Utah Off-Road Trails

Forest Lake, an awesome spur off Lower Mill Canyon, takes you away from the crowd for fun on the rocks. The trail weaves through the pine forest up to about 10,000 feet and into the middle of an aspen grove. Most of the trail is shaded, creating spots where mud is frequently present. With its rock gardens and mud pits, Forest Lake keeps people of all skill levels and vehicle capabilities entertained through this short trail. This is also a great trail to camp along since you are off the busy trails. However, there can still be a fair amount of traffic on warm summer weekends. There is a large amount of wildlife present if you keep your eyes open. The top of the trail is a very peaceful spot to relax.

Entrada Bluffs Road, also known as Shura Road, begins at the historic Dewey Bridge site, once a well-known crossing of the Colorado River before it was lost to fire. From there, the route opens into one of the most accessible desert corridors in the region, offering easy access to abundant camping, connections to dispersed sites, and nearby backroads. It follows portions of the iconic Kokopelli's Trail and leads toward the well-known Top of the World Trail. Along the way, the landscape unfolds into a striking expanse of Entrada Sandstone formed over 140 million years ago, revealing a rugged beauty that cannot be experienced from the pavement.

Far back in Canyonlands, the twisting sandstone cliffs hide ancient wonders above this scenic 4x4 trail. Combined with Davis Canyon, Lavender Canyon is a destination adventure for those wanting to escape everything. The engrossing sense of remoteness takes you over as you travel back into the canyons. The towering Bridger Jack Mesa is a permanent eastern border as the walls slowly close on both sides. The cliffs within the National Park hide ancient Native American structures, still safe to this day, tucked high up on the sandstone cliffs. These structures are so well preserved they appear as if they were made recently and not hundreds of years ago. Reaching and gaining legal access beyond the National Park Boundary makes all the effort and planning worth it. Timing is everything, for the permit and weather.

Rusty Nail is a difficult rock crawling 4x4 trail that is a "shortcut" to the most popular and most difficult obstacles on the Golden Spike & Gold Bar Rim trails. This trail challenges the most seasoned veteran wheeler, both physically and mentally. Large, off-camber, undercut ledges, true to the Moab testament, make up the majority of the obstacles on Rusty Nail. Although there are only four named obstacles, the trail is riddled with numerous challenges and no bypasses. There are alternate routes on a couple of obstacles, but those routes are just as difficult, if not more difficult, than the main route.

Easy to get to and offering a huge variety of challenges from mild to wild, West Rim is a popular trail for both veterans and newcomers to the Sand Hollow area. This trail hosts a great variety of obstacles, from tire-chirping ledges to metal-scraping rock faces, and welcomes a wide range of vehicles. Stock rigs can drive right next to the buggies, and both will find a challenging line. In addition to great obstacles, West Rim rewards users with incredible views of St. George, Warner Valley, the Arizona Strip, and the Hurricane Cliffs. Great for groups or testing out new builds, West Rim is a perfect introduction to what the Sand Mountain OHV Area offers.

John's Canyon Trail is a spectacular road that lies along the belt-line between the 1000 foot cliffs of Cedar Mesa to the north and the San Juan River 1000 feet below in Grand Gulch to the south. Anasazi petroglyphs are abundant in the area so keep a sharp eye out. Access to the trail is easy to find along UT 316 W and is in close proximity to Utah's spectacular Goosenecks State Park.

A true adventure along one of America's most scenic byways and historic 4x4 routes, South Skyline Drive can be an endorphin overload all at once, or it can be slowly spread out over a few days. Very few trails compare to this 73-mile journey across 10,000-foot peaks, passing countless turquoise blue lakes calling for you to try their renowned trout fishing. With over 60 Waypoints in this trail guide, the journey can seem overwhelming. But don't worry. You can easily cruise across the mountains in a stock 4x4 and only worry about where to camp for the night. Or you can choose to reserve the ultra-cool Sealy Ranger Cabin to stay in a rustic cabin high in the mountains, with your family, all by yourself, or with your favorite overland crew. A memorable experience that can only be had along South Skyline Drive.

