Utah · Hiking · Near Moab

Fisher Mesa

7.5 mi
round trip
166 ft
climb
8,255 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–Jun, Aug–Oct
best months

Is Fisher Mesa open right now?

No closures listed

The Forest Service lists no closures for Manti-La Sal National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Manti-La Sal National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Fisher Mesa is an easy out-and-back hike in the Moab Ranger District of Manti-La Sal National Forest in Utah, about 9.4 miles from the town of Castle Valley. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and covers 7.5 miles round trip, with a total elevation gain of 166 feet, so it's a low-commitment outing for a day on foot or on a bike. The trail is natural surfaced and not accessible. Bikes are allowed. The route gains about 166 feet from the low point at 8,086 feet to the high at 8,255 feet. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs around 59°F in April to about 75°F in September, while July highs average 86°F and winter highs sit near 37°F. Fisher Mesa Cutoff Trail starts less than a mile away, and Hideout Road and Bachelor Basin Trail are both within about 3 miles. Climbers can find Hideout Wall about 4.6 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Bull Draw, Manti La Sal NF Road Campsite

    Campground

    Campground · 1.2 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Cowboy Grill

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 12 mi
  • If it rainsCarter Pape, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Hell's Revenge

    Attraction

    In town

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Carter Pape, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)

More in Moab

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Jun, Aug–Oct

    Best time to visit Fisher Mesa

    Best months: April–June and August–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      37° / 17°

      6 wet

    2. Feb

      41° / 21°

      6 wet

    3. Mar

      51° / 28°

      6 wet

    4. Apr

      59° / 32°

      6 wet

    5. May

      69° / 40°

      5 wet

    6. Jun

      81° / 50°

      4 wet

    7. Jul

      86° / 57°

      7 wet

    8. Aug

      84° / 55°

      7 wet

    9. Sep

      75° / 48°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      62° / 36°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      48° / 26°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      37° / 17°

      5 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at La Sal 1sw, UT, 23 mi away at 6,787 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Jimmy Keen TrailPhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Jimmy Keen Trail

~12 min drive

11.12-mile out-and-back hike in Utah with 1,301 ft elevation gain and loss.

Fisher Towers TrailPhoto: John Fowler from Placitas, NM, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Fisher Towers Trail

~13 min drive

4.18-mile out-and-back hike in Utah with 2,239 ft gain and 5,384 ft max elevation.

HIKE

Fisher Mesa Cutoff Trail

~1 min drive

0.96-mile out-and-back trail in Utah with 150 ft of elevation gain.

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Bachelor Basin Trail

~6 min drive

13.18-mile out-and-back trail in Utah with 5,796 ft gain and 10,717 ft max elevation.

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Hideout Road

~6 min drive

9.19-mile out-and-back trail in Utah with 2,210 ft elevation gain.

Castleton Tower TrailPhoto: Davemeistermoab, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Castleton Tower Trail

~13 min drive

2.58-mile out-and-back hike in Utah with 1,745 ft gain and 6,222 ft max elevation.

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Red Onion Loop Trail

~13 min drive

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Sand Flats Road

~14 min drive

13.98-mile out-and-back trail in Utah with 321 ft elevation gain.

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Taylor Flat Road

~6 min drive

7.26-mile out-and-back trail in Utah with 2,387 ft elevation gain.

Upper Porcupine SingletrackPhoto: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Upper Porcupine Singletrack

~12 min drive

4.01-mile out-and-back trail in Utah with 598 ft elevation gain.

Route details

Distance
7.5 mi round trip
Climbing
About 166 ft
Summit
8,258 ft
Difficulty
Easy
Time
About 1 hour

Season

Season: Year-round.

Questions about this route

How long is the Fisher Mesa on Fisher Mesa?

About 7.5 mi round trip.

How much elevation gain is on the Fisher Mesa?

About 166 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Fisher Mesa?

It is rated easy.

How long does the Fisher Mesa take?

About 1 hour round trip.

When is the best time for the Fisher Mesa?

Year-round.

Conditions and forecast on Fisher Mesa

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.