Utah · Hiking

Shotgun

8.0 mi
round trip
2,112 ft
climb
9,794 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Shotgun open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Ashley National Forest.

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

Shotgun is a hard out-and-back hike in Utah's Ashley National Forest, within the Duchesne Ranger District. The trail is 8 miles long, with an elevation gain of 2,112 feet from its low point of 7,951 feet to the high of 9,794 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is a natural-surface trail. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the Scofield-Skyline Mine weather station, about 29 miles away and roughly 1,100 feet lower, show July highs around 74°F with lows near 48°F. Winter is harsh, with January highs around 30°F and lows near 13°F. The trail is open year-round. Bikes are allowed, and the route is not accessible. The closest neighbors are the Pine Hollow-Minnie Creek and Cow Hollow Trail hikes, each about 0.8 miles away, and Slab Canyon at 1.7 miles. For paddling, Avintaquin Creek is about 9 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Shotgun

    Best months: June–September. 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

      30° / 13°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      31° / 14°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      38° / 20°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      44° / 24°

      10 wet

    5. May

      54° / 33°

      9 wet

    6. Jun

      66° / 41°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      74° / 48°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      72° / 46°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      63° / 39°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      50° / 29°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      38° / 19°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      30° / 12°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Scofield-Skyline Mine, UT, 28.6 mi away at 8,697 ft. The station sits about 1,100 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.