Not to be confused with the Behind The Rocks Trail, Behind The Rocks Road is a rough and rocky 9-mile-long connector road between Picture Frame Arch and Pritchett Canyon. It connects a spiderweb network of trails and is the main exit from the popular hardcore trails Pritchett Canyon and Behind The Rocks Trail, connecting those folks back to Highway 191. This road has both fast and slow crawling sections and is traveled by users in both directions. The road becomes more challenging the farther north you travel. The southernmost 3 miles is the easiest, with a mix of hard-packed dirt, sand, and slickrock slabs. The middle 3 miles traverse several ledges and a short section of rutty shelf road. The northernmost 3 miles, just past the Kane Creek Canyon Overlook, are the most difficult, with a continuous onslaught of rough-cut slickrock ledges, many of which are 18-32 inches tall. This road is best suited for modified vehicles with larger tires, small lifts, and skid plate protection.

There is no suitable camping along this stretch of Behind the Rock Road.

The iconic destinations along Eagle Canyon are pictured all over Utah, from signs to merchandise and even on TV. There is no end to all of the history to be learned or the sights to be seen from this incredible trail. Running through the center of the San Rafael Swell, this short canyon has an arch, elevated viewpoints, a historic walk to a refrigerator of times past, and a cabin housing a family with a significant history in the Swell. Be sure to find your way into Eagle Canyon next time you are venturing around this incredible region.

This leisurely drive ends with one of the best views in the western United States. The Dome Plaeau Overlook will take your breath away in many ways. You catch glimpses of the views as you travel along the trail. Only when you're about to drop down the hill at Waypoint 4 do you realize what's in store. The views of the Colorado River set against the distant plateaus and mountains are phenomenal. No matter what you're planning on doing while exploring the Dome Plateau, be sure to plan a stop at this one-of-a-kind overlook.

Sand Flats Road travels through the famous Sand Flats Recreation Area, connecting Moab to the La Sal Mountain Loop Road. This easy road provides trailhead access to many of Moab's most popular and famed trails: Baby Lions Back, Hell's Revenge, and Fins and Things. Porcupine Rim, Mill Creek Rim West, and Mill Canyon Rim East also connect to/from Sand Flats Road. The road has a mixed surface, including pavement, gravel, and dirt, with many washboard sections. The road drives along several exposed shelf sections and is 2-plus vehicles wide the entire way. This road is suitable for any vehicle.

Entering Sand Flats Recreation Area does require a daily fee, and camping is an additional fee.

Nine campgrounds lettered A through J, with over 120 campsites, are open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. Only group campsites can be reserved. Camping is limited to these designated sites. The campsites have nearby vault toilets. Expect the campgrounds to fill quickly from Thursday through Monday.

Within a network of more well-known trails lies Little Canyon. This unique trail is nestled between Gold Bar Rim and Bull Canyon, taking you across a traditional Moab landscape just northwest of town. You will likely have the trail all to yourself as you take in the breathtaking scenery. The La Sal Mountains tower in the background, rising over the red fins for which Moab is so well known. Alongside the expansive views are numerous shelves, ledges, and waterfalls, drawing your attention away for just a brief moment in time. This diverse combination of experiences will leave a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to find this hidden gem.

Old Ward Canyon Road is one way to experience spectacular views close to home. It is a short offroad trail in Bountiful, Utah that takes you up onto the beautiful Wasatch Mountain range. The trail is perfect for when you get that itch to go off-roading but don’t have the time to go on a long trip. Old Ward Canyon Road can be done in just a few hours, so it’s an excellent day trip trail. At night, this trail is extraordinary! You can get up to the hilltop and overlook the cities in Davis County for miles. Additionally, a wide variety of wildlife can be encountered on this trail, including mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, or even moose if you’re lucky!

The first trail developed in the Sand Hollow area is named after local 4x4 shop owner Milt Thompson. Milt's Mile is an always-evolving must-do trail for anyone new to the area. This trail offers constant slickrock challenges, including off-camber turns, steep bowl climbs, stair-step ledges, and technical v-notches. With many obstacle options, this popular trail has several variations, making it a great trip for a wide range of vehicles, no matter your build size. In addition to the fun-filled obstacles, Milt's Mile provides incredible views of Sand Hollow Reservoir, the cliffs of Zion National Park, Pine Valley Mountains, and vibrant desert canyons and rock formations.