A household name to any off-roader in the Salt Lake or Utah Valley, the 5 Mile Recreation Area (5 Mile) is home to some of the only technical and difficult trails close to the metro areas. Ranging from easy dirt roads to buggy-only trails, the options are endless in this small network.
Common testing grounds for newbie drivers or freshly built rigs, you have multiple options to tackle based on your skill level. Easy dirt paths such as Winter Solstice Road provide a slightly bumpy ride through the juniper and sagebrush to a plethora of mine remnants while providing a multitude of camping opportunities from the base of the hills all the way to the peaks. Among the easy drive lie many piles of mine tailings and closed-off vertical shafts, where you can hop out and stand on the rails placed across the opening. Just don't slip!
Perhaps the most common trails in this region are moderate or difficult, which attracts flocks of users just wanting to escape the city for the day. Rattlesnake and Constrictor are likely the spot where you will find the bulk of traffic on any given day, while Sidewinder Exit Trail is also in the difficult category. Mildly or moderately built rigs will have a great time playing in the granite rock gardens, on the numerous short or tall limestone ledges, and on the piles of mine tailings that stand out over the foothills of this small mountain range. If extreme challenges are up your alley, you will enjoy the wild, winding Sidewinder buggy trail, with constant off-camber situations, loose shale, and 6-foot-tall ledges attempting to stop all who try.
No matter the skill or the build, 5 Mile Recreation Area is an offroaders paradise. Pack up the rig and head out for a few hours, a whole day, or spend all weekend exploring the numerous mines, great views of the west desert, or the numerous challenges lining the trails.
Altitude
Beginner
Camping
Desert
Mine
Rock
Snow Wheeling
This is one of the harder trails within this network, other than Sidewinder. Even more modified rigs will be put to the test just to get to the hardest of the obstacles; Eagles Nest. At this point, you should expect breakage or a rollover if you even have the guts to attempt this wall. There is a winch point beyond it, but it can only help so much. Many people turn around at the sight of Eagles Nest, however, a few have made it beyond this point and reached the top. This is a great trail for a bit more of a challenge within "the snakes" as the locals call it. Consisting of 5 total well-established trails, this area is sure to never leave you wanting more.
Looking for some excitement near Five Mile Recreation Area and Fairfield, Utah? Look no further than the area known as "The Snakes". This trail, in particular, was created to serve as an exit for the extreme trail known as Sidewinder, however, it is not for the faint of heart. With obstacles such as Buggy Bouncer and The Gauntlet, you are sure to not be bored. This offroad trail takes you quickly into the south end of the Oquirrh Mountain Range, rising in elevation with every inch traveled. This trail is well-used and changes often, providing newer challenges every weekend. Due to its proximity to Rattlesnake and Constrictor, as well as Five Mile Recreation Area, you will probably not be alone along this trail. Be sure to bring plenty of food and water as there are hundreds of miles to explore in the mountains just west of Utah Lake.
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