Standing as a sentinel at the edge of the Great Basin, the Canyon Mountains rise 4,500 feet above their surrounding terrain, affording hikers atop the rugged range views of distant peaks, spare deserts, dunes, plateaus, hills and valleys. The peaks of the Canyons are posted like lookouts over the Sevier Desert. The dramatic uplift of the eastern escarpment provides travelers along Interstate 15 a view of extraordinary peaks jutting above the horizon. At dusk, the visages of Fool Creek Peak at 9717 feet and Williams Peak to the south at 9236 feet appear as a roughly torn sheet of black paper against the cerulean sky. Many highly scenic canyons are found between the lofty peaks, including Oak Creek, Dry, and Eightmile Canyons on the western side; and John Williams, Hardscrabble, and Little Oak Canyons on the eastern side. The range is home to the Canyon Mountains Roadless Area. Encompassing the prominent peaks, slopes, and lowlands of the Fillmore Ranger District of the Fishlake National Forest, this roadless area is a high, lonesome beginning to the Great Basin found to the west. At more than 101,000 acres, the roadless area is of sufficient size for humans and wildlife alike to vanish within relative proximity to civilization. Containing predominantly Great Basin mountain brush communities. The Canyon Mountains also harbor isolated pockets of Aspen and White Fir at their higher elevations. The Central Basin and Range level III Ecoregion is represented in the proposed wilderness unit, with two level IV subtypes present: the sagebrush basins and slopes subsection, and the woodland and shrub-covered low hills subsection.
The Utah Forest Network proposes the bulk of the roadless area for wilderness designation. The highly scenic qualities of the landscape, nearly unlimited hiking and rock climbing opportunities, palpable remoteness, stunning long range views, and deep rugged canyons make the area an excellent candidate for wilderness protection. The Fishlake National Forest currently contains no designated wilderness.
The area faces threats from scofflaw ORV riders who infringe on non-motorized trails, excessive livestock grazing, and large scale range vegetation manipulation, ostensibly to increase available forage for domestic livestock. ATV riders who violate signed closures penetrate the heart of the area on occasion from Oak Creek and Eightmile Canyons. A history of severe overgrazing has resulted in poor ground cover and related soil disturbances, which have led to periodic flash flooding and soil erosion. The land is still in the recovery process, and should be given the rest it needs to recuperate. There is no commercial timber found in the area due to slow growth and steep, rocky slopes. Limited post and pole cutting does occur. Large scale chaining of pinion and juniper species has resulted in open-appearing areas. Such destructive activity disturbs sensitive soils, destroys archaeological sites, and opens pathways for the invasion of exotic, invasive, and noxious plant species.
East of Oak City, and northwest of Scipio, UT, the Canyon Mountains are accessed by dirt roads from I-15 on the east, state highways 132 and 125 on the northwest, and US Highway 50 from the south. A high standard forest road accesses Oak Creek Canyon in the heart of the roadless area. With most use concentrated here, the rest of the range remains largely unvisited. Residents from the local communities of Oak Creek and Delta frequent Oak Creek Canyon, escaping to the cool spring-fed environs to camp, fish, and picnic. Marked and primitive pack trails are numerous. Notable among them is trail 004, which runs up Eightmile Canyon, curving back to Dry Canyon. In the shadow of Williams Peak, hikers who ramble here can escape the sights and sounds of civilization. The possibility of a multi-day ridgeline backpack exists here utilizing cross-country route finding, unmarked routes and game trails. A well-traveled trail reaches Fool Creek Peak from North Walker Canyon, just off Oak Creek Canyon.
