Cottonwood Forest Wilderness, a wilderness area in Utah managed by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the Dixie National Forest, is characterized by its untamed natural beauty. The area features steep terrain, soaring cliff walls, forested plateaus, and deep, narrow red rock canyons with intermittent surface water. Travel within the wilderness is challenging due to the lack of designated system trails, offering a raw, untouched environment for those seeking solitude. Despite its rugged nature, komoot aggregates information for several…
41
Routes
4.4
(9)
Average rating
416
People visited

4.0
(1)
1
hikers
2.59km
00:43
50m
40m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
hikers
1.25km
00:22
60m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
797m
00:13
10m
10m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

2.91km
00:47
30m
60m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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38
riders
26.8km
02:21
280m
280m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

5
riders
28.9km
02:28
310m
310m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

9.26km
01:01
260m
260m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
riders
5.58km
00:31
90m
90m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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16
riders
43.3km
01:57
470m
470m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

32
riders
49.0km
02:17
590m
590m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

23
riders
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

26
riders
65.7km
02:52
500m
500m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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2
runners
10.6km
01:19
140m
140m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
runners
5.09km
00:38
80m
80m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
runners
21.0km
02:38
310m
310m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.

1
runners
8.60km
01:09
260m
260m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Cottonwood Forest Wilderness is a wilderness area in Utah managed by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the Dixie National Forest. It is characterized by untamed natural beauty, featuring steep terrain, cliff walls, forested plateaus, and red rock canyons. The area is primarily for solitude and experiencing an untouched natural environment.
The broader region around Cottonwood Forest Wilderness offers opportunities for various outdoor activities. Komoot aggregates routes for Hiking, Mountain biking, Jogging, and Road cycling in the vicinity. While the wilderness itself lacks designated trails, the surrounding areas provide options for exploration.
Cottonwood Forest Wilderness has no designated system trails, and travel within the area is limited due to its steep terrain. Traditional hiking on marked paths is not readily available directly within this specific wilderness area. However, komoot offers guides for Hiking in Cottonwood Forest Wilderness for the surrounding region.
While the wilderness itself is rugged, komoot provides a guide for Easy hikes in Cottonwood Forest Wilderness for the surrounding region. These routes offer less challenging terrain for those seeking a more accessible outdoor experience.
Yes, the region surrounding Cottonwood Forest Wilderness offers mountain biking opportunities. Komoot features a guide specifically for MTB Trails in Cottonwood Forest Wilderness. These routes are located in the broader area, as the wilderness itself does not have designated trails.
Road cycling routes are available in the vicinity of Cottonwood Forest Wilderness. Komoot provides a guide for Road Cycling Routes in Cottonwood Forest Wilderness. These routes utilize paved roads in the surrounding areas.
The area around Cottonwood Forest Wilderness offers options for jogging and running. Komoot has a guide titled Running Trails in Cottonwood Forest Wilderness. These trails are found in the broader region, not within the untrailed wilderness area itself.
The wilderness features soaring cliff walls, forested plateaus, and deep, narrow red rock canyons with intermittent surface water. Wildlife includes hawks, falcons, and eagles nesting along sandstone cliffs, as well as deer and cougars in the canyon bottoms. Seeps within canyon walls support diverse plant life.
Komoot users have shared experiences for routes in the Cottonwood Forest Wilderness region, with over 500 visitors contributing. The routes have an average rating of 3.96 out of 5 stars. This indicates a moderately popular area for outdoor enthusiasts.
Cottonwood Forest Wilderness is managed by the Dixie National Forest. Official information can be found on the U.S. Forest Service website for Dixie National Forest. The Pine Valley Ranger District can be reached at 435-688-3200 for inquiries.
No, Cottonwood Forest Wilderness is distinct from the adjacent Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness. Cottonwood Forest Wilderness is managed by the U.S. Forest Service and lacks designated trails. Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, is known for its extensive trail system and is popular for hikers and equestrians.

