Utah · Hiking · Near Monticello

Shay Mesa

3.3 mi
round trip
746 ft
climb
6,901 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Shay 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.

Shay Mesa is a moderate out-and-back hike in the Monticello Ranger District of Manti-La Sal National Forest in Utah, about 3.3 miles long with a one-way climb of 746 feet. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and sits on natural surface, and it is open to both horses and bikes. The most comfortable stretch for a visit runs from late spring through early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Monticello show May highs around 67°F and September highs around 74°F, with July peaking near 84°F. The N Cottonwood Rim Se Ext trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and the Vega Creek hike is about 2 miles off. Climbers can head to Vitamin D Wall, roughly 2.5 miles away, and the Shay Mountain Trail (098) is about 2.9 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Bridger Jack Designated Campsite

    Campground

    Campground · 8.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Subway

    Fast food

    On your way back · 15 mi · Open after 6

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Monticello

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Shay Mesa

    Best months: May–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°

    2. Feb

      41° / 20°

    3. Mar

      50° / 26°

    4. Apr

      58° / 31°

    5. May

      67° / 39°

    6. Jun

      79° / 48°

    7. Jul

      84° / 55°

    8. Aug

      81° / 54°

    9. Sep

      74° / 46°

    10. Oct

      62° / 36°

    11. Nov

      48° / 26°

    12. Dec

      38° / 17°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Monticello #2, UT, 15.3 mi away at 7,086 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

INDIAN CRK RIM LOOP EXTPhoto: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

INDIAN CRK RIM LOOP EXT

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1.34-mile out-and-back trail in Utah with 546 ft elevation gain and loss.

Shay Ridge TrailPhoto: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Shay Ridge Trail

~10 min drive

10.18-mile out-and-back trail in Utah with 3,551 ft gain and 10,867 ft max elevation.

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SHAY MOUNTAIN TRAIL (098)

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Shay Mountain Adit

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Robertson Pasture Trail

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5463 to 5020 TrailPhoto: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Hop Creek

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Stevens Canyon Trail

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Shay Mountain Adit Ladder

~11 min drive

0.92-mile out-and-back trail at Shay Mountain Adit Ladder in Utah with 141 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

Salt Creek

~13 min drive

21.09-mile out-and-back trail in Utah with 504 ft gain and 1,953 ft loss.