Scroll down to see common questions answered. Please email info@elkhorngathering.com for any further questions you may have.

Education, nature awareness and connection

Here we go again!

2026 will be our 4th year for Elkhorn earth skills gathering in beautiful Boulder, Utah!

What is Elkhorn?

Elkhorn is a week long outdoor event where people, instructors and students come together and taking classes, sharing and connecting with each other and creating a community around nature, connection and education.
Elkhorn is patterned after other similar earth skills gatherings that have been successful and growing for many years. Some of them are:

Rabbitstick (Idaho)

Wintercount (Arizona)

Between the Rivers (BTR) (Washington)

Fire to fire (Utah)

www.birdsonggathering.com (California)

https://saskatooncirclegathering.com/ Washington
Through the week (monday-friday) classes are are offered and attendees are free to choose what classes interest them and work with their schedule. Some of the classes are short, lasting only a couple hours, and some are longer, (like hide tanning, animal processing, or bow-making) possibly continuing all 5 days. There are physical “hard skills” offered in which something is hand built or created, like basketry or felting …and there are soft skills, where discussion, stories and ideas and movement are the focus.

The learning can be endless as we all have something to share as well as much to learn… instructors and students alike.

Elkhorn invites only experienced instructors and experts in their chosen fields to offer scheduled classes. Note that instructors are volunteers and will charge a “materials fee” to cover their costs for time and materials (so anticipate a materials fee for certain classes.)

Bring your kids! There is a kids program at Elkhorn that runs mornings 9-12:30am to allow parents to take classes and for kids to learn age appropriate skills, play games, explore and get to know each other. The kids program plans many nature and connection based games as well as a lot of just for fun stuff. The kids program also makes their way through camp learning from and observing the surrounding landscape, plant life and various classes

Our hope and vision with this gathering is that we can continue to build the community and connectedness we created with the “Wise Group”, based in Utah County and that we can create an event where all feel welcome and accepted and supported, a place that feels like a home away from home.

Our plan is to continue meeting each year, growing and practicing earth based skills, creating memories and nurturing our connection to the land and with each other, our larger tribal family and community.
2026 will be our 4th year ….we anticipate it to be around 200 attendees and to grow organically over the years, we are a new gathering and adapting to the needs of our community as we go!

Any ideas and feedback will be welcome and considered, email info@elkhorngathering.com

Please read questions and answers below for more details about what to expect:

  • ***Important!!!***
    Make sure you download or screenshot these directions before travelling because there is limited cell service in Boulder!

    To get to Boulder, Utah you need to take highway 12 either from the west (Escalante) or from the north (Scipio, Loa, Torrey)

    Address for Elkhorn is:


    4595 North Thompson Ranch Road Boulder Utah 84716
    (this address will take you to the south entrance but we are at the north entrance, mile marker 92.5)


    If you are driving from the north:

    You will take highway 24 to Torrey. From Torrey take highway 12 south (right turn if coming from the west, left turn if coming from the east) Highway 12 will take you south, up and over Boulder mountain. Once you are on the south side of the mountain you will see a road sign that you are in Boulder Town.
    Our location (Headwaters Ranch) is the first ranch on the left as you come off Boulder mountain. The address for the ranch is 4595 North Thompson Ranch Road, but our site is at the north end of the pasture/ranch and the address will take you to the south end.

    If you are coming from the South/West… head East on Highway 12 as if you are travelling to Bryce canyon and Escalante… drive through Escalante, drive across the hogs back (steep winding road with incredible views!) to Boulder. Once in Boulder, continue on highway 12 as it turns north to go towards Boulder mountain. Our site is the last pasture/ranch on the right before actually driving up on the mountain. Entrance is mile marker 92.5

    A google maps link will also be sent in the camp email for all attendees.
    ‍ ‍

  • The kids program is available for kids ages 5-11. Parents are welcome to stay in the group with their kids or go to their own classes.
    Our kids program will run each morning beginning Monday 9-12:30 so parents can take classes in the morning and the littles can learn about various earth skills, play games, explore and make new friends at the gathering.

  • We offer breakfast (8am) and dinner (6pm) at Elkhorn beginning Sunday evening after the opening circle.
    We serve nutritious, fresh, local (as much as possible) food that is cooked cowboy kitchen style in an off grid kitchen. Its a lot of work!
    If you have special dietary needs please bring extra food for yourself for each meal.
    There will be a vegetarian option at each meal**

    If you need more food or ice during the week you can buy groceries at Hills and Hollows or the Silver Eagle in Boulder Town. There is also Griffins Grocery in Escalante (30 miles).

  • Yes, you will need to bring some extra money depending on the classes you plan to take to pay for the individual instructor materials fees.
    There will be hand made items for sale or trade! Bring any handmade items you’d like to offer! Trade and barter is encouraged.
    There will be a trade blanket and a raffle! So bring handmade items to trade as well as cash for purchasing raffle tickets if you want to be a part of the fun.
    Also, you may need to drive to Escalante to purchase more food or ice through the week, and the extra gas $ for that, so factor that in as well.

  • This is the high desert. Be prepared for extreme heat and extreme cold. Boulder, Utah temperature averages in August are 82 high/ 57 low.
    Expect occasional afternoon rainstorms.

  • RVs, campers and van life folks are welcome and there will be limited RV parking on site.

    There are also limited RV hookups for reservation on location. If this is something you are interested in email 3kivas@gmail.com

  • Unfortunately we can not allow dogs at Elkhorn now. The new site is a working ranch with cattle and horses and it is too much of a liability for potential damage. There will also be class projects going on, and irresistible things around like buckskin, drum heads, animal processing, tanning, food that may be too tempting to them. Please don’t show up with your dog hoping we can be accommodating, it won’t be possible.

  • Because of fire restrictions fires will be limited to installed fire rings. No personal fires are allowed.

  • Drinking water will be provided. It is well water from the site. Please plan to bring water bottles and jugs to fill for yourself and your camp as needed.

  • Each person must contain and pack out their town trash during the week. Dumpsters are found in town at 400 North

  • There are several creeks, a waterfall and a pond at the site to swim and cool down in!

    All children under 12 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.

    Off site there is Calf Creek, the Escalante River and many lakes on Boulder mountain like Lower Bowns, or Chriss Lake that you can drive to.

  • Boulder, Utah and the Grand Staircase National monument area is an endless playground of adventure, exploring and beauty, with incredible vistas, unique geology and history, hiking trails, fishing, canyoneering, rock art, and more.
    Some of the attractions include:
    Anasazi State Park Museum Hells Backbone road

    Escalante Petrified Forest
    The hogs back road
    Escalante river and rock art trails
    Kiva Koffeehouse
    Circle cliffs
    Long canyon scenic drive Mule twist switch backs
    Peekaboo and Spooky slot canyons
    Hole in the rock road
    Lower Bowns resevoir
    Chriss Lake

    Blind lake
    For more information about local attractions visit: https://www.utah.com/destinations/cities-towns/boulder/