Utah Off-Road Trails

Junes Bottom is a scenic Utah red rock trail with a fascinating history, representing a rare success story in the endless land use fights with wilderness groups in Southern Utah. The road was originally constructed by rancher June Marsing in the 1930s, who lived in a small dugout house next to the Green River - ruins of which can still be seen today. The road was closed by the BLM in 2003 because it was inside a wilderness study area. The state was unsuccessful with a lawsuit trying to get it reopened, and the road remained closed for nearly 20 years. However, when the Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness Area was officially designated by Congress in the 2019 Dingell Act, the Junes Bottom Road was "cherry-stemmed" and excluded from the wilderness area. This forced the BLM to reopen it to vehicles in the 2020 San Rafael Desert Travel Management Plan.

Today, the Junes Bottom Road is one of only a handful of remaining roads accessing the west bank of the Green River in Labyrinth Canyon, though it ends about a quarter mile from the river itself. The difficulty is on the hard side of moderate. Although an aggressive stock high clearance vehicle could navigate the trail with some challenge, larger tires and a lift are highly recommended to safely traverse this trail due to its remoteness.

The terrain the road travels through varies greatly. It starts out as a sandy two-track crossing a grassy mesa top before descending through a series of steep dirt ramps and gullies. It then crosses a broad slickrock plain below striking red striped cliffs. Navigation can be tricky here. There are occasional cairns, paint blazes, and signs marking the wilderness boundary, but it can still be easy to wander off track. Good line choice is necessary here to avoid dragging your rear bumper coming off ledges and slickrock humps. The road becomes more distinct as it switchbacks down a series of terraces toward the river. This section has a notable ledge obstacle about a foot high leading into a narrow, curving shelf road section, which is the most challenging part of the trail. 

The road comes to an end at a small parking area and hiking trailhead at the boundary of the wilderness area, a short walk away from the bank of the Green River. Though there are no obvious established campsites along this road, this parking area could make a good place for vehicles with rooftop tents to camp and spend an evening exploring the riverbanks.

Starting to the west is Moore Road, a maintained dirt and gravel road running across the open West Desert just north of the Weiss Highway. Enjoy the expansive views before turning north and heading to the divide between the Sheeprock and West Tintic Mountains. As the trail heads north, the road's name changes to Cherry Creek Road, where its northern terminus drops you off near Silver City and Eureka, a once-bustling regional mining hub. This road is part of the grander network known as the Prospector Trail System, an exploration of the mining activity that occurred in the West Desert of Utah. Camping is not found along this route, but many spur trails offer a place to pitch a tent.

Hidden way back off San Rafael Desert 9062, an easy sandy two-track leads to a genuinely remote campsite at the northern gateway to Labyrinth Canyon. The Green River gently flows along the entrance to the Labyrinth, relentlessly carving into the sandstone cliffs. From this point south, the canyon walls tower over the river below. Grab your camping gear and a good book. Relaxing at this campsite along the river doesn't get much better. The site has a rocky fire circle, room for a couple of vehicles with tents, and a short walking trail leading down to the water. The terrain along the trail is soft sand and nothing more difficult than what you found on 9062.

Located just south of Hole 'N' The Rock roadside attraction, D1649 is a short, dead-end camping spur at the eastern end of Kane Creek Canyon. The road houses nearly a dozen dispersed campsites depending on how close you want to be to your neighbor. Camp views are vast as you look past numerous rock formations and tall sandstone fins along the edge of Muleshoe Canyon. The road surface is a mix of small rocks, sand, and slickrock, with a few bumps and dips along the way. It is suitable for any vehicle, including RVs and travel trailers.

South of Joe's Valley lies Big Bear, an easy but bumpy dirt road traversing Elk Horn Flat and leading back to the Big Bear Creek hiking trail. There are no obstacles along this route, but embedded rocks poking up will surely slow drivers down. Unique rock formations give way to a large aspen grove, providing relief from the shade. Views of Ferron Canyon are quite impressive along most of the trail. Camping is available in many spots along the trail, with the best and biggest sites in the large meadow at the end.

Cutting through the Moab desert is D1136, a feeder trail for many scenic spurs such as D1301, D1290, and D1291B. Although this trail poses no risk for your average high clearance 4WD vehicle, there are a few small challenges. Rocky patches may push beginners to jump out of their vehicles and look at the line choices, while seasoned drivers will have no issues. There are a few scattered, dispersed campsites along this lightly used trail.

