Utah · Hiking

South Fork Prospect

5.0 mi
round trip
506 ft
climb
8,499 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is South Fork Prospect open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Dixie National Forest.

  • Duck Creek OHV Trail Closure

    Agency alert covering Dixie National Forest · Order 0407-26-11 · USFS · Dixie National Forest

  • Pine Valley Ranger District Area and Trail and Road Closure

    Agency alert covering Dixie National Forest · Order 0407-26-01 · USFS · Dixie National Forest

  • Cedar City Temporary Road Closure Webster Flat Road (Order 0407-25-02)

    Agency alert covering Dixie National Forest · Order 0407-25-02 · USFS · Dixie National Forest

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

South Fork Prospect is a 5-mile out-and-back hike in the Powell Ranger District of Dixie National Forest in southern Utah, managed by the Forest Service. The trail rises from a low point of about 7,985 feet to a high of about 8,500 feet, with a total elevation gain of 506 feet. It is a moderate route, and the trail surface is natural, so plan on a walk over rough ground rather than a smooth path. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically June and September. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Bryce Canyon show June highs around 76°F and September highs around 71°F, with July and August bringing the most wet days. That station sits roughly 900 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the summit run cooler. The trail is open year-round, and bikes are allowed. North Fork Prospect Creek Tra lies about 0.7 miles away, and the East Fork Sevier River offers canoeing about 1.5 miles off. Rock Creek Trail is about 2.8 miles away, and the Middle Cottonwood Trail, a mountain biking route, is about 4.7 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit South Fork Prospect

    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

      36° / 6°

      6 wet

    2. Feb

      38° / 10°

      7 wet

    3. Mar

      45° / 18°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      54° / 24°

      6 wet

    5. May

      64° / 31°

      6 wet

    6. Jun

      76° / 37°

      4 wet

    7. Jul

      81° / 45°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      79° / 45°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      71° / 37°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      59° / 26°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      46° / 15°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 6°

      6 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bryce Canyon Ap, UT, 11.7 mi away at 7,586 ft. The station sits about 900 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.

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