Utah Soil Surveys
Utah has 49 USDA soil survey areas covering a wide range of landscapes and soil conditions. The most common soil order is Mollisols — grassland soils with a thick, dark, fertile topsoil rich in organic matter, making up roughly 45% of surveyed soils. Entisols — young soils with little profile development, often on floodplains or steep slopes account for another 23%.
In terms of drainage, 77% of Utah soils are classified as well drained. Drainage class affects everything from septic system design to basement feasibility to garden planning. Use the survey area pages below to see drainage details for specific counties, or look up any address for an exact soil profile.
Soil Types
Mollisols
45% of surveyed soils
Fertile grassland soils with thick, dark topsoil. Among the best for agriculture, building, and gardening.
Entisols
23% of surveyed soils
Young soils with little development — found on floodplains, dunes, and steep slopes. Properties vary widely by setting.
Aridisols
21% of surveyed soils
Dry-climate soils with low organic matter. Often have caliche layers that make excavation difficult. Low shrink-swell is good for foundations.
Inceptisols
5% of surveyed soils
Young but developing soils found in mountains and river terraces. Variable properties — check drainage and bedrock depth.
Alfisols
3% of surveyed soils
Moderately weathered forest soils with clay-enriched subsoil. Productive for agriculture, generally good for building and septic.
Survey Areas
Arches National Park, UtahAshley National Forest Area, UtahBeaver County, Utah - Western PartBeaver-Cove Fort Area, UtahBox Elder County, Utah, Eastern PartBox Elder County, Utah, Western PartCache Valley Area, Parts of Cache and Box Elder Counties, UtahCanyonlands Area, Utah - Parts of Grand and San Juan CountiesCanyonlands National Park, UtahCapitol Reef National Park, UtahCarbon Area, Utah, Parts of Carbon and Emery CountiesDavis-Weber Area, UtahDelta Area, Utah - Part of Millard CountyDixie National Forest, Utah - Parts of Garfield, Washington, Iron, Kane and Wayne CountiesDuchesne Area, Utah, Parts of Duchesne, Utah, and Wasatch CountiesEmery Area, Utah, Parts of Emery, Carbon, Grand, and Sevier CountiesEmery County, Utah, Eastern PartFairfield-Nephi Area, UtahFishlake National Forest, Utah - Tushar-Pavant Division - Parts of Sevier, Millard, Beaver, Piute, Iron and Garfield CountiesFishlake National Forest, Utah, East Part - Parts of Sevier, Piute, Wayne and Sanpete CountiesGlen Canyon National Recreation AreaGrand County, Utah - Central PartGrand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Area, Parts of Kane and Garfield Counties, UtahHeber Valley Area, Utah - Parts of Wasatch and Utah CountiesHenry Mountains Area, Utah, Parts of Garfield, Kane, and Wayne CountiesIron-Washington Area, Utah, Parts of Iron, Kane, and Washington CountiesKane County Area, UtahLoa-Marysvale Area, Utah, Parts of Piute, Wayne, and Garfield CountiesManti-Lasal National Forest, Manti Division - Parts of Sanpete and Emery CountiesMillard County, Utah - Eastern PartMorgan Area, Utah - Morgan County and Part of Weber CountyPanguitch Area, Parts of Garfield, Iron, Kane, and Piute Counties, UtahRich County, UtahSalt Lake Area, UtahSan Juan Area, UtahSan Juan County, Utah, Central PartSan Juan County, Utah, Navajo Indian ReservationSanpete Valley Area, Utah, Parts of Utah and Sanpete CountiesSevier County Area, UtahSummit Area, Utah, Parts of Summit, Salt Lake and Wasatch CountiesTooele Area, Utah - Tooele County and Parts of Box Elder, Davis and Juab CountiesUinta National Forest Area, Utah, Parts of Juab, Sanpete, Utah, and Wasatch CountiesUintah Area, Utah - Parts of Daggett, Grand and Uintah CountiesUintah and Ouray Indian Reservation, UtahUtah County, Utah - Central PartWasatch-Cache National Forest, Utah and WyomingWashington County Area, UtahWest Millard-Juab Area, Utah, Parts of Millard and Juab CountiesZion National Park, Utah