| The 1,413,111-acre Manti-La Sal National Forest is located in southeastern Utah. It is managed for multiple uses such as range, timber, minerals, water, wildlife, and recreation. The forest is divided into three land areas: the Manti Division, the La Sal Division at Moab, and the La Sal Division at Monticello.The Manti Division is part of the remnant Wasatch Plateau (5,000 to 10,000 foot elevation) exhibiting high elevation lakes, diverse vegetation, near vertical escarpments, and areas of scenic and geologic interest.On the La Sal Division-Moab, mountain peaks (12,000 foot elevation), canyons, and forest add climatic and scenic contrast to the hot red-rock landscape of Arches (5,000 foot elevation) and Canyonlands National Parks.The La Sal Division-Monticello offers timbered slopes to provide a welcome middle ground and background contrast to the sand and heat of Canyonlands National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument, and the surrounding desert. Pictographs, petroglyphs, and stone dwellings are evidence of past civilizations.The Manti-La Sal National Forest offers a wide variety of recreation options. Expect a variety of weather conditions over the year, varying widely with elevation. Visitors should plan their outing and clothing accordingly! A rough calculation is -5 degrees F for each 1000 feet of elevation gain. This translates to a potential temperature decrease of over 40 degrees from the Moab valley floor to the summits of the La Sal Mountains. From the Sanpete and Castle Valleys to the top of the Wasatch Plateau, temperatures in August will decrease by about 20 degrees F.Spring in the Manti-La Sal National Forest brings wildflowers. The blossoms gradually work their way to higher elevations, providing a colorful and protracted show in wet years. Late-season snowfields provide the easiest access of the year to the loose, talus-strewn peaks. In the summer, the position of the plateaus and mountains above the desert provides relief from scorching temperatures below and wildlife stalks the Manti-La Sal National Forest. Fall is colorful with autumn leaves gold aspen and bright red maple interspersed with dark evergreens. Rivers and streams are lined with reds willows and yellow cottonwoods. Winter brings solitude, snow fall and winter sports to the Manti-La Sal National Forest. |
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