The Pine Valley Mountains are an attractive small range that rises 10,365 feet out of the surrounding desert to thick forests of pine and aspen. Its pleasant summer temperatures and heavy forestation provide a welcome respite from the more hot and arid desert. The range has a good network of trails for hiking and horseback riding, several campgrounds and fishing opportunities.
The Pine Valley Mountains are also home to the massive Pine Valley Laccolith, a strange dome-like rock outcropping formed by a heavy pressure of magma under sedimentary rock. The isolation of this desert range has made it a haven to threatened species like the zebra-tailed lizard and even unique subspecies, such as the Uinta chipmunk.
The Pine Valley Mountains cover a 120 square mile area near the southwestern corner of Utah, 10 miles west of I-15. The main access to the range is from the west through the Pine Valley Recreation Area, which charges a small entrance fee per car. The recreation area has several campgrounds, a reservoir and a pleasant picnic area.
To learn more about the Pine Valley Mountains, select a topic of interest from the left-hand column.
