Utah Off-Road Trails

White Rocks Road is an easy drive out to one of southern Utah's most overlooked natural wonders. Pine Park, at the end of the trail, exposes volcanic deposits that reveal evidence of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in Utah’s geologic history. What's also unique is that it's limited to such a small area. The eruptions that produced these deposits were some of the largest in Earth’s history. The ancient supervolcanoes were active between 12 and 36 million years ago, back when the Utah landscape was completely different and home to rhinoceros, camels, and palm trees. The main attraction in Pine Park is the bright white volcanic ash-flow tuff exposures that form hoodoos, mushroom-shaped domes. Many of these resemble the hoodoos found around Goblin Valley State Park and the Toadstools at Wahweap Bay, along Lake Powell. Thriving in the well-drained volcanic soils, a forest of juniper, pinyon, and large ponderosa pine trees, create an oasis for camping and hiking in the high desert.

Middle Canyon Road/Copper Mine Overlook is a great escape from the city, with incredible views in all directions. It's an easy, well-kept dirt road accessible to most vehicles under good conditions. The road to the overlook is slightly rougher, but just about any car should have no trouble. Inclement weather may limit this to four-wheel drive vehicles, as it could become muddy. Many people head to the overlook from the Salt Lake side via Butterfield Canyon. The entire road up Butterfield Canyon is now paved until you reach the saddle.

Once you are at the top, the Tooele Valley and Salt Lake Valley are visible, but the biggest draw is right below. The Bingham Canyon Mine, commonly referred to as Kennecott, is the largest open pit mine in the world. You can even see it from space! As of 2024, it was 3/4 of a mile deep and over 2 miles wide. This mine is most known for copper but also extracts other precious minerals like gold, lithium, and aluminum. This mine is still incredibly active, and you can see all of the trucks working along its shelf roads. If you are looking for an awesome experience to add to your day, check out a tour at the visitors center.

Camping is available at the start of the trail, where the pavement ends at Middle Canyon Campground. There are designated sites with fire rings, picnic tables, and a pit toilet. This is a popular camping area close to the city, so be sure to get there early! The entire canyon is closed yearly from November 1st to June 1st.

Hell's Alternate #2 is a short, easy, sandy shortcut that can be traveled in either direction, west or east. This trail is the quickest way to reach Escalator, Staircase, and Tip-Over Challenge from the Sand Flats entrance if looking to avoid the hot tubs. Additionally, this route is often used as an early exit route for those that run the northern half of Hell's Revenge and want to return to the entrance parking lot.

This trail is suitable for any high clearance vehicle.

Typically driven as a continuation of Steel Bender, Flat Pass is a challenging route with numerous large ledges and one especially notorious drop often called “The Fall.” The trail delivers expansive views of the La Sal Mountains, includes a scenic water crossing at Mill Creek, and eventually drops back into Spanish Valley on the south side of Ken’s Lake. For drivers seeking a true taste of Moab’s ledgy, technical terrain, Flat Pass stands out as a must-run route that offers both dynamic obstacles and rewarding scenery.

Hell Roaring Rim (HRR) is quietly becoming an iconic route to travel in Moab. Considered a "family route," it's ideal for stock 4x4s and beginner drivers wanting a bit of a challenge but "nothing crazy." This portion of the HRR route is a scenic and fun way to cut your teeth on the rocks and take in spectacular views of the entire region from high up on a mesa. You create the iconic HRR route and an all-day scenic adventure by including the Mineral Point and Mineral Point to Spring Canyon Bottom Road trails. You'll wind through a diverse and well-preserved desert landscape with hidden historic markers and endless views of the canyons and distant mountains.

Known as an exciting mountain bike trail, 7-Up is a short but fun 4.9-mile 4WD track along a portion of the popular bicycle trail. The trail passes below colorful rock cliffs with a hidden natural arch and across sprawling meadows with beautiful backdrops of red buttes. Dropping onto the sandy two-track at the northern trailhead, known as Old Arths Road, you are advised of the no camping along this section of the trail, but you are allowed to camp at the southern end of the route. The trail is ideal for stock 4x4s with high ground clearance and durable offroad tires. Several rocky ledges 8 to 10 inches tall will high-center long and low vehicles.

Along the easily accessible Fossil Point trail, you can view dinosaur bones from 145 million years ago. Numerous bones and concretions from the Jurassic Era are among the layered and boulder-strewn cliffs. Hidden high up on the point of the colorful ridge, there are reportedly bones of a Sauropod. The unmarked hiking trails are well-used and easy to spot from the parking area with its single-shaded picnic table. Removing dinosaur fossils, even fragments, from protected sites is illegal. Feel free to photograph and touch, but do not remove any fossil evidence.  Fossil Point trail has much more to offer besides fossil hunting. Beyond the fossil area, the trail becomes a scenic and fun 4x4 track leading down to the brushy banks of the Green River.

Reaching the Fossil Point site requires high clearance and durable tires, taking about 15 minutes. Deep ruts, soft sand, and small sandstone ledges are 4 to 6 inches tall. Continuing past the fossil site, the trail becomes more difficult and takes about 45 minutes to reach the end. The trail has numerous rock ledges from 6 to 12 inches tall, with off-camber hills and narrow switchback ledges. You will need 4x4 low-range gearing for loose hills and deep washouts. Camping in this rugged terrain was limited to the open sandy areas along the river.

