
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears use the oak-brush, aspen and timbered canyons of the La Sals, with good mast crops in the Gambel oak driving fall activity.
- →Concentrate on oak-brush benches and berry pockets in late summer and fall
- →Glass avalanche chutes, burns and canyon bottoms at first and last light
- →Check springs and creek bottoms for feeding sign
Pro tips
- →Follow the vertical migration — elk and deer summer high and pour off the peaks into the timbered canyons and oak brush with the first storms
- →Pack for two climates in one hunt: alpine cold up high and desert heat down low
- →Time desert travel around the weather; clay two-tracks near Cisco and Potash strand vehicles when wet
- →For sheep, get deep into the slickrock canyons off the Colorado River well away from roads
- →Scout the high basins around Mount Peale and Mellenthin before the season to locate mature bulls
Watch out for
- !Slick, impassable clay roads in the desert after rain
- !Private inholdings and ranchland around Moab, La Sal and Castle Valley — verify boundaries
- !Big elevation swings and fast-moving alpine storms — early snow closes high roads
- !Flash flooding in the slickrock canyons
- !Limited water in the desert lowlands — carry your own and scout sources
Logistics
Moab is the full-service hub — fuel, lodging, groceries, outfitters — with La Sal, Monticello and Castle Valley closer to the mountain and desert edges. The elevation range means you may hunt 100-degree desert and snow-capped alpine in the same tag, so pack for both. La Sal Loop and forest roads are high-clearance; desert clay two-tracks near Cisco and Potash become impassable when wet. Cell service is spotty off the highways — carry offline maps and a satellite communicator for the backcountry.
Nearest towns: Moab, La Sal, Monticello, Castle Valley, Thompson Springs
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT — Utah La Sal, La Sal Mtns Elk Unit Profile · UDWR Elk Herd Unit Management Plan — Unit 13 La Sal · UDWR Hunt Planner boundary · USFS Manti-La Sal National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 688 in Utah?
- Unit 688 (La Sal, Potash/South Cisco) covers about 1,464 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,000 to 12,721 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 688?
- Approximately 85% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Manti-La Sal NF, BLM, SITLA, private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 688?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep, 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 688 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.