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Manti-La Sal Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

Manti-La Sal

6,000–12,700 ft · UT🚗 Directions

Manti-La Sal NF. Isolated ranges rising from canyon country near Moab. Aspen and spruce-fir in a semi-arid setting. Limited but concentrated mushroom habitat in moist pockets.

Trees:Engelmann Spruce Subalpine Fir Aspen

Permit Info →

Updated Aug 27, 4:07 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

# Manti-La Sal Forecast: A-Tier, Late-Summer Peak You're looking at a rare late-August flush across the range—soil temp at 64°F with sustained soil moisture (0.18 VWC) across a full week has triggered the entire mycological menu here. Cauliflower and hedgehogs are the money species to prioritize; boletes and milk caps round out reliable volume. The roster skews broad because elevation and recent precipitation have created ideal conditions, but don't get greedy: desiccation risk is elevated, meaning this window compresses fast. **The constraint:** Low recent rainfall (0.07" in 7 days) means ground moisture will tank within 48–72 hours if no new precipitation arrives. Hit mid-to-high elevation drainages and north-facing slopes where moisture retention is longest. Watch the next 36 hours for deterioration; any warm wind or full sun exposure will evaporate the trigger. After that, you're waiting for September monsoon patterns to reset the table. **Hot tip:** Focus Cauliflower and Sweet Tooth in old-growth conifer stands above 9,500 ft on north aspects—they'll hold moisture longest and you'll move volume before the dry closes the season.

Generated by Claude (Anthropic) from the structured weather, soil, and phenology data on this page. The LLM can misread edge cases — treat this as a starting hypothesis, not a guarantee. Always verify conditions on the ground before committing to a long drive.

Foraging Potential75/100

✅Moisture

✅Soil Temp

✅No Freeze

✅No Drought

Precip 7d

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Nearby Camping

Within(21)

La Sal Loop - Moab Front Recreation Area

developed

USFS~0.7 mi from center

Oowah Campground

developed

USFS~1.5 mi from centerFee required/night

Manti-La Sal National Forest

Reserve →

Oowah Campground

developed

USFS~1.6 mi from center

Warner Lake

developed

USFS9,300 ft~1.8 mi from center$15/night

20 sites

La Sal Mountains near Moab. Aspen-spruce island habitat. Limited but concentrated.

vault toiletfire ringpicnic table

Open Jun–Sep

Warner Lake Campground

developed

USFS~1.9 mi from centerFee required/night

Manti-La Sal National Forest

Reserve →

Warner Campground

developed

USFS~1.9 mi from center

La Sal Dispersed

dispersed

USFS7,500 ft~2.7 mi from centerFree/night

Dispersed camping along La Sal Loop Road. Aspen and conifer transition.

fire ring

Open May–Oct

Site 4

developed

~3 mi from center

Reserve →

Mason Draw Campground

developed

USFS~3 mi from centerFee required/night

Manti-La Sal National Forest

Reserve →

Oowah Lake

developed

USFS8,800 ft~3.5 mi from center$10/night

7 sites

Small campground in the La Sals. Walk to moist spruce-fir pockets.

vault toiletfire ring

Open Jun–Sep

Mount Peale Free Camping

developed

~5.6 mi from centerFree/night

Porcupine Rime Camping Area

developed

~5.8 mi from center

Dewey Bridge Campground

developed

BLM~6.5 mi from center$20/night (Pay at campground, cash or check only)/night

Upper Onion Creek Campground

developed

BLM~6.8 mi from center$20/night (Pay at campground-cash or check only)/night

Rock Castle Camping Area

developed

BLM~6.8 mi from center

Ken's Lake Group Sites

developed

BLM~6.8 mi from center<p>Group Site A (max 40 people): $125</p> <p>Group Site B (max 25 people): $125</p>/night

Reserve →

Yellow Circle Road Dispersed Camping

developed

~8.1 mi from center

Red Desert RV Park

developed

~8.6 mi from centerFee required/night

watertoiletshowerelectric hookup

Reserve →

SFRA Loop J - Juniper Campground

developed

~8.9 mi from center

Juniper Campground

developed

~8.9 mi from center

Bull Draw, Manti La Sal NF Road Campsite

developed

~9 mi from centerFree/night

⚠ Road Access Notice

Always verify road access is public before following GPS directions to mountain areas. Many forest roads are seasonal, gated, or require 4WD. Dispersed camping follows USFS/BLM rules (typically 14-day limit). Check ranger district offices for current road and campground conditions.