The Notch Trail
The Notch Trail is a 4.6-mile trail in Manti-La Sal National Forest, Utah. The Forest Service rates it trail class 2, moderately developed. It is open to hiking and horse and pack stock. It enters Dark Canyon Wilderness.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Manti-La Sal National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 37.7459° N, 109.7626° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 37.7703° N, 109.8231° W · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 4 segments.
The trail
| Length | 4.6 miles |
| Trail class | 2, moderately developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 12-20 percent |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Not evaluated |
| Trail numbers | 5006 |
| Forest | Manti-La Sal National Forest (unit 0410) |
| States | Utah |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed year-round |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed 05/01 to 10/31 (month/day) |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Wilderness
- Dark Canyon WildernessFS · about 89% of the line is insideWilderness Connect ↗
Inside a designated wilderness, bicycles and motor vehicles are prohibited by law regardless of the trail record, and permits or group limits may apply.
Trailheads
Big Notch Trailhead No season published | under 0.1 mi |
Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date.
Trails nearby
Camping nearby
No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. Dispersed camping is allowed on most National Forest land outside posted closures. The forest office has the current rules.
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Reference
Questions people ask
How long is The Notch Trail?
The Forest Service records 4.6 miles under this name in Manti-La Sal National Forest, the sum of 4 segments.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on The Notch Trail?
Hiking and horse and pack stock are allowed. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does The Notch Trail start?
The line begins at 37.7459° N, 109.7626° W and ends at 37.7703° N, 109.8231° W. The nearest recorded trailhead is Big Notch Trailhead, under 0.1 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is The Notch Trail in a wilderness area?
Yes. It enters Dark Canyon Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.
Source: Dark Canyon Wilderness
Where can I camp near The Notch Trail?
No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. The camping section covers dispersed camping, which most National Forest land allows.
How developed is The Notch Trail?
Trail class 2, which the Forest Service describes as moderately developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is The Notch Trail?
The typical grade is 12-20 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages The Notch Trail?
Manti-La Sal National Forest, Forest Service unit 0410. The trail is in Utah.
Source
This page is built from 4 segments named The Notch Trail in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0410. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed November 1, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.