4-Day Overnight Camping: Monroe Mountain (Ride with Zoo)

Join Hogle Zoo, DWR, and USFS on a 4-day, 3-night camping trip to Monroe Mountain. Meet at the Zoo at 7:30am.

Transportation: Depart from Utah's Hogle Zoo. Ride in Zoo vehicle. Leave your car in our secure employee lot. About a 4 hour drive from the Zoo.

How to get to : As you head east on Sunnyside Avenue, the main entrance to the Zoo will be on your right. Take your first right immediately after the Zoo onto Crestview Drive and then, again, your first right onto Wasatch Drive. The gate to our staff lot will be on your right just after the bamboo covering ends on the chain link fence. Zoo staff will let you in.

Difficulty: Up to 5/10, variable hiking conditions. Most survey sites are close to the road with no hiking required but we will be on our feet and walking most of the day. There are a couple sites with short but steep hikes (~.4mi with 360 ft elevation change). We will break into teams so big hikes are not required for everyone. There was a major wildfire here in 2025 so road and terrain conditions will be variable. Habitat data we collect will be key! We may have access to a sink, bathroom, and running water at a Forest Service guard station.

What to pack/wear:

• Please bring a packed lunch for the first day (i.e sandwich/tupperware meal that will easily fit in your backpack and can eat mid-day when we take a break during survey)
• Comfortable hiking and camp clothes you don't mind getting wet/dirty. Rain jacket (rain pants if you have them), extra socks (keep 1-2 pairs in your daypack everyday), warm layers for night that you can shed during the way, and sun protection (hat, glasses). Light weight hiking pants/work pants recommended instead of shorts. We will be walking, crouching, & squatting in dense vegetation (willows). Some prefer to wear light weight long sleeves to protect them from getting scratched. Plan for cold nights and warm days.

• Close-toed hiking shoes/boots you don't mind getting wet/dirty.
• Water/rain boots or waders are recommended but not required (your feet are likely to get wet).
• A backpack big enough to hold 1-2 (32oz) water bottles, lunch, snacks, extra clothing layers.
• Tent (with rain fly and stakes), warm sleeping bag, sleeping pad, headlamp (fresh batteries)
• Any other camp comforts you prefer (games, books, pillow, ear plugs, eye mask, etc.)
• Review THIS general packing list for other suggestions.

The Zoo will provide:

• All cooked meals and snacks (mostly vegetarian) and associated cookware

• Bathroom supplies (limited to no facilities so we will have: shovel, toilet paper, waste bags)

• Reach out if you are missing some camp supplies; we may have extra.

• Reach out if you are missing some camp supplies, we may have extra.

Click THIS LINK to check the local weather prior and pack accordingly.

Click THIS LINK for a refresher on training.

Map of Zoo parking. Zoo staff will open the gate.

Info: You will be promptly notified for any major schedule changes.

Info: Park in the secure employee parking lot on the south side of the zoo along S Wasatch Dr. To get here, head East on Sunnyside Avenue, the main entrance to the Zoo will be on your right. Take your first right immediately after the Zoo onto Crestview Drive and then, again, your first right onto Wasatch Drive. The gate to our staff lot will be on your right just after the bamboo covering ends on the chain link fence. Zoo staff will let you in.

Info: Drive is about 4 hours to Monroe Mtn. Lunch break when we arrive. Prep for surveys.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Hogle Zoo - Community Science Programs