Doc's Pass Wilderness

Doc's Pass Wilderness is a protected area in Washington County featuring the Bull Valley Mountains with deep canyons carved by ancient forces. The steep walls show layers of volcanic rock and ash deposits that create the dramatic landscape visible throughout the region.

Congress officially designated this land as a wilderness area in 2009 through federal legislation. The protection came to preserve the natural landscape and keep its wild character for the future.

The land is home to elk and mountain lions that roam through the canyons and rocky slopes of the Bull Valley Mountains. Visitors can observe how these animals move through the landscape and shape the natural ecosystem of this remote desert region.

The main access route heads northwest from the town of Gunlock via Motoqua Road to reach the wilderness area. Visitors should bring plenty of water and wear sturdy hiking boots since the terrain is rocky and the slopes are steep.

The Beaver Dam Wash runs free through the canyons for about 5 miles, creating a green corridor of willows and cottonwood trees in the middle of the dry desert. This flowing stream is one of the few reliable water sources that shape the ecological life of the entire region.