Chutes and Ladders is an extreme offroad trail in the western part of the Sand Mountain OHV Area. Constant walls, twists, wedges, and ledges line this thrilling challenge. Full-bodied rigs need not apply to this one; body damage would be inevitable. If you are looking for a challenge for your buggy, this would be an excellent place to start. Its proximity to the parking lot makes this even better, so if you break, it is just a short jaunt back to your trailer.

About Sand Mountain

Sand Mountain is an extremely unique parcel of public land. Designated as an Open OHV Area, riders are free to make their own trails. Due to this, many of the long-established named trail routes have several variations that can take easier or more challenging routes through the intended trail. The GPX track for this trail helps you navigate the area, but various lines, bypasses, and additional obstacles may exist along the way. Riders are encouraged to stay on existing trails and not unnecessarily drive over or destroy vegetation.

Fees

Riding on Sand Mountain is entirely free. However, there are multiple entry/exit points for the area, including "the tunnel," which connects Sand Hollow State Park to the open OHV area. Any entry into the boundaries of Sand Hollow State Park requires a Utah State Park Pass.

Requirements

When operating on Sand Mountain, users must attach an orange or red safety flag to the vehicle, rising at least 8 feet off the ground.

Sampsonite is a newly designated trail that snakes its way up and down many washes like a wet spaghetti noodle. The trail is located in the eastern half of Sand Mountain, traveling between Wayne's World and the east fence line. Sampsonite is not well-traveled and can be hard to follow at times as you traverse through soft sand and past dense sagebrush. Numerous slickrock ledges exist, ranging from a few inches to several feet in size. A number of slickrock humps protrude out of the sand, creating tough breakover angles for small-tire vehicles or vehicles without a lift. The trail can be run in either direction and is roughly the same difficulty either way. Although not difficult, this trail is not recommended for stock vehicles. A lift and larger tires are required simply due to the breakover angles needed to traverse most obstacles. If you are not comfortable with undercarriage scraping, you should avoid this trail.

About Sand Mountain

Sand Mountain is an extremely unique parcel of public land. Designated as an Open OHV Area, riders are free to make their own trails. Due to this, many of the long-established named trail routes have several variations that can take easier or more challenging routes through the intended trail. The GPX track for this trail helps you navigate the area, but various lines, bypasses, and additional obstacles may exist along the way. Riders are encouraged to stay on existing trails and not unnecessarily drive over or destroy vegetation.

Fees

Riding on Sand Mountain is entirely free. However, there are multiple entry/exit points for the area, including "the tunnel," which connects Sand Hollow State Park to the open OHV area. Any entry into the boundaries of Sand Hollow State Park requires a Utah State Park Pass.

Requirements

When operating on Sand Mountain, users must attach an orange or red safety flag to the vehicle, rising at least 8 feet off the ground.

Go from the desert to the pines in one incredible trail. Link Canyon is a 28-mile overland-type trail leading up to the famous Skyline Dive within Fishlake National Forest. The route begins as a bumpy gravel road leading from the small town of Emery, Utah. About 6 miles in, the trail begins its steep climb up the towering cliffs. You will need low-range gearing and high clearance on loose dirt climbs. The trail has very tight switchbacks, so NO TRAILERS on this route. Once you reach the sprawling meadows above 8500 feet, the trail becomes easier. There are countless campsites within the pine and aspen trees. Go slow and watch for the wildlife so plentiful in this area. The upper elevations are closed during the winter. The gate at the beginning of the steep climb will be closed during these times.

Mill Canyon Spring, in the Uinta National Forest, is a dispersed camper's dream. There are roughly a dozen sites on this three-mile track, almost all with spectacular views of Mount Timpanogos and the surrounding Wasatch Mountains. The track is steep in places with deep but easily avoided ruts. Occasional rocks and loose rocky climbs necessitate clearance and at least AWD. This is a beautiful drive, and considering its proximity to Salt Lake Valley, it's lightly trafficked.

Salt Wash Road is a gateway to a mild but memorable painted desert and several popular 4x4 trails. A portion of the trail is part of the Easter Jeep Safari "Crystal Geyser" route and links several other 4WD trails between Moab and Green River, Utah. The road is easy and uneventful. The surrounding rock formations and multi-layered cliffs create beautiful panoramas. Deposits of bright white colors mixed into the red rocks create "cake layers" of colored sandstone. Lion's Head Rock at Waypoint 6 is a unique formation resembling a male lion with a mane of red rocks.

Caineville Reef Road provides you with a cut-over from Cathedral Valley Loop to Factory Butte Road (north of the Factory Butte geologic feature). The trail directly follows the North Caineville Reef and Mesa, snaking through an area that may surprise you with the stark difference of surface features on either side of you. In some sections of the trail, a gray, moon-scape-like terrain will be on your right, while pink and red-hued rock is a head-turn to your left.

Although no camping is found along this trail, it does lead to Factory Butte Road, which gives you access to the Factory Butte OHV Area and Skyline Rim, where open dispersed camping is available.

Much of Caineville Reef Road travels in a wash, meaning conditions can change quickly, turning this trail from easily traversable to a nightmare mud pit. This trail should be considered Impassable When Wet. The general area is well-known for the extremely sticky mud that forms when rain and snow soak the ground.