Utah Off-Road Trails

Historic Hole in the Rock Road runs from Scenic Byway 12, ending just above the Colorado River at the geologic feature for which it's named, a steep V-shaped cut in the north wall of the Colorado River's canyon. The famous Zebra and Tunnel slot canyons are just off the road. The geologically unique Devil's Garden and Dance Hall Rock are must-stops along the way. Spur trails lead off into the Glen Canyon Recreation Area with numerous trailheads for hiking into Coyotoe Gulch and to the immense Jacob Hamblin Arch. Left Hand Collet Road climbs westward onto the remote Kaiparowitz Plateau.

Hole in the Rock Road is a historic route. In the autumn of 1879, 250 men, women, and children began one of the Southwest’s most difficult and dramatic pioneer expeditions. Their goal was to establish a settlement on the San Juan River.  Their nearly 250-mile trek across virtually unexplored lands resulted in the little town of Bluff.  To learn more about the Hole-in-the-Rock Pioneers, visit the Escalante Heritage Center or Bluff Fort.  Additional segments of their route include Hole in the Rock Trail, Snow Flat Road, and Comb Ridge.  

The northern portion of the road is graded dirt and sand with miles of continuous washboards. The southern part of the trail crosses uneven sandstone slickrock before ending just above the hole in the rock. Be prepared for 2 plus hours of dash rattling washboard. Large tires definitely help on this road. A stock SUV, pickup, or even crossover would have no problem. Clearance is required on the slickrock.

The north end of the trail is a popular boondocking area. While there are ample campsites along the trail, they get farther apart as you head south.  A very nice group of sites near Fifty Mile Spring is surrounded by red rock.

Whether you're beginning or ending your Dome Plateau adventure on this scenic route, you'll enjoy solitude and a bit of history as you traverse a rugged landscape. Owl Draw winds through canyons, over sprawling golden meadows, and along breathtaking sandstone cliffs with views of the La Sal Mountains. Owl Draw is the vital connector for multiple sections of the iconic Dome Platea Loop and is a worthy trail in its own right. The old log cabins tucked up in the rocks are just one of the highlights of this incredible drive.

With backdrops straight out of a western movie, Spring Canyon Point is a wonderful way to escape into Labyrinth Canyon for a night under a Dark Sky. With easy access from Dubinky Well Road, the trail begins along blowing red sands with distant views of Tombstone Butte. At the base of the red tower, you will find numerous campfire rings and a large fenced area for parking. Continuing west, the distant views of buttes and towers amaze as you climb above the colorful landscape. Once out onto the point, creating a thumb into the Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness, the views down into the canyon are breathtaking as you creep up to the edge. Use caution, closely watch children and pets along the cliff edge. The trail is ideal for overland groups or individuals seeking to escape the Moab crowds.

Located a bit off the beaten path lies this gem of a trail. About 45 minutes north of Moab, Utah, Deadman Point used to have quite the ending until the final few miles of trail was closed in 2023. This trail has your typical Moab type scenery with sagebrush and sand, but it's the views that make this all worth it. After a long day out exploring, the distant views help relax the soul. This area is also very popular for camping and you could easily make a weekend exploring all of the trails out in this region. If you are up for the final 3/4 mile-long hike, the overlook view is worth the effort.

"Keep going, it just gets better" aptly describes the experience in Four Arches Canyon. An excellent addition to Gemini Bridges, this scenic 2.5-mile trail takes about an hour and can be enjoyed by most stock-type 4x4 owners. Following almost invisible telephone lines, the trail winds through a vertical-walled canyon with narrow finger spires pointing to the sky. Include Four Arches Canyon on your next Moab day trip, because finding the four arches is a challenge left for each visitor.

Perhaps one of the most well-known scenic trails in the state of Utah, Skyline Drive is a breathtaking drive through the Manti-La Sal National Forest as you encounter incredible sights up to an elevation of almost 11,000 feet. With a history dating back to the 1800s, this is a very popular trail due to its proximity to town and offerings of many outdoor activities like incredible camping, miles of OHV trails, lakes, hikes, and views. Electric Lake and Scofield Reservoir are full of very hungry Brown, Rainbow, and Cutthroat trout. Fish Creek National Recreation Trail is a popular hiking and equestrian trail taking you from Skyline Drive down to Scofield Reservoir. Camping is plentiful along this trail, and it makes for a great place to get away and spend your nights under the stars. Whether you want to camp, fish, or hike, bring the family along and explore the endless options along Skyline Drive.

