The Hite Ranger Station is temporarily closing, and along with it a service station at Hite/NPS

A remote outpost in southern Utah that has served visitors to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and motorists crossing the southern half of the state is closing temporarily on Monday due to the loss of a concessionaire, the National Park Service has announced.

Hite is home to a ranger district in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, located at the top of Lake Powell, adjacent to the confluence of the Colorado and Dirty Devil rivers. Motorists driving the 126-mile stretch of Utah State Highway 95 between Hanksville and Blanding, Utah, will need sufficient fuel and water for their travel and recreational needs. 

The nearest towns to Hite with available fuel and water are Hanksville, Utah (51 miles to the west) and Blanding, Utah (79 miles to the east). Be aware how much fuel is in your tank and how far away you are from the nearest gas station. NPS vault toilets will be open for public use at the North Wash Primitive Ramp and the Dirty Devil primitive camping area.  

Full services were suspended at Hite after the lapse in a concession operator in 2021. Due to the high cost of generating power at this remote location, all services are being suspended until further notice. This is a temporary closure until a new takeout boat ramp is constructed for Cataract Canyon Colorado River trips and a new Hite concession contract has been awarded. The National Park Service’s access road to the Hite Ranger Station will be temporarily closed at the highway.  

Travelers should plan ahead by carrying drinking water and having a full tank of gas while traveling through the area.