North Mule Canyon

About North Mule Canyon

The North and South Forks of Mule Canyon are two fairly easy hiking areas on Cedar Mesa, north of U.S. Highway 95. The two canyons run roughly parallel to each other. They are similar in appearance, being relatively shallow at the trailhead near the road, and gradually deepening as they wind toward the west. Alternating band of red and white sandstone typify the canyon walls, which become increasingly sheer at the upper ends of the forks. Although there is no constructed, maintained trail, the route follows the creek bottom and a commonly used foot path. A permit to hike or backpack is required.

How to Get There

The south and north forks of Mule Canyon are accessed from highway 95. Look for the graded county road (SJ 263) on the north side of the highway, approximately 19 miles west of Blanding, Utah. Once you cross the cattleguard, the bulletin board and fee station for hiking these canyons will be immediately on the left. Continue to drive 0.25 mile north where the road goes over Mule Canyon. This is the trailhead for the South Fork of Mule Canyon. The North Fork trailhead is 0.75 mile up the road where a short bridge crosses the North Fork.

Plan Your Visit to North Mule Canyon

Heading to North Mule Canyon? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• Park map (PDF)
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)