Park Valley, Utah
A remote ranching valley at the foot of the Raft River Mountains in Utah’s far northwest corner. Park Valley is wide-open Great Basin country and a gateway to Devil’s Playground and the old transcontinental railroad grade.
Quick Facts
Utah’s Hidden Mountain Valley
Park Valley sits about 100 miles west of Brigham City along State Route 30, in a broad, oval valley almost surrounded by mountains. The Raft River Mountains rise to nearly 10,000 feet on the north, marking the line between the Great Basin and Idaho’s Snake River Plain. Below them, ranches spread out wherever there’s a good spring, and sagebrush and juniper roll south toward the old railroad grade.
Park Valley isn’t one town so much as a ranching community spread across the valley, including Rosette, Dove Creek, Muddy and Rosebud. It’s one of the most remote places in Utah, with dark night skies, few people and some of Box Elder County’s wildest backcountry right outside the door. Come prepared, and you’ll have it nearly all to yourself.
Park Valley is surrounded by Box Elder County’s most remote and rewarding backcountry. Fill your tank before you go.
Devil’s Playground
Follow SR-30 past Rosette to Devil’s Playground, a field of weathered granite spires, arches and balanced boulders on BLM land. The last stretch is a rough dirt road, so a high-clearance vehicle is best.
Raft River Mountains
The Raft River Mountains rise above the valley to nearly 10,000 feet. Dirt roads and canyons lead up into aspen, conifer and high meadows for hiking, hunting, wildlife watching and summer camping.
Transcontinental Railroad Backcountry Byway
Head south on gravel roads to the original Central Pacific grade, where the 1869 railroad once ran past Kelton and other long-gone towns. Interpretive markers tell the story along the way.
Snowville
Snowville, at Exit 7 on I-84, is the closest town with gas, food and lodging. Plan your fuel stops around it before heading west on SR-30.
Things to Do
in Park Valley
EXPLORE THE RAFT RIVER MOUNTAINS
Drive or hike up the canyons for cool summer air, wildflowers and sweeping views across the Great Basin. Check road conditions and carry a map, since cell service is limited.
SEE THE VALLEY’S HISTORIC LANDMARKS
Look for the historic log cabin, pioneer bell and veterans memorial near the valley center, reminders of the ranching families who settled here in the 1800s.
DRIVE ON TO ROSETTE
About four miles west, the tiny ranching community of Rosette was named for the wild roses that grew along its streams. It’s a scenic stop on the way to Devil’s Playground and Grouse Creek.
STARGAZE UNDER DARK SKIES
Far from city lights, Park Valley has some of the darkest skies in northern Utah. On clear, moonless nights, the Milky Way stretches from mountain to mountain.
A Bit of History
Explorer Jedediah Smith passed through this valley in 1826, and in 1841 the Bartleson-Bidwell Party brought the first wagons across it on their way to California. Shoshone people traveled through in the warmer months, heading for the Grouse Creek Mountains to gather pine nuts. The first permanent settler, William P. “Cotton” Thomas, arrived in 1869 and thought the valley looked like the parklands of his native Wales, so he named it Park Valley. Other ranching families followed, settling along the mountain streams wherever they found good water and pasture.
The completion of the transcontinental railroad just to the south in 1869 helped the valley grow. A small gold rush came in 1890, and around 1910 a land boom brought hundreds of homesteaders hoping to dry farm, though most left when the rain didn’t come. The Century Mine also provided jobs for a time. In the end, cattle and sheep ranching proved to be the valley’s lasting way of life, and it still is today.
Before You Go
Getting here
From I-84, take Exit 5 near Snowville and follow SR-30 west about 45 minutes. Park Valley is about 100 miles from Brigham City and roughly 2.5 hours from Salt Lake City.
FUEL & SUPPLIES
Services in Park Valley are very limited. Fill up on gas, water and food in Snowville or Tremonton, and carry extra supplies.
BACKCOUNTRY ROADS
Many roads off SR-30 are dirt or gravel and can turn slick after rain. Use a high-clearance vehicle, carry a spare tire and download maps, since cell service is spotty.
SEASONS
Late spring through fall is the best time to visit. Summer is ideal in the mountains, while winter can bring snow and wind, so check road conditions before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan Your Visit to Park Valley
Fuel up in Snowville, follow SR-30 west and discover the quiet ranches, high mountains and granite wonders of Utah’s far northwest corner. Park Valley is as remote as it is beautiful.