La Sal – Mountains and Hiking Trails in Utah

La Sal is a destination for travelers who want to explore mountain scenery in a variety of ways. The La Sal Mountains combine striking peaks, forests, lakes, and an extensive network of trails. When planning your trip, the main question is therefore whether you want to visit a single natural attraction, choose a shorter route, or include several hiking trails in your itinerary. A vacation apartment or vacation home in La Sal can serve as a base for a trip focused on the mountains and trails in the surrounding area.

Hiking Trails with Different Distances

Mount Peale reaches 12,721 feet and is most easily accessed via La Sal Pass Road (FS Road #073) from Upper Two Mile Road near the town of La Sal. Anyone who wants to combine a hike with a clear destination will find several different options at La Sal Pass. The Tuk Trail is a branch of the Burlfriends Trail and begins about half a mile from the parking area at La Sal Pass. It leads to a ridge below Mount Tukuhnikivatz.

The Burlfriends Trail is 4 miles long. It begins at La Sal Pass and ends at La Sal Pass Road. The route passes through aspen and pine forests and by Beaver Lake. This makes it possible to tailor your choice of route to the time available and your preferred pace for the day, without all trails having the same character. When traveling with children of different ages, it can be helpful to take these distances into account when planning together.

Lakes, Forests, and the Peaks of the La Sal Mountains

Shorter trails are also part of the landscape experience. The Medicine Lake Trail is about 1 mile long. The South Mountain Trail circles South Mountain and adds an option whose route places the mountain itself at the center as a destination. The La Sal Mountains have several peaks over 12,000 feet and more than 300 miles of hiking trails. Those who want to combine several experiences in nature can therefore choose between individual sections and longer days of hiking.

The alternation between aspen and pine forests, lakes, and high-elevation peaks makes the landscape varied, without requiring a specific itinerary. Beaver Lake is located along the Burlfriends Trail, while the Medicine Lake Trail offers a separate option of about 1 mile.

Getting There and Planning Your Excursions

La Sal Pass Road (FS #0073) is best reached via UT46 and Two Mile Road. For the La Sal Pass/Geyser Pass Trails loop, there is a staging area after La Sal at the intersection of Highway 46 and County Road 154; the access road leads northeast. This information provides clear guidance for planning your day if you want to determine your route to the trails in advance. When choosing your vacation rental in La Sal, it makes sense to first determine your planned excursions and the desired order of your nature destinations.

Traces of History and Film

The La Sal Mountains are associated with more than just hiking trails. The Old Spanish Trail passes by them. In addition, the opening titles of Thelma & Louise were filmed near the La Sal Mountains in the U.S. state of Utah. These two details offer another way to experience the region: Alongside an active time in the mountains, you can also view the landscape as the setting for historic trails and well-known film scenes.

More Destinations for Your Search

If you would like to expand your travel planning to include additional destinations, you can also visit the pages for Mexican Hat, Monticello, Spanish Valley, Blanding, and Oljato-Monument Valley.

For the broader travel overview: San Juan County.