Utah Off-Road Trails

Tucked away in a lesser-used part of the Dome Plateau, Richardson Overlook is a short, out-and-back, but rewarding spur trail to an amazing overlook of the Colorado River, Onion Point, and the Richardson Amphitheater. This is a moderate trail with only a few minor challenges. Beginners and stock vehicles will really enjoy these challenges while everyone can appreciate the solitude that this trail provides. One small campsite at the overlook can accommodate 2-3 vehicles, but there are minimal flat spots for tents.

Little Valley Road is a 7-mile-long offshoot of the famous Pony Express trail that offers a peaceful drive away from the bustling activity of the main trail. This scenic route features abundant and easily accessible dispersed campsites for visitors to enjoy.

The trail is characterized by a well-graded, wide dirt road that remains consistent throughout its length, with only one slightly challenging S-curve down a medium-grade hill. Four-wheel drive is not required, making this trail accessible to most vehicles.

Camping opportunities are primarily located on the first half of the trail and a few short offshoots from the main road. The back half of the trail provides stunning views of the picturesque Little Valley below, making it an excellent location for scenic drives and photo opportunities.

Miners Draw Road is a great route that connects US Highway 40 near Vernal, Utah, to Harpers Corner Road on the Colorado side of the Dinosaur National Monument. It provides wonderful views of Cliff Ridge, which would catch the morning rays when waking up at one of the many places you can disperse camp off the trail. It is suitable for any high-clearance vehicle.

This spur off Spring Canyon Point has a little difficulty in an otherwise pretty tame area. The pictured rock climb is shortly after the trail leaves Spring Canyon Point and is a rough descent that you must climb on the way back out. At the end of the trail, you can park and continue on foot towards the river and the Keg Spring Bottom Viewpoint.

Angel Point is a scenic, remote plateau offering panoramic views of the Dirty Devil River canyonlands, popular for hiking, photography, and primitive camping. The 10.7-mile trail is a mix of gravel, sand, and for a brief portion, drives along a dirt airstrip. It's bumpy, but in dry conditions it's passable for 2WD high-clearance vehicles with durable tires. The free primitive camping is abundant and peaceful, and every campsite offers amazing views of the Henry Mountains. The sand can become extra soft in the summer and snowy in the winter.

West Frontage Road is a hard-packed sand access road that parallels Highway 7 and is used to travel between Waddy's Corral staging area and the Lower Dune Road. There are no obstacles, and the trail is multiple vehicles wide. However, washboards and whoops are plentiful along this trail. West Frontage Road provides spectacular views of the Pine Valley Mountains and showcases the abundant desert flora seen all along the Sand Mountain OHV area.

This trail is suitable for any high clearance vehicle.

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.

White House Road packs a lot into its 2.5 miles.  To start, there's the BLM's Paria Contact Station at the trailhead.  Operated by the BLM, the station has maps, information about the area, restrooms, trash receptacles, and water. There's also informational signage and a huge staging area.

The easy road is graded dirt with two minor wash crossings. It's bordered on the west by the Paria River and on the east by multi-hued sandstone bluffs.

The short track ends at trailhead parking for one of the more treacherous hikes in the region and a campground with seven vehicle campsites and five walk-in tent-only sites.  Most of the vehicle sites have a tent pad.  All have picnic tables and fire rings. There's also a vault toilet.  The campground is suitable for vehicles and smaller trailers.  Large rigs won't fit in the campsites.

There's only one dispersed campsite along the trail, which is very nice.  A small spur just before the second wash crossing leads to a lollipop turnaround on the banks of the Paria shaded by three cottonwood trees.  The site is sandy and relatively level and could support up to three rigs.

There are several pullouts before and after the second wash crossing.  A hike east up the wash leads to the Nautilus, a fanciful geologic feature set in a mounded white sandstone outcrop. You'll know it when you see it and quickly understand the name.  The hike is less than a mile round trip.

West Fork of Lavender Canyon is the second branch of the Lavender Canyon trail. It splits from the main trail at an easy-to-miss junction in the wash a short distance past the gate at the entrance of Canyonlands National Park. The difficulty is similar to the main Lavender Canyon trail and is an easy-to-moderate drive up a sandy wash. Deep sand, mud, washouts, and flood debris could be present, making it harder or impassable.

The main attractions on this trail are multiple natural arches that can be seen jutting out from the towering canyon walls above you. Turtle Arch, Bellybutton Arch, Hummingbird Arch, and Long Arch can be seen along the motorized route. Lavender Arch is a short walk up the canyon past where the motorized route is shown as ending on maps.

The end of the motorized route is not marked on the ground, and you just have to turn around where the canyon starts to get too rough and narrow for vehicles. The GPS track here ends approximately where maps show the road ending and where there is enough room to park and turn around. Camping is not allowed along this trail.

Climbing up from the small town of Sterling, UT, trail 47, Six Mile Ponds is a scenic escape into the Manti-La Sal National Forest. The trail begins in a rocky canyon with the scenic Six Mile Creek flowing alongside. Seemingly endless switchbacks wind through the pine and aspen trees up the western slope before reaching the picturesque Six Mile Ponds recreation area. The camping and day-use area is a beautiful spot for a picnic or to pull out the fishing poles. There is a vault toilet, a large parking area with picnic tables, and a large camp area in the back near the shore of the lake. The trail continues climbing and becomes rougher as you climb, but it can be completed in 2WD in dry conditions. There can be snow or long muddy sections in the early season, June and July. You will need 4x4 and high clearance in these conditions.

Circling out and back across rolling hills and sprawling meadows, Arsens Garden Loop is used to access some of the country's best-wet slot canyoneering. Upper Greasewood Draw and other narrow slot canyons can be accessed by foot along this trail. A couple of pull-off areas mark where the hiking trails leading to the canyons begin. Minimal camping is found before the loop begins, and no "campsites" are found on the loop itself. The wildlife is abundant; herds of pronghorn antelope, the fastest animal in North America, can be seen grazing. The trail is ideal for stock-type 4x4s with high clearance. The tunnels under Interstate 70 appear to be around 12' tall. They can be filled with blowing sand, reducing the height. Do not attempt the trail in wet conditions.

A main attraction to the Ashley National Forest outside of Vernal, Ashley Gorge Viewpoint gives users incredible views down the gorge to Vernal and north looking up the gorge. Although the trail gets tight from overgrowth at points, it is well worth traveling the loop as it parallels the cliff edge. However, traveling the whole loop can create unease for those scared of heights. This is not a technical trail, but random patches of embedded rock can cause a rough ride if you do not air down. Dispersed camping is available in a few locations along the trail.

West Fenceline is a basic sandy trail leading users from the central sand dune and Sand Dune Way to West Rim. Pockets of deeper sand may require 4WD, and the chunky and sandy western end of the trail may also prove difficult if you are still in 2WD. Higher speeds may be had in spots, but be cautious of random hidden dips and large washboards. This trail also connects to the moderately rated trail Resurrection.

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.

Richard's Mountain Spur is a 1.75-mile dead-end spur to an east-facing rim overlooking the Colorado River and the tip of Dome Plateau known as Richard's Mountain. From here, you can see Power Pole Rim and Pole Canyon Rim across the river. This trail is moderate, with a few small rocky patches perfect for beginners and stock vehicles. Camping is available along this spur.

Jogging east off of Soapstone Basin, Soapstone Creek follows its namesake (usually dry) through beautiful open meadows and patches of lush forest. At its end, this trail meets up with Rhodes Canyon, making for a great day loop. The trail conditions consist of packed dirt and loose rocks, with two small sections of exposed rock warranting high clearance and 4wd in less-than-ideal conditions. Camping is abundant near the trailhead in the open meadow, where multiple large sites offer man-made fire rings and plenty of room for multiple vehicles among the soft ground.

The Red Cloud Loop is a well-traveled, straight-through route that offers a gentle introduction to off-roading in Utah’s Uinta Mountains. Starting just northwest of Vernal at Deep Creek Road and winding toward Highway 191, this trail is a favorite for families, campers, and scenic cruisers alike. The surface is smooth, with graded dirt most of the way, making it an easy drive for stock, high-clearance 2WD vehicles, and a perfect match for drivers without offroad experience. Despite its ease, Red Cloud Loop doesn’t skimp on rewards. It winds through pine and aspen forests, passes by the tranquil Oaks Park Reservoir, and provides access to numerous side spurs for those looking to wander a bit deeper.

Camping is one of the loop’s main draws. With frequent opportunities along the route, drivers can choose between several well-maintained campgrounds, like North Fork, Oaks Park, Kaler Hollow, and North Iron Springs. If you are looking for more solitude, ample dispersed options along spur roads exist. The trail is especially popular in the summer and fall months, so expect higher traffic during weekends and holidays. It’s important to note that although this trail is listed as open year-round, it does close at the discretion of the Forest Service, with multiple gates along the way.

If you’re looking for a mellow, scenic drive that still delivers on the backcountry charm, Red Cloud Loop is a top-tier pick in the region, and ideal for everything from an afternoon picnic run to a multi-day camping tour through the Uintas. 

Leading out to spectacular views high above the Green River, Bull Bottom is the first overlook along the north rim of Labyrinth Canyon. The trail leads to the edge of sheer sandstone cliffs and what appears to be a closed hiking trail leading down to Bull Bottom along the river. Colorful and precariously balanced boulders threaten to tumble down the buttes along the trail. The trail is ideal for beginners and stock 4x4s with high clearance. Sections of soft sand and rocky sections may require low-range gearing. Large, open, flat areas in the dirt would make ideal campsites. Sunrise above the river would be breathtaking.

This connector runs between Waypoints 3 and 6 of the Toquerville Falls trail and gives fantastic views from the top of the 400-foot climb. The climb is steep and slightly loose, made easier by 4WD and low-range gearing, especially in poor weather conditions. A small, exposed campsite makes a great spot to stop for a lunch break. This is likely not a prime choice in campsites as it offers no cover from the elements and can only accommodate 1-2 vehicles.

Sulphur Road is designated as a "B" road by the Bureau of Land Management and will receive maintenance from time to time. It is a diverse road from its start to its finish, with its southern end being just off I-70 and its northern end reaching the first bench of the Book Cliffs. On the north end it follows a wash and would quickly become impassable when wet. While there are plenty of places to set up camp, nothing is pre-disturbed. It is suitable for any high-clearance vehicle in dry conditions.

School Wash Road is a scenic trail that climbs to Stout Ridge, where you'll be rewarded with sweeping views of hundreds of hoodoo formations reminiscent of Bryce Canyon National Park, without the crowds. Beginning just off Highway 89, the trail winds through a beautiful pine forest as it steadily gains approximately 700 feet of elevation over the course of 5 miles.

The route is relatively easy but includes a few minor obstacles, including small rock gardens and occasional washed-out sections that will flex your suspension and create mild off-camber situations. While these features add some fun to the drive, they should present little challenge for most high-clearance 4WD vehicles.

There are no designated camping opportunities along the trail, making it best suited as a scenic out-and-back drive or a stop on a longer adventure. At the summit, Stout Ridge delivers the highlight of the trail with panoramic views of striking orange and white rock formations stretching across the landscape, offering a spectacular overlook that rivals some of Utah's most famous scenery.