Utah Off-Road Trails

Hogs Back Road works its way through aspen groves and open meadow before topping out near Tower Mountain in the western Uinta Mountains. Along the way, it passes an old split-rail corral, a small hunter's cabin, and a spur not listed on the official motor vehicle use map to an overlook of Center Creek Number 5 Reservoir, finishing with a wide view across the western Uintas from the shoulder of Tower Mountain. The route works well as a scenic out-and-back or as a way to connect to other trails in the Center Creek drainage, with Mount Timpanogos visible early in the drive.

The road runs mostly one vehicle wide with regular pullouts and calls for a high clearance 4x4. Most of the mileage is a moderate, steady two-track, but a rockier, rutted stretch about a third of the way in demands careful tire placement, and the final climb toward Tower Mountain tightens into a rougher, more exposed shelf road. Dispersed camping is available along the road, with many sites of varying sizes, including several large enough for a group with several rigs and trailers. Some sites offer shade and privacy from surrounding timber, while others sit more open.

Clear Creek Canyon Road is an out-and-back and works well as a self-contained half-day outing or as a mellow overnight base before tackling something tougher elsewhere on the plateau. High clearance 2WD is enough to handle it, and stock rigs face nothing worse than the occasional rock or dip on a steady, well-graded climb.

Two dispersed campsites sit along the route. The larger is a group-size spot able to hold four or five rigs with trailers, while the smaller offers shade but no privacy.

The road ends at a pass where a separate, much narrower trail continues down the far side of the plateau. That connecting route carries width and weight restrictions, so full-size rigs and anything not built for a tight, technical descent should plan to turn around here.

Traveling to over 11,000 feet, Brian Head Peak Road provides access to popular hiking trails such as Sydney Peak and terminates at a remarkable stone structure built in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. From the structure, expansive views stretch across Utah and into Nevada and Arizona, as well as down toward Brian Head.

The road is hard-packed dirt with embedded limestone rock and is suitable for any vehicle. There is one short section that is a little too narrow for two vehicles to pass, but it's only 3 car-lengths long and has plenty of visibility. A vault toilet is located at the Sydney Peak trailhead parking area. Camping is not permitted.

Monroe Peak Road provides a short climb through fire-damaged forest onto the open ridge near Monroe Peak, offering a quick way to reach high-elevation views without technical driving. Along the way, the road passes through timber killed by the Monroe Canyon Fire, which burned across Monroe Mountain and Cove Mountain during the summer of 2025, charring roughly 73,000 acres and threatening the communication infrastructure now visible from the ridge.

The drive rates as easy and is manageable in a stock, high clearance 2WD vehicle with no specialized equipment required. The one spot demanding extra attention is a single lane shelf road section near the top of the climb, where there isn't room to pass an oncoming vehicle, so drivers should slow down and stay alert for other traffic.

No camping is available anywhere along this road, so anyone planning to spend the night in the area will need to find a site elsewhere before or after the drive.

In the 1940s, uranium was a vital wartime commodity, and D2997 was used to access many of the mines scattered throughout this area. Today, the trail crosses a rugged desert landscape with sweeping panoramic views, including an overlook of the White Wash Dunes area. The route is rough and features numerous moderate obstacles, including loose rock ledges 16 to 24 inches tall, steep dirt hills, and scattered softball-sized boulders. High ground clearance, durable off-road tires, and a capable 4WD vehicle are recommended. There are no established campsites along the road.

Branching off of D2996, D3002 is a short dead-end to an old uranium mining camp with interesting artifacts left behind. Old cast iron stoves, boot soles, glassware, and falling down buildings are all left for the curious to discover. The short, bumpy two-track is easy enough for stock 4x4s with high ground clearance and durable tires. Avoid driving too far into the site to help prevent tire punctures by old rusty nails. Please help preserve the site and avoid camping at the mine site.

D1783 is a very short dead-end to a small turn around in a dry wash. There is no camping found along the route and the trail can be completed in 2WD high-clearance vehicles.

Berry Springs Road connects Tom Springs Road to the Sanford Loop. In dry conditions, it is suitable for any high-clearance vehicle. When wet, however, the road could become impassable.

Starting from the east, the road passes through open meadows lined with no-camping signs. True to its name, the road does pass Berry Springs, but be aware that the water is only suitable for the cattle that roam the area. As you continue under the tree canopy, a few campsites begin to appear. The site near Sanford Loop offers an incredible view of Hancock Peak in the distance.

All of the campsites are only large enough for an overland setup, not fifth wheels.

Cedar Hollow West 1 (FS 80199) is a short shelf road in the Wasatch National Forest. Over 1.7 miles it climbs through pine forest along a narrow hillside shelf road, passing embedded rock ledges, loose stone, and a few brush-crowded, occasionally muddy sections before ending at a quiet junction where a hiking trailhead begins and an ATV-only connector continues on (not suited for full-size vehicles). Openings in the trees offer views down into the surrounding drainage, and the trail functions primarily as a short, scenic out-and-back rather than a through route, making it a good option for a quick side trip or a connector to the adjoining hiking trailhead.

Rated easy, the trail is typically manageable in a stock high-clearance 2WD vehicle, though the tightest section of shelf road rewards careful tire placement and benefits from four-wheel drive when the muddy spots are present. No designated campsites are noted along the route, making it better suited to a day trip than an overnight stay, and no special permits are called out beyond standard national forest regulations.

