The La Sal mountain range is within the boundaries of the Manti-La Sal National Forest, which means it’s open to the public and completely free to enter. In fact, visitors to a national forest can even take part in dispersed camping for free, which means you can hike out to any spot in the forest and set up your own campsite there. However, there are a few rules that you have to follow, including the general outdoors mantra of “Leave No Trace.”
Although you can walk out into the forest just about anywhere in the La Sal mountains, any vehicles have to stay within 150 feet of the road at all times. While you can bring a firearm with you, shooting is prohibited within 150 yards of any campsites, roads, or lakes. Once you have your campsite set up, you can stay in the same spot for up to 14 days before you have to move at least 10 miles away. You can also only leave your campsite unattended for up to 72 hours before the rangers can remove it.
Most importantly, all dispersed camping operates under the universal camping principle of “Pack it In, Pack it Out.” This means that, when you leave the forest, you have to carry everything you brought when you entered the forest. That includes trash, food waste, and anything else you brought with you. There are a few dumpsters located in the area for the rangers to use, but they’re not open to the public, so expect to haul your trash back out of the national forest entirely before you can get rid of it.
To make the most of your trip, check out our La Sal Mountains Self-Guided Driving Tour, or you can sign up for Action+ and gain access to over 100 tours for a single yearly price.
