Notch Peak

The limestone wall above Tule Valley

Notch Peak rises in the House Range of western Millard County, about forty-five miles west of Delta on the lonely stretch of US-6/50 between the Wasatch Front and the Nevada line. The summit sits near 9,650 feet. On the west and north faces, limestone falls in one of the tallest continuous cliffs in the contiguous United States — Utah Geological Survey photogrammetry puts the uninterrupted near-vertical drop above about 1,500 feet, roughly 2,250 feet when a lower bench is included, and approaching 2,900 feet if the steep lower slope is counted. Published estimates elsewhere swing wider; “where the cliff starts” has no single fixed definition. The shallow groove that notches the crest gives the mountain its name. On a clear day the peak is visible for tens of miles across the west desert.

The cliff rock is roughly 500-million-year-old limestone and dolomite of the Notch Peak, Orr, and Weeks Formations. A Jurassic granite intrusion (about 170 million years old) crops out near the base of the carbonate stack. Basin-and-Range faulting uplifted the west side of the range; erosion then carved the face. The beds are massive, relatively shale-poor, and nearly horizontal — conditions that favor a single tall cliff rather than a broken slope. Bristlecone pine grows on higher ridges in the Notch Peak Wilderness Study Area; some trees have been aged beyond two thousand years. Sensitive wildlife that may use the WSA include ferruginous hawk, long-billed curlew, burrowing owl, and kit fox.

Roads, trailheads, and vehicles

There are no services at Notch Peak — no gas, water, cell towers, or developed campground. Fuel and supplies end in Delta (east) or much farther west toward Baker, Nevada. BLM’s Fillmore Field Office manages the House Range Recreation Area; dispersed camping is the norm.

For the classic west-face view from the valley floor, the Utah Geological Survey route is useful: from Delta continue west on US-6/50 roughly fifty-four miles to Tule Valley Road (signed for Painter Spring and Old Highway 50/6). Drive north on that dirt road; the cliffscape of Notch Peak fills the eastern skyline. About nine and a half miles north, a lesser dirt spur heads toward the cliff base. Use judgment — it is not always maintained and can be impassable.

Summit hikers typically approach from the east side of the range via gravel roads off US-6/50 west of Delta. USGS field notes for the Notch Peak intrusive area describe the Antelope Spring / North Canyon network: west from Delta about thirty miles on the highway, then north on well-used gravel (Antelope Spring road) roughly ten miles to a junction, then west toward Miller Canyon / North Canyon access into the high country. Amasa Valley roads climb high enough for views of both Tule Valley and White Valley; BLM’s Amasa Basin map rates some spurs as easy ATV-width track and others as rougher. High-clearance is prudent on all of these roads; 4WD is often required after storms, in winter, or on spurs beyond the main gravel. Soft sand, washboard, and rock steps are normal. A passenger car that can reach the valley-floor viewpoints may not reach a high trailhead.

The hike from a high eastern trailhead to the rim is a long day in exposed limestone terrain — multi-mile round trips with substantial elevation gain are typical. There is no maintained summit trail in the national-park sense; expect cairns, use trails, and route-finding on rock. The rim itself has no guardrail. Wind, lightning, and sudden temperature drops are real hazards at 9,000-plus feet. Carry more water than desert instinct suggests; there is no reliable source on the ridge.

What else the House Range holds

House Range Recreation Area links several trips. Marjum Pass cuts through the range north of Notch Peak toward Howell Peak country and the Hermit’s Cabin rock house in Marjum Canyon. Antelope Springs trilobite beds draw rockhounds on designated collecting areas — follow current BLM rules on quantity and tools. Deer hunting is popular in season. The Notch Peak intrusive has a tungsten and minor gold history; USGS reconnaissance in the early 1980s documented contact-zone mineralization. Leave active or inactive mine workings alone — open shafts and unstable ground kill people.

Spring and fall suit long ridge walks best. Summer heat on the valley approaches exceeds 100°F; monsoon storms dump water that closes dirt roads for days. Winter snow can close high approaches entirely and turns the cliff face into an ice hazard. Leave a travel plan with someone who will notice if you do not return; traffic out here is sparse. Protect bristlecone stands and cryptobiotic soil; pack out all trash. For current road conditions and fire restrictions, contact the Fillmore Field Office before committing a multi-hour dirt-road approach.