Below Little Flat Top butte, you'll find a short but sweet camp spot for the weary traveler looking for a site for the night. But this spot has a bonus at camp. There is a pillar rock offering shade in the morning, and a conveniently placed rock that acts as a table next to the campfire. There are unique rock formations to explore, and the easy access is hard to resist. It's a little steep getting up the trailhead, but that shouldn't stop high clearance vehicles.

Ideally named, Sand Road is 3.5 miles of nothing but sand. Some days it can be graded smooth, but in the winter it's likely endless cattle hoof holes, that will shake your fillings loose. There are limited options for crossing the desert, and Sand Road is one of them. Heavy vehicles may require 4x4 on sand drifts or hot summer days. No camping is found along the route.

If you enjoy wide-open spaces and that “home on the range” feeling, these roads are for you. Combining Mud Spring Bench, the east-west section, with Mud Springs Creek, the north-south section, this lightly traveled route offers panoramic views of Casto Bluff, Tent Hollow, Mud Spring Ridge, and the surrounding backcountry.

The two-track road is faint in places and lined with sagebrush at the higher elevations and grasses in the lower sections. Four-wheel drive is recommended, as rain or newly formed ruts could quickly make it necessary.

There are minimal pre-existing campsites along the route.

Jones Hollow drops out of the high timber above Soapstone Basin and follows an old forest road down through aspen groves and open meadow toward the lower drainage near Strawberry Reservoir. Expect a dirt and rocky surface with occasional obstacles under 9 inches, minor ruts, and a few tight turns, but nothing that demands low range in dry conditions. Suitable camping is not present on the trail. There are no legitimate campsites along the route, so anyone planning to camp should look for options elsewhere in the surrounding Uinta National Forest. The road ends at a Snowmobile Trail.

This spur drops off Willow Creek Road, threading through timber above the White River on a mostly narrow shelf. It functions as a dead-end out-and-back rather than a connector.

The going is moderate, challenging the limits of a high clearance 4x4. The toughest section sits roughly a third of the way in, where the shelf tightens, and the road leans off-camber, demanding careful tire placement. Concerns to note include the narrow shelf road itself, where passing oncoming traffic can be difficult, as well as stretches of moderate off-camber lean.

Suitable camping is not present on the road/trail. Drivers planning an overnight will need to look elsewhere in the surrounding forest or plan for a day trip instead.

If super remote hiking and camping are your thing, look no further. This semi-graded trail is mainly used to access the hiking trails leading to the Great Gallery rock art site. The trailhead begins at the Maze visitor center, where it's advised to check in before venturing further out into the desert. The trail travels past a couple of unmarked overlooks for the colorful Orange Cliffs. Bring extra water and fuel to explore all the trails along this sandy track. You will need four-wheel drive for the soft sand and high clearance for a couple of rocky sections. A shovel, sand tracks, and other self-recovery devices are advised.

Camping is prohibited without a special permit for the first 12 miles. Once beyond the trail end and Windy Peak, there are a couple of campsites. But the best camping can be found at the end of High Spur Camping.

The Great Gallery is a 2000-8000 year-old life-size, ghost-like figures painted on the cliff walls. A challenging 3.7-mile sandy hike is required to reach the panel. The hiking trailhead begins at the end of Spur Road.

E of Cove Mountain Road is a quick out-and-back rather than a route to anywhere in particular. It ends at private property. Most of the drive is a mellow forest two-track, but a rocky section roughly three hundred yards long breaks up the run and is the reason for its rating.

A stock high clearance 4x4 handles this trail without issue. The rocky stretch calls for careful tire placement to avoid undercarriage contact, but the rest of the ascent/descent is straightforward dirt with occasional loose or steep spots. No concerns beyond the terrain itself apply here.

There is no camping along this road. Drivers looking to camp nearby will need to find a spot elsewhere before or after running the trail.

Summit Mountain Road works well as a link for travelers moving between the Panguitch Lake area and Brian Head, with the payoff being access to the Twisted Forest trailhead at the far end. The road is easy and stays within reach of a stock high clearance 2WD, and only a brief rocky stretch and a shallow stream crossing interrupt an otherwise straightforward dirt surface. Drivers looking for more of a challenge can detour onto an optional spur near the trailhead that steps up in difficulty before rejoining the main route.

Camping is dispersed and spread across several clusters along the corridor, adding up to roughly a dozen informal spots in all. Sizes and settings vary widely, from single vehicle pull-offs near the road to a couple of sites tucked slightly off the corridor among trees, where both shade and a measure of privacy can be found. Open areas closer to the road tend to lack cover, so those wanting more seclusion should look toward the tree-shielded spots farther along the route.

The road briefly crosses private land partway through, where staying on the established road is required. Portions of the corridor burned during the 2017 Brian Head Fire, and aspen regrowth marks where the blaze moved across Cedar Mountain. At its southern end, the road reaches the Twisted Forest trailhead, home to ancient bristlecone pines whose twisted shapes come from centuries of partial dieback sculpted by wind and weather.

Low Mountain Road links the high timber of the Markagunt Plateau to the lower forest below, offering a quiet descent through changing terrain rather than serving as a connector between other named routes. It works well as a scenic cruise for those exploring the Cedar City Ranger District, with mule deer and elk sightings common through the open meadows