A lot of land around Vernal starts out covered in sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and weeds, and properties near the creeks and river bottoms often have Russian olive, tamarisk, and cottonwoods mixed in. Add old fencing, scrap, and junk piles left behind over the years, and it can be hard to even see what you’re working with. Before you can build, grade, or plan anything, the lot has to be cleared.
We walk the property with you first so we know what’s staying and what’s going. Then we clear brush and small trees, pull or grind stumps, remove rocks and debris, and haul it all away. We try to keep topsoil in place and avoid disturbing ground that doesn’t need it. When we’re done, the site is open, clean, and ready for surveying, grading, or excavation.
We clear land across the Basin and know how to handle sagebrush, creek bottom brush, and rocky ground.
Skid steers, excavators, loaders, and trucks to clear and haul everything in one trip.
We'll talk through what should stay, what should go, and what it will really cost.
We haul off everything we clear and leave the site clean and ready to work.
Lot clearing in the Ashley Valley rarely means just mowing down some weeds. Open ground around Vernal tends to fill in with sagebrush and rabbitbrush, with kochia, cheatgrass, and goatheads packed in between. Parcels near Ashley Creek, ditches, and river bottoms add Russian olive, tamarisk, and cottonwoods to the mix. And a lot of older properties come with surprises: buried fence wire, rock piles, old car parts, and junk that’s been sitting for decades.
The bigger trees and stumps are often the hardest part of the job. When a lot has mature cottonwoods or a thick stand of Russian olive, our tree and stump removal crew takes those down and deals with the roots so they don’t get in the way of digging later.
Before any equipment shows up, we walk the property with you. We want to know what you’re planning to build, where the house, shop, or driveway is going, and which trees or areas you want to keep. We flag those so they don’t get touched.
The walkthrough is also where we spot soft ground, steep spots, drainage paths, and anything that changes how we bring equipment in. A little time spent up front keeps us from clearing more than you need and keeps the topsoil where it belongs.
No two lots are alike, so we size every job after seeing it. These are the details that make the biggest difference:
Knowing where your lot ends matters before anything gets cleared. If you have a recent survey, we’ll work off those stakes. If the corners are uncertain, it’s worth getting them marked first so nobody clears a neighbor’s trees by mistake.
Pulling stumps and digging out rocks counts as excavation, and Utah law requires a Blue Stakes call at 811 at least 3 business days before digging. Marking is free, and it’s the best way to find buried power, gas, and water lines before a bucket does. Old wells, septic tanks, and private lines on rural parcels aren’t always on the map, so tell us about anything you know is out there.
Residential lots in Naples and the newer subdivisions around town usually need a careful clear that saves good trees and leaves the ground ready for a foundation crew. Shop sites and equipment yards out toward Jensen and along the highways tend to need wider, more open clearing with room for trucks to turn around.
Either way, clearing is just the first step. Once the ground is open, general excavation handles foundations, footings, and basements. In Uintah County, footings have to sit at least 30 inches below grade for frost protection, so the dirt work after clearing is a real part of the plan. Getting the stumps and big roots out of the building footprint now saves the excavation crew from fighting them later.
A cleared lot doesn’t stay clean for long. Wind kicks up dust on bare ground, and weeds jump at the chance to fill in open dirt, especially in spring. The sooner the next phase starts, the less you’ll fight both.
That’s why we like to plan clearing alongside grading, so the site gets shaped for drainage right after it’s opened up. Snowmelt and summer thunderstorms can move a lot of loose soil, and setting the slope early keeps water away from where you’ll build. One crew handling both steps keeps your Vernal project moving and cuts down on idle time between trades.
We walk the lot with you, mark what's staying, and look at access and debris.
You get a written quote covering clearing, stump work, hauling, and timing.
We clear brush, trees, stumps, and debris and haul it all off site.
We walk the cleared lot with you and talk through what comes next.
