Why You See Cattle Roaming in Pine Valley and Central: The Story of Southern Utah’s Public Land Ranching
If you’ve spent time driving between Central and Pine Valley, you’ve likely noticed cattle grazing along the roadways or roaming the open valley pastures. It’s one of the most common questions I get from locals and visitors alike, “Why are there cows out on the roads?” or “When do the cattle come and go from Pine Valley?” The answer lies in the deep public land ranching roots of this area and the unique relationship between private landholders and the surrounding public lands.
A Heritage Rooted on the Range
Long before there were fences or organized grazing permits, early settlers including my own family ran cattle freely across these hills and valleys. Ranching families used the open public lands surrounding the small patches of private ground to sustain their herds through the seasons.
Over time, as the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) were established, these once-open ranges were divided into defined grazing allotments. Each allotment became part of what we call a permit. A permit is essentially a renewable lease that allows ranchers to graze their cattle on specific tracts of public land. While the land remains public, these permits have been passed down through generations. They carry with them a legacy of stewardship and respect for the land. Ranch families work hard to protect the land their cattle graze and in turn are able to protect their herd’s sustainability and their families’ livelihood.
Why Cattle Move the Way They Do
The timing of when cattle appear or disappear from the valley is no accident. The community built the traditional grazing calendar around the old cattle drives of the past. In the early days, ranchers from the higher elevations, like Pine Valley, would begin gathering and moving their cattle a few weeks earlier, typically in October, bringing them down off the mountain. Then, ranchers from the lower elevations around Central would move their cattle out onto the desert ranges in November for the winter.
This staggered timing helped prevent herds from overlapping or mixing during the drives and made it easier for families to organize their cattle movements. Before trucks and trailers, these cattle were moved entirely on horseback. It could sometimes taking weeks to drive them from the mountain pastures all the way out past Gunlock to the BLM winter range. My grandfather told stories of spending two weeks at a time out on horseback checking cattle, camping on the range, and bringing cattle home again come spring.
Nowadays, you can expect to start seeing cattle back in late May-early June and cattle will stay on mountain ranges until mid-October.
Ranching Traditions That Still Live On
Even as times have changed, highways replaced trails, and trucks replaced cattle drives the tradition remains. We still gather our cattle by horseback, move them seasonally, and care for them much the same way our great-grandparents did in the 1920s and ‘30s. But for ranching families, these seasonal moves are far more than a chore on a to-do list. They are a time when friends and family come together riding horses, working cattle and enjoying the beauty of the land. It’s a season of hard work; calves are weaned, cows are checked, and new brands and ear marks are made.
There is a quiet satisfaction that comes from carrying on a way of life built by generations before us. These gatherings are steeped in heritage and pride, moments when we remember those who came before us and honor the work they started. For many families the roundup is a time to reconnect, to teach the younger generation, and to feel a little closer to the past while working towards the future.
Many people don’t know that Pine Valley even had its own cattle auction site years ago. The old corrals and scale still stand as reminders of those days when ranching was the center of community life here. Back then, wild horses roamed the foothills, and my grandfather would catch and break them and sell them to the U.S. Cavalry for a little extra money to support his family. Ranching wasn’t just a livelihood, it was part of the way of life that built the foundation of this valley. To me personally it is a heritage that runs deep in my blood that I am proud to be a part of.
Carrying the Public Land Ranching Legacy Forward
Today, our family continues that same tradition, we gather cattle on the same ranges my grandfather did. Days of riding in the saddle with my family always bring me joy and is a day well spent. Our family ranch, Grassy Flat Ranch, raises and finishes our own grass-fed and grass-finished beef. It’s our way of keeping that heritage alive while providing something special for our community. It is a truly local product that you know was raised right here in the mountains of Southern Utah, by people who live and work here.
So next time you see cattle grazing or wandering through Pine Valley, you’re looking at more than just livestock. You’re seeing a living piece of Southern Utah history.