Brinks Spring is a short-cut trail connecting Blue Hills Road and Hidden Canyon trails. Along this 1.8-mile trail, several wide-open large campsites are easily accessible in vans and RVs. There is no shade or protection from the wind. Midway through the trail, there can be mud from a nearby spring. In dry conditions, the trail can be completed in 2WD with high clearance. The northern section of the trail is graded dirt, and the southern portion is high clearance two-track.

Ericson Pass Road is a long and dusty, maintained dirt road stretching just over 32 miles from Dugway to its southern intersection with the Weiss Highway. Aside from its random blind curves, there are no notable obstacles, making this trail suitable for just about any vehicle. Camping is sparse despite traveling through BLM land, but a few sites do exist. Please be sure to not camp near any of the springs or corrals, as this is actively grazed.

The western half of Castle Lake is a bit reminiscent of the eastern half, with one big exception, a long and deep water hole. A few camping opportunities lie along this trail, with one decent site after fording the water. This trail sees little traffic so seclusion may be achievable. Since this trail is no longer a loop, the campsite at the trail's end may just be the ticket.

Manti-La Sal National Forest is a beautiful mountain region in southeast Utah. The mountains are home to an abundance of wildlife and a lifetime of trails to explore. This short offroad trail is along one of the best routes in the region, Elk Ridge, and leads to an old hunters cabin, epic large group camping, and a scenic vista. It may be a short trail but packs a lot in when the wildflower blooms completely cover the nearby meadows. This is definitely worth the time to explore or just to relax and take it all in.

Hoop Lake is an easy, scenic out-and-back route that runs south from Highway 414 near Mountain View, Wyoming, into the quiet alpine forests of northeastern Utah, ending at the picturesque shores of Hoop Lake. This trail follows a well-maintained graded dirt road that steadily climbs through rolling terrain, skirting aspen groves and grassy meadows as it crosses the state line into Utah’s Uinta Mountains. It’s approachable for any vehicle with decent ground clearance and requires no previous offroad experience, making it an ideal outing for new or casual drivers.

Most visitors use this trail to access Hoop Lake itself, a popular destination for fishing, paddle sports, and family camping. A handful of dispersed campsites can be found along the route before reaching the lake, but the main draw is the well-developed National Forest campground at the lake’s edge, which features 37 shaded campsites nestled among mature aspens on the west side of the water, and 7 sites in the sunshine closer to the shore just beyond the trees.

This route remains open year-round, and during winter, it becomes a gateway for ice anglers looking to fish Hoop Lake’s frozen surface. Despite its popularity, Hoop Lake offers a relaxing drive into the mountains with a rewarding destination that’s well worth the trip, especially if you’re looking to combine offroad travel with lakeside camping or a peaceful day of fishing.

Located within the Manti LaSal National Forest near the town of Monticello, FR 090 offers the outdoor enthusiast a lifetime of forest trails to explore. The area is popular with hikers, hunters and ATV users. The forest system has a vast network of hiking trails that access the Dark Canyon Wilderness area where you will have spectacular views of the endless canyons below. Incredible camping and a scenic drive up the mountain make this backcountry drive well worth your time.

East Main is the first of many gravel roads leading to the vast network of trails within Utah's San Rafael Swell. In dry conditions, all vehicles with durable tires can easily travel the trail. The trail crosses over sprawling prairies with 360-degree views of the Book Cliffs and the mountains to the west. You'll be crossing over sections of private land, so camping is nonexistent along this route. Abundant free camping can be found further south on Desert Lake Road.

The trail climbs numerous ridgelines with sprawling views while you're hyper-focused on the narrow rocky ledge ahead. Accessing remote canyons along the northern edge of the San Rafael Swell, Verde Ledges is an exhilarating addition to the Verde Loop. The trail has narrow ledge hills with large loose boulders to climb over, out, and back. Experience is needed on remote and difficult trails; low-range 4x4, high clearance, and durable offroad tires are required. While no established campsites were found along the route, the scenery, ground conditions, and privacy are motivators to create a temporary site along the trail for the night. The trail is impassable in wet conditions. Note: The end of the track currently ends at a large boulder, partially blocking the trail. The width is too narrow for full-size vehicles. ATV 66" width or less to safely pass.

