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!

2024 will be our second year for the Elkhorn ancestral skills gathering in beautiful Boulder, Utah!

What is Elkhorn?

Elkhorn is a week long event where people, instructors and students come together and camp out while taking classes, sharing and connecting with each other.
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)
Through the week nature based classes are are offered and students/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, (think hide tanning or animal processing) possibly continuing all 5 days. There are physical “hard skills” offered in which something is hand built or created, like bow making, or felting …and there are soft skills, where education, stories and ideas are discussed, like how to raise children in a healthy way in our modern technology driven society, storytelling or nature awareness and connection.

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 need to cover their costs for time and materials, so expect 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 adult 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.

Elkhorn has a focus on classes and education related to primitive skills, ancestral skills, stone age technology, nature connection, health and wellness, living sustainably, permaculture, tribal living and connection.

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.
2024 will be our second 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:

Map of the Elkhorn site including entrance, Center Circle, kitchen, water, range and parking

  • ***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)


    If you are coming 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 city. Eventually you will
    pass the museum, gas station and restaraunts on the left and as the road takes a hard right you want to TURN LEFT on the BURR TRAIL ROAD. Drive east on the Burr trail approximately 1/2 mile, and then turn right (south) on LOWER BOULDER ROAD. Follow Lower Boulder Road all the way as far as it will take you until you see the signs for Elkhorn parking and the registration booth on the left.

    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, where Highway 12 turns left take the BURR TRAIL ROAD straight (east). Drive east on the Burr Trail Road approximately 1/2 mile until you see the turn off for LOWER BOULDER ROAD. Follow Lower Boulder Road all the way as far as it will take you until you see the signs for Elkhorn parking and the registration booth on the left.

    A map will also be sent in the camp email for those registered.

  • The kids program is available for kids ages 5-12. 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. This years kids program will be run by Keri Mae ( kbeirdneau@gmail.com) and Amber St. John (amberstj@gmail.com)
    Feel free to email them directly if you have questions about the kids program.

  • We offer breakfast (8am) and dinner (6pm) at Elkhorn beginning Sunday evening after the opening circle. Tracy and Jason Jarvis are our cooks returning from last year! They did an amazing job and the food was so good!
    Its up to you to bring food for lunch and snacks.

    Example of what foods/meals are offered are boiled eggs and oatmeal for breakfast and chili, salad and flatbread for dinner.
    If you have special dietary needs please bring extra food for yourself for each meal.
    There will be vegetarian options at each meal**

    If you need more food or ice during the week you can buy groceries at Hills and Hollows 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.

  • We will be composting and recycling paper, plastic and glass. There will also be a small dumpster provided on site.

  • There is a small irrigation wash and pond that is free to play, splash and cool down in. For more water there is Boulder creek, deer creek and many lakes on Boulder mountain like Lower Bowns, or Chriss Lake that you can drive or hike 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/