No Regrets on the Bull Creek Pass Back Country Byway

Mountain Landscape on Bull Creek Pass (UT) [1]

Rugged but traversable, desolate yet scenic, the Bull Creek Pass Back Country Byway follows an unforgettable route through southern Utah’s distinct terrain. You’ll journey 68 miles on a remote, single-lane dirt road past three of the five peaks of the Henry Mountains, the last mountain range to be explored and named in the lower forty eight states. You won’t regret a minute of your backcountry adventure as you wind your way along the byway.

For an ideal, on-the-road experience, climb into a four-wheel drive vehicle to brave the road’s steep and sometimes rough terrain. Access the byway’s north entrance off of Utah State Highway 95, 21 miles south of Hanksville, Utah. From the desert floor the byway ascends, gaining more than a vertical mile enroute to the alpine high country surrounding the 10,485-foot high Bull Creek Pass. Along the way, you’ll pass badlands and buttes, canyons and cliffs, as you meander through forested slopes of spruce and ponderosa. As you descend the final 10 miles of the byway from Coyote Benches to the southern entrance on Utah State Highway 276, notice the sweeping panorama of Utah’s spectacular canyon country that unfolds before you.

Bison in Henry Mountains (UT) [2]

Along the byway into the Henry Mountains, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife. Deer, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, antelope, and even free-roaming bison wander these parts in abundant numbers. Take in diverse vegetation that ranges from Aspen and Ponderosa Pine to Juniper and Salt Desert Shrub. For a more hands-on experience, stop at McMillan Springs, a developed campground along the byway, or Lonesome Beaver Campground, just north of the byway, and experience some of the area’s diverse flora and fauna on foot. From Bull Creek Pass, trek up the Mt. Ellen hiking trail (five miles round trip) for excellent views of the Henry Mountains and the surrounding desert.

Although your byway driving experience must eventually come to an end, you’ll remember the steep climbs, wild animals, and sweeping views long after. From canyon depths to mountain heights, the Bull Creek Pass Back Country Byway offers a remarkable southern Utah experience you certainly won't regret.