BLM · Utah

Canaan Mountain Wilderness

Within Canaan Mountain Wilderness, which is adjacent to the southeast boundary of Zion National Park, an 8-by-10 mile block of Navajo Sandstone, enclosed by 2,000-foot-high cliffs, has been sculpted by wind and water over time into a landscape of soaring cliff walls, natural arches, and slot canyons. Elevations here range from approximately 4,100 to nearly 7,400 feet. On the highest plateaus, stands of ponderosa pine are surrounded by cream-colored slickrock. Pinyon pine, Utah juniper, scrub oak, and sagebrush cover the mountain slopes, at lower elevations. Seeps in the canyon walls provide water for hanging gardens of maidenhair fern, monkeyflower, and columbine.

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).

Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Canaan Mountain Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net
DesignationWilderness
Managed byBureau of Land Management
StateUtah
Size44,447 acres
Designated2009, by Congress
Center point37.08° N, 112.98° W
Night skyVery dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 26)

Boundary map

1 outline

Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground

The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Canaan Mountain Wilderness30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 1.33 inches of precipitation, 2.9 inches of snowFebruary: 1.81 inches of precipitation, 3.6 inches of snowMarch: 1.67 inches of precipitation, 1.1 inches of snowApril: 1.12 inches of precipitation, 0.6 inches of snowMay: 0.56 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 0.31 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 1.22 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 1.43 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.48 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.16 inches of precipitation, 0.4 inches of snowNovember: 1.10 inches of precipitation, 0.7 inches of snowDecember: 1.13 inches of precipitation, 3.1 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 36.7°F averageFebruary: 40.5°F averageMarch: 46.7°F averageApril: 52.7°F averageMay: 61.8°F averageJune: 71.9°F averageJuly: 78.2°F averageAugust: 76.7°F averageSeptember: 69.3°F averageOctober: 57.4°F averageNovember: 44.9°F averageDecember: 36.1°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Colorado City, 6 miles from the center point at 5,001 feet, station USC00021920 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 14 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 12 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.

Where to camp

Campsite Atlas →

None of the 2 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.

Fire nearby

Within 50 miles · as of 2026-11-01
  • Prescribed
    Miners Peak Rx

    30 mi from the center point

  • Prescribed
    North Fork Rx

    30 mi from the center point

  • Prescribed
    Bumblebee South Rx

    32 mi from the center point

  • Prescribed
    Harmony Ranch Community Rx

    36 mi from the center point

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.

Explore

Nearby on the other atlases

National Register listings within 15 miles · 44 in all · Register Atlas

Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.

Guidebooks for Utah

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Hiking from here to Wow: Utah Canyon Country
    Kathy Copeland, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking Utah's high Uintas
    Jeffrey Probst, 2016
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • 100 classic hikes Utah
    Julie K. Trevelyan, 2016
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Easy Day Hikes Canyonlands And Arches National Parks
    Bill Schneider, 2023
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Salt Lake City
    Greg Witt, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Canaan Mountain Wilderness?

44,447 acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Canaan Mountain Wilderness?

The Bureau of Land Management.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Canaan Mountain Wilderness in?

Utah.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Canaan Mountain Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 2009.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Can I camp at Canaan Mountain Wilderness?

Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.

Source: Where to camp

How do I get to Canaan Mountain Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 37.082° N, 112.983° W. Zion National Park is 11 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Is there a fire near Canaan Mountain Wilderness right now?

4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Miners Peak Rx at 30 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.

Source: Fire nearby

Which national parks are near Canaan Mountain Wilderness?

Zion National Park (11 mi) and Pipe Spring National Monument (13 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.

Source: Nearby on the other atlases

Are there historic places near Canaan Mountain Wilderness?

The National Register has 44 listings within 15 miles, including Rockville Bridge and Deseret Telegraph and Post Office.

Source: Register Atlas

Sources

  • Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
  • Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
  • Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
  • Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
  • Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.