Visitors to the area are treated to a wide range of scenic views. The Canyon Mountains appear rugged and majestic, rich with high peaks and sheer ledges, due largely to the presence of the Canyon Range thrust fault. Scenic outcrops of rock are present, offering a look into the geologic past. The geological composition of the area can be dramatic and fascinating. Older sedimentary layers have been faulted and thrust over younger rocks. The area contains plant, vertebrate, and invertebrate fossils. Significant fossils reside in the rangešs limestone, presenting opportunities for scientific study of ancient environments. The eastern slope of the range rises dramatically from the valley floor alluvial fans, offering stunning views of Fool Creek Peak, Williams Peak, and numerous unnamed peaks. The area appears largely undisturbed by development. In addition to highly scenic peaks, many dramatic side canyons lure the wilderness traveler. Fool Creek Peak is the highest point of the range at 9717 feet, with the bulk of the roadless area between 6000 and 8000 feet elevation. The area serves as a transition between the Colorado Plateau to the east and the Great Basin to the West.
Threatened, endangered, or sensitive species known to occur in the area are:
| Accipiter gentilis | Northern Goshawk |
| Melanerpes lewis | Lewis's Woodpecker |
| Pyrgulopsis peculiaris | Bifid Duct Pyrg (snail) |
The vegetation in the area is primarily mountain brush, consisting of gambel oak, mountain mahogany and sagebrush. Conifer, aspen, and dry meadows are tucked in high north-facing mountain bowls. Riparian corridors and wetlands include Oak Creek Canyon, Eightmile Canon, and Dry Canyon. The lower elevation sections of the roadless area consist of pinion-juniper communities. The area contains summer range and low-elevation winter range for wildlife. Due to the rapid change in elevation and location, the Canyon Mountains roadless area contains transitions between ecosystems and habitats.
The roadless area contains critical winter and suitable summer range for mule deer. Golden eagles and cougar are found in the roadless area. Other residents include elk, blue grouse, chukar partridge, mourning dove, rabbits, bobcats, coyotes, ravens, variegated ground squirrel, raptors and small birds.
Solitude is a descriptor that seems made for the Canyon Mountains. Rarely visited, use is heavily concentrated in Oak Creek Canyon, offering the visitor outside that area almost total isolation even at peak times of the year. Canyons on the eastern side of the range feel especially remote due to the difficulty of access. John Williams Canyon, Hardscrabble Canyon, Little Oak Canyon, and Cow Canyon provide a sense of remoteness unmatched in more easily accessible areas. Views from the top of the range are expansive to the west. Notch Peak, Swasey Peak, Tatow Knob, and The Fish Springs range can be seen on a clear day, adding to the feeling of solitude and remoteness. Views to the east feature the Valley Mountains, Mt. Nebo, The San Pitch Mountains, The Wasatch Plateau and the Pavant Range.
The immediate area around the range retains evidence of ancient and pioneer habitation. Petroglyphs are found inscribed near life-giving springs, and remnants of pioneer coke ovens line the side of Highway 132 near the community of Leamington.
The roadless area contains the 1200 acre Partridge Mountain Research Natural Area, (RNA). This designation prohibits development, as RNAs are meant to establish a baseline for forest health. Located centrally in the range between Oak Creek and Dry Creek Canyons, Partridge Mountain RNA was established in 1979 because its lands were not as heavily grazed as most of the rest of the range. The lack of grazing is due to the occurrence of steep, rocky slope and. distance from water. The RNA has not been grazed by livestock since about the turn of the century, providing a glimpse of somewhat intact plant communities.
Large areas on the flanks of the mountain range have been chained with the intent of increasing forage for domestic livestock. Due to the landscape-wide scale of this activity, few prominent dramatic lines of trees exist, making the activity substantially unnoticeable. Fire has also aided in making the chainings less noticeable.
The Canyon Mountains are well suited to picnicking, day hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, bird watching, fishing, hunting, photography and rock climbing. The towering peaks of the Canyon range are dramatic, imposing, wild, and deserving of wilderness protection.
| Name | Acres |
| Canyon Mountains | 101,000 |
http://wildlife.utah.gov/range/pdf/wmu21/21intro-sum.pdf
http://rna.nris.state.mt.us/rna_detail.asp?sitecode=S.USUTHP*118
Roadless Area Evaluation, Fishlake National Forest, 1984
Tim Peterson, personal experience in the field