Visiting Ashley
National Forest

1. What Ashley National Forest Is

Ashley National Forest covers about 1.4 million acres across northeastern Utah and southwestern Wyoming.¹ It is not a single block of trees: the forest spans three distinct landscapes — the northern and southern slopes of the Uinta Mountains, the Wyoming Basin, and the Tavaputs Plateau.²

The elevation range is what makes trip planning here unusual. The forest runs from roughly 5,500 feet on the Green River to 13,528 feet at the summit of Kings Peak, the highest point in Utah.¹ A day that is warm and dry at the trailhead can be snowing above treeline.

• About 1.4 million acres, northeastern Utah and southwestern Wyoming¹
• 276,175 acres of the High Uintas Wilderness lie within this forest¹
• Elevation 5,500 ft (Green River) to 13,528 ft (Kings Peak, Utah's highest)¹
• Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is administered by Ashley National Forest¹
• Ranger districts include Vernal, Duchesne, Roosevelt, and Flaming Gorge (Manila, UT and Green River, WY)²
• Forest Supervisor's Office: 355 North Vernal Avenue, Vernal, UT 84078 · (435) 789-1181¹

A note on the name. Several national forests share similar names and many share the phrase "national forest" in visitor searches. This page is about the Ashley National Forest in northeastern Utah and southwestern Wyoming — the one whose headquarters is in Vernal, Uintah County, and which contains Kings Peak and Flaming Gorge. It is not the Ashley River area of South Carolina, and it is unrelated to national forests of similar profile in other states.

2. How Far It Is From Vernal

From 1935 South 1500 East, Vernal, UT 84078, the nearest forest boundary is approximately 15 miles north via US-191. Driving times vary widely by destination because the forest is large and much of it is reached on unpaved roads — a boundary crossing is 20-odd minutes, while a High Uintas trailhead or the far side of the Red Cloud Loop is considerably longer.

The three routes below cover most visits. Which one you want depends entirely on what you came to do.

3. Which Access Route Should You Use?

US-191 north — the main paved access

US-191 leaving Vernal to the north is the primary paved route into the forest and on to Flaming Gorge. It forms part of the Flaming Gorge–Uintas National Scenic Byway, locally known as the Drive Through the Ages for the roadside geology markers along it.³ The byway runs roughly 80 miles from Vernal north through the forest toward Manila and the Flaming Gorge area; as a round trip from Vernal with stops it is at least 150 miles and about five hours.³ It is open year round, though ice and snow create hazards in winter.³

Use this if: you want paved road the whole way, you are heading for Flaming Gorge, or you have a passenger car.

Red Cloud Loop — the unpaved scenic loop

The Red Cloud Loop is roughly a 40-mile route through the forest north of Vernal. It can be picked up about 14 to 15 miles north of Vernal off US-191, or entered from the Dry Fork Canyon side near Maeser, just northwest of Vernal.⁴ The majority of the route is unpaved, and portions close in winter.⁴

Use this if: you want canyon, aspen and meadow scenery and High Uintas views, and you have a vehicle suited to gravel roads. Check current conditions before committing — this is the route most affected by season and weather.

District office first — the underrated option

Because the Forest Supervisor's Office and the Vernal Ranger District are both in town,¹ you can get current road, fire and closure information in person before you drive, rather than discovering a gate on a forest road an hour out. For a first visit, or any trip in shoulder season, this is the single most useful stop in Vernal.

4. Things To Do

• Hiking and backpacking — the High Uintas Wilderness, including the approach to Kings Peak at 13,528 ft¹
• Fishing — mountain streams and lakes across the forest, plus the Green River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir
• Camping — developed Forest Service campgrounds and dispersed camping; sites and fees are listed on Recreation.gov⁵
• Scenic driving — the Flaming Gorge–Uintas National Scenic Byway and the Red Cloud Loop^3,4
• Boating and water recreation — Flaming Gorge Reservoir, administered by this forest¹
• Wildlife viewing — the byway is themed around wildlife and habitat interpretation³
• Hunting — a major autumn draw in the Uintah Basin; seasons, units and permits are set by Utah DWR, not the Forest Service (see section 6)
• Winter recreation — snowmobiling and cross-country skiing where roads and trails permit

5. Seasonal Planning

Elevation, not the calendar, governs this forest. The 8,000-foot difference between the Green River and Kings Peak¹ means low-country and high-country seasons run on different schedules in the same week.

