Muddy Creek Wilderness
Muddy Creek Wilderness is a 98,023-acre wilderness area in Emery County, Utah. It rises from about 4,532 to 7,285 ft. The nearest town is Hanksville, 13.7 miles away in a straight line.
Muddy Creek Wilderness map
Muddy Creek Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
3 fire restriction orders are recorded for this unit as of Sept. 30, 2026. Each links the signed order.
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - West Desert District (Stage 1) Effective Sept. 5, 2026. Applies to land covered by this Utah Fire Info order. Stage 1. Listed as Active on Utah Fire Info. The signed order states the exact area, what it prohibits, and exemptions.
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - Cottonwood Fire Closure Effective June 26, 2026. Applies to all BLM land in Utah. Listed as Active on Utah Fire Info. The signed order states the exact area, what it prohibits, and exemptions.
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - Statewide (Prevention Order) Effective June 17, 2025. Applies to all BLM land in Utah. Listed as Active on Utah Fire Info. The signed order states the exact area, what it prohibits, and exemptions.
Utah Fire Info, Utah DNR's interagency fire information hub, keeps the Utah fire restrictions map and signed orders for every fire zone, and a Utah fire map of active fires.
Common questions
- Hanksville, UT is the nearest town, 13.7 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Muddy Creek Wilderness is about 7,285 ft, and its lowest about 4,532 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is The Dike, about 6,601 ft.
Who manages Muddy Creek Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLM | 98,023 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record |
Getting to Muddy Creek Wilderness
- Hanksville, UT is the nearest town, 13.7 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)
Trailheads at Muddy Creek Wilderness
- Ding and Dang Canyons (0.01 mi outside the boundary, 4,883 ft), at 38.5767, -110.8229
- Temple Mountain Townsite (0.04 mi outside the boundary, 5,448 ft), at 38.6677, -110.6862
- Wildhorse Canyon Trailhead (0.04 mi outside the boundary, 5,545 ft), at 38.6541, -110.7099
- Hidden Splendor Trailhead (0.06 mi outside the boundary, 4,856 ft), at 38.5693, -110.9556
- South Temple Wash (0.06 mi outside the boundary, 5,315 ft), at 38.6569, -110.6610
- Chute Canyon - Behind-The-Reef Trailhead (0.07 mi outside the boundary, 5,150 ft), at 38.6291, -110.7635
- Little Wild Horse Recreation Site (0.11 mi outside the boundary, 4,953 ft), at 38.5827, -110.8028
- Tomsich Butte Trailhead (0.32 mi outside the boundary, 5,064 ft), at 38.6823, -110.9976
Trailhead locations: BLM recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-29. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Muddy Creek Wilderness
- The Dike summit
- Lone Tree Wedge summit
- Ireland Mesa summit
- Bell Canyon canyon
- Cat Canyon canyon
- Corral Canyon Spring spring
- Cow Tanks lake
Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-29. Summit elevations measured on the USGS 3DEP elevation model, which can read a few feet under a surveyed summit height.
Public lands next to Muddy Creek Wilderness
- State parkMuddy Creek Wilderness borders Goblin Valley State Park.
- Wilderness areaMuddy Creek Wilderness borders Horse Valley Wilderness.
- Wilderness areaMuddy Creek Wilderness borders Little Ocean Draw Wilderness.
- Wilderness areaMuddy Creek Wilderness borders Little Wild Horse Canyon Wilderness.
- Wilderness areaMuddy Creek Wilderness borders Lower Last Chance Wilderness.
- Wilderness areaMuddy Creek Wilderness borders Middle Wild Horse Mesa Wilderness.
- Wilderness areaMuddy Creek Wilderness borders Red's Canyon Wilderness.
- Wilderness areaBig Wild Horse Mesa Wilderness is 0.7 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
Other wilderness areas in Utah
- https://wilderness.net/visit-wilderness/?ID=799 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n39w112/USGS_1_n39w112.tif (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n39w111/USGS_1_n39w111.tif (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/GeographicNames/DomesticNames/DomesticNames_UT_Text.zip (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2025_Gazetteer/2025_gaz_place_49.txt (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://gis.blm.gov/arcgis/rest/services/recreation/BLM_Natl_Recs_pts/MapServer/14 (accessed 2026-09-29)