Lonesome Beaver serves as the northern gateway into the ruggedly beautiful Henry Mountains. The trail traverses three ecosystems. It begins in the high desert with its sparse vegetation and sandstone buttes. The road climbs into chaparral dominated by junipers and pinion pines. At higher elevations, the trail is bordered by an alpine forest of pine, spruce, fir, and aspens. Small streams and springs provide water for wildlife, including deer, bears, turkeys, and mountain lions. The Henry Mountains, named for the first secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, was the last mountain range to be added to the map of the 48 contiguous States. They loom tall and gray above the trail. Made of igneous minerals that extruded through the surrounding sandstone sediments, the mountains range from 23 to 31 million years old. The western slope of the Henrys host one of only three genetically pure herds of buffalo left in the United States. Kept at an optimal 350 head, additional buffalo above the 350 are sent to replenish the breeding base of other herds. Visitors keep a sharp eye out in hopes of spotting the herd but are more likely to spot a few of the dense population of deer that inhabit the mountain range. The Henry Mountains are one of the less-visited parts of southern Utah, an area that attracts a lot of visitors and adventurers. If you are looking for Utah beauty without the crowds, taking Lonesome Beaver up into the Henrys might be just the ticket.

After crossing the rugged and remote desert to reach Mineral Point, you're rewarded with breathtaking views of the Green River winding through Labyrinth Canyon. A textbook example of water's power, Labyrinth Canyon was carved over millions of years by one of the last wild rivers in the United States. Deep into the canyons visible to the south along the trail are ghostly silhouettes of the buttes and towers within Canyonlands. Long stretches across tall grassy meadows help break up the slow, bumpy sections. One final ledge must be conquered to reach one of nature's true wonders. Or you can simply park and walk the final quarter mile to this amazing overlook.

Muley Point is a dramatic vista that offers unparalleled views of the San Juan River Valley and its iconic Gooseneck formations. Sitting 2000 feet above the San Juan and 1000 feet above John's Canyon Trail, there is much to see in almost any direction. Even the monoliths of Monument Valley Tribal Park are seen in the distance to the south. Watch out for the edge! There are no railings to keep kids and pets back.

One would think that a trail with a name like Dubinky would be based on a family name. But that is not the case with Dubinky Well Road. The term originates from two brothers, Red and Dubinky Anderson. The story gets murkier because it is unknown if "Dubinky" was Dubinky's given first name or if it came from the rumored story of running from a ghost. Storytellers say he was so scared it caused him to run ten miles to what was to become Dubinky Ranch. Either way, Dubinky Well Road near Moab is steeped in ranching history, and the well itself was once grand central for those seeking water.  Today, it provides easy access to several more famous roads, beautiful views of the La Sal Mountains to the southeast, and the longest cliff line in the world, the Book Cliffs, to the north.

This little jaunt takes you from Calf Canyon Overlook, across a very straight and flat section, and into a winding little trail along one of the many side canyons shooting off from Buckhorn Wash. Although not a destination trail itself, it provides some solitude from the more well-known areas of the San Rafael Swell and good camping opportunities.

Dry Mesa is tucked far back in the Arches National Park, next to a popular hiking trailhead. You literally drive over the sidewalk into the colorful Cache Valley Canyon and quickly enter BLM land. Once out of the park, you wind through a rocky wash as the canyon walls become taller. After a few mild rocky climbs, the imposing Limousine Hill looms ahead. It looks like it goes on forever. This hill is steep and very challenging. The dirt is loose, the rock ledges are many, and did I mention it was steep? The minimum needed is 33s, lockers front and rear, and nerves of steel.

Once you reach the summit, take a few breaths, and decide which way to run the loop around Dry Mesa. The trail loops around to several overlooks, each with its own unique view of the Colorado River far below. The challenges on top are mild compared to what you had to go through to get up there. There's camping at a few of the overlooks, but the winds can be quite strong and relentless.

While standing at Fixit Pass, take a moment to absorb the breathtaking scenery and congratulate yourself for safely climbing the trail's notable narrow shelf road. The towering white buttes are abundant along the entire route. Using your imagination, the rocky spires create different shapes as you travel past. There are praying hands, a dinosaur, and deep indentations in the white sandstone cliffs. Fixit Pass is required but an excellent addition when connecting with North Fork of Coal Wash, Nielsen Dugway, or Cane Wash.