• Spring — lower elevations open first. High country and unpaved routes such as the Red Cloud Loop may still be snowbound or closed.⁴ Verify road status before driving.
• Summer — the full road network is generally available and High Uintas trailheads are reachable. Afternoon thunderstorms are a normal mountain risk at altitude.
• Autumn — aspen colour along the byway and the Red Cloud Loop, and the busiest hunting period in the basin. Lodging in Vernal is at its tightest; book well ahead.
• Winter — the US-191 byway stays open year round but ice and snow create hazards;³ portions of the Red Cloud Loop close.⁴

6. Permits and Regulations

We deliberately do not restate regulations here. Getting a rule wrong has real consequences for a visitor, and both agencies below update their guidance more often than a hotel page can track. Use the primary sources:

• Forest use — camping, campfire and fire restrictions, motor-vehicle use maps, and any seasonal closures: Ashley National Forest, U.S. Forest Service
• Campground reservations and fees — Recreation.gov
• Fishing and hunting licences, seasons, units and permits — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources guidebooks. Season dates and permit numbers change year to year; always read the current guidebook.

7. Planning Your Visit

How many days should you allow?

A scenic-drive day on the byway needs about five hours of driving plus stops, as a round trip from Vernal.³ The Red Cloud Loop is a comfortable half to full day given its length and surface.⁴ Backcountry trips into the High Uintas are multi-day by nature. Two nights in Vernal covers a drive day plus one full day on foot or on the water; three or more suits hunting, fishing or backpacking.

Can you combine it with Dinosaur National Monument?

Yes, and most visitors staying in Vernal do. The two run in opposite directions from town — the forest is north, Dinosaur National Monument is east toward Jensen — so they work best as separate days from one base rather than as a single loop.

What should you plan for?

• Fuel and supplies — buy in Vernal. Services inside the forest are limited and seasonal.
• Mobile coverage — treat the backcountry as having none. Download maps before leaving town and leave a plan with someone.
• Weather at altitude — pack for conditions at your highest point, not at the trailhead. The elevation spread here is extreme.¹
• Road surface — know whether your route is paved before you commit. Much of the forest road network is not.⁴

8. Staying in Vernal

Vernal is the practical base for this forest: it is the largest town at its edge, it holds the forest's own headquarters,¹ and it is where you will find fuel, groceries, and outfitting before an early start.

Best Western Vernal Inn is at 1935 South 1500 East, Vernal, UT 84078. For forest trips specifically, what tends to matter is an early breakfast before a trailhead drive, somewhere to leave a truck and trailer, a kitchenette for packing food, and a weekly rate if you are here for a hunting or fishing season rather than a weekend.

• Free hot breakfast — before a trailhead start
• Free parking for trucks, trailers, ATV trailers and horse trailers
• Kitchenettes available — pack trail food and prep camp meals
• Pet friendly — ground-floor rooms available
• Weekly rates from $588 ($84/night, + tax) — see weekly rates
• 24-hour front desk — check in around a hunting or shift schedule

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. Ashley National Forest, U.S. Forest Service — acreage, elevation range, High Uintas Wilderness acreage, Flaming Gorge administration, Supervisor's Office address and telephone. fs.usda.gov/r04/ashley
2. National Forest Foundation — forest landscape regions and ranger district locations. nationalforests.org
3. Flaming Gorge–Uintas National Scenic Byway — route length, round-trip time, year-round access with winter hazards. National Scenic Byway Foundation
4. Red Cloud / Dry Fork Scenic Backway — route length, access points, unpaved surface, winter closures. flaminggorgecountry.com
5. Recreation.gov — Ashley National Forest campground listings, availability and fees. recreation.gov

Road, fire and closure conditions change frequently. Confirm with the Forest Service before travelling. Last reviewed February 2026.