Coyote Valley Road is an easy dirt route serving as a southern connector between Cottonwood Road and Brigham Plains Road. A couple of campsites can be found at the southwestern end of the trail that are very exposed to the elements and are easily accessible, making them popular with trailer boondockers. Although Coyote Valley has no significant obstacles when rain falls in the area, the mud that forms is notorious for creating impassable conditions for nearly all vehicles. In dry conditions, the hardest part of the trail is a wash crossing at the northern end that may change in difficulty with erosion from seasonal rain. The colors of the surrounding plateaus frequently change from cool blue tones to golden hues depending on lighting and weather conditions. Have your camera ready!

This short spur off the Little Baullie Mesa trail leads out to a scenic overlook across Comb Wash to Comb Ridge. It is mostly a lightly used dirt track that is rocky in a few places, particularly at the end. While not a destination in itself, it makes for a nice short side trip when exploring the trails between Hotel Rock and Milk Ranch Point. There are no established campsites along this trail, and the ground is too slanted at the overlook at the end for it to be a viable campsite.

An excellent and quick detour is hidden in the sandstone cliffs. Bartlett Rock Art site is a short out-and-back trail where a short hike leads to a massive cliff wall with early Native American rock art. The trail is soft sand and rocks. It can be done in 2WD, but 4WD may be needed in the soft sand. The trail is not recommended for low-clearance passenger vehicles. The walk from the parking area is very short but uphill to the pictographs. There is no camping along this route, but it is abundant on the other area trails.

Upper Sid and Charley trail easily travels almost 11 miles across wide-open prairie land above the popular spire. The trail has distant views of red and white sandstone cliffs and narrow slot canyons. You can park along the trail and hike into many of the numerous remote canyons that line the eastern edge of the trail and overlooks along The Red Ledges. The trail requires high clearance, durable tires, and four-wheel drive for the numerous off-camber ruts and rocky ledges. No established campsites were found along the route. Abundant camping can be found along Horn Silver Gulch at the northern trailhead.

Horse Canyon Road is a spur off of Wolverine Loop Road, providing access to its namesake. Horse Canyon, as a geological feature, travels south to connect with Wolverine Canyon, Death Hollow, and eventually the Escalante River. Those seeking camping along Wolverine Loop Road can find an open site at the trailhead for Horse Canyon Road and one more shortly before the trailhead register, both of which have shade from large cottonwood trees that grow in the area. Overnight camping permits are required and free of charge, permit slips should be located in the trailhead register. Horse Canyon Road falls within the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Resource Management Plan (RMP) for 2024, limiting travel beyond the mapped track.

Hickerson Park Birch Creek Road is an easy access road to a wide range of recreational activities within northeastern Ashley National Forest, including beautiful lakes, hiking trails, and campgrounds. This long, maintained road is popular with full-size off-roaders and OHVs alike, so be prepared to share access.

History buffs will enjoy turning onto Ute Mountain Lookout to visit the historic Ute Tower fire lookout. Wildflowers like gray's lupine, wavy leaf paintbrush, and maiden blue-eyed mary will dot the landscape for those visiting in late spring.

Most of the dispersed camping is located at the east end of Hickerson Park Birch Creek Road, especially the larger sites with better views and more space. If campgrounds are more your style, options along the way include: Browne Lake Campground, Sheep Creek Lake Campground, and Spirit Lake Campground.

Located in Carbon County, west of Price, Gordon Creek is a local iconic challenge through a scenic canyon that ends at a picturesque cascading waterfall. This dead-end spur trail off Trestle Road is not known for being a swimming hole due to shallow waters but is instead recognized for its scenic riparian landscape and the abundant ancient and more modern historic gems found in the area. The trail is very narrow and has numerous rock ledges on dirt hills that require experience and a capable 4x4 with extra ground clearance. Full-size motorized use is allowed to the waterfalls, but the historic Summer House Cabin can only be accessed via hike or less than 52" wide ATVs. Hiking through the area canyons and cliffs will reward you with numerous pictographs and petroglyphs hidden amongst the rocks. No camping was found along the route, and to help preserve the area, please do not camp near the falls. The trail is closed in the winter months.

Take a trip back in time through a narrow slot canyon. Stove Gulch within the San Rafael Swell Recreation Area is a beautiful 4x4 experience. The trail winds through a narrow redrock-walled canyon leading to an old settler cabin before a dead end at the Price River. The trail is intended for slightly modified to capable stock 4x4s, but everyone will love it. The drops and descents into the wash are steep and very off-camber. The rocks in the wash are large, requiring careful tire placement to prevent high centering. To help preserve the integrity of this pristine canyon, please do not camp along the trail or drive off the trail up to the cabin. The trail ends at a turnaround near the very brushy Price River. Rockfall is common and may temporarily block the narrow canyon.