CANAAN MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS STUDY AREA

Values

The WSA is in the Vermilion Cliffs portion of the Grand Staircase, a series of terraces and colored cliffs at the southern edge of the High Plateaus Section of the Colorado Plateau Physiographic Province. Canaan Mountain, a sheer plateau that rises 2,000 feet above surrounding land to an elevation of 7,340 feet, is the dominant feature of the WSA. Within the WSA are shallow lakes, springs, waterfalls and 4 miles of perennial streams. Most of the surface of the WSA is rock and bare soil; vegetation covers only about 20 percent of the WSA and includes Ponderosa pine mountain shrub and pinyon-juniper woodland. A lumbering operation that existed on Canaan Mountain from 1915 to 1928 has significant local historical value.

Visitation Information

Located in the far southwest portion of Kane County.

Visitor Advisory

Visitors should come prepared for backcountry conditions and adequately prepare for their trip. Knowledge of weather, terrain, and physical conditions can help ensure safety.

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