Devils Playground
Bovine Mountains
Overview
Sun 43 | 29 |
Mon 47 | 31 |
Tue 42 | 28 |
Wed 41 | 27 |
Thu 36 | 25 |
View Full Weather Details |
Sun 43 | 29 |
Mon 47 | 31 |
Tue 42 | 28 |
Wed 41 | 27 |
Thu 36 | 25 |
View Full Weather Details |
“Idle time is the devil's play” as the old saying goes. The Devil’s Playground is, then, a good place to have some idle time! The area is a unique geologic feature in north west Utah where granite is exposed and has eroded into large fins, domes, spires, and boulders. The Utah Geological Survey has an excellent page on the technical details.
The rock is quite grainy and exfoliating. It is not good for rock climbing, but weathers into interesting shapes. The playground does not have any formal trails. Roads provide easy access to the area with lots of opportunities for wandering amongst the boulders and for primitive camping. Our 3-year-old loved scrambling on the boulders and into the many pockets and arches.
This is an excellent family destination, though a bit remote. Keep an eye on children if climbing on the rocks, it is easier to climb up then down!
Getting There
The area is reached from UT-30 in northwest Utah. The state highway connects Montello, NV to Park Valley/Rosette in the north. If coming from Montello, follow UT-30 about 40 miles to mile marker 23.9 where a dirt road leaves on the west side. From Rosette, UT (Park Valley), it is about 30 miles south on UT-30 to the same marker.
Once you turn on the dirt road, it is about a mile to a major junction just after coming around the end of the first large granite cropping. Follow the map from here. There is an amazing arch just up and right of this junction. It is easy to scramble to and gives an unobstructed view of the area to the west.
Route
The best way to experience the playground is to find an area that interests you, stop, and wander around! The map shows the roads I recommend.
I preferred camping on the east side, it gets more sun in cooler weather. The middle and west areas have more rock outcroppings and places to wander.
Aside from the large arch marked on the map, there are many other small solution pockets and arches. Keep an eye out.
Jct 1 |
12T 279568mE 4597064mN N41° 29' 42" W113° 38' 27" |
Jct 2 |
12T 279101mE 4598659mN N41° 30' 33" W113° 38' 49" |
Straight (Right Very Rough) |
12T 277893mE 4598537mN N41° 30' 28" W113° 39' 41" |
Jct 3 |
12T 277518mE 4598621mN N41° 30' 30" W113° 39' 57" |
Jct 4 |
12T 278039mE 4600661mN N41° 31' 37" W113° 39' 37" |
Jct 5 - Main Dirt Road |
12T 275707mE 4601361mN N41° 31' 57" W113° 41' 19" |
Jct 6 |
12T 275651mE 4601320mN N41° 31' 56" W113° 41' 21" |
Arch |
12T 279633mE 4597140mN N41° 29' 44" W113° 38' 24" |
Camping East 1 |
12T 279714mE 4597336mN N41° 29' 51" W113° 38' 21" |
Camping East 2 |
12T 279534mE 4598201mN N41° 30' 18" W113° 38' 30" |
Camping East 3 |
12T 279466mE 4598621mN N41° 30' 32" W113° 38' 33" |
Camping Middle 1 |
12T 277606mE 4598906mN N41° 30' 39" W113° 39' 54" |
Camping Middle 2 |
12T 277870mE 4599435mN N41° 30' 57" W113° 39' 43" |
Camping Middle 3 |
12T 278081mE 4599932mN N41° 31' 13" W113° 39' 35" |
Camping West 1 |
12T 275912mE 4601238mN N41° 31' 53" W113° 41' 10" |
Camping West 2 |
12T 275578mE 4601049mN N41° 31' 47" W113° 41' 24" |
Camping West 3 |
12T 275342mE 4600535mN N41° 31' 30" W113° 41' 33" |
Camping West 4 |
12T 275293mE 4600353mN N41° 31' 24" W113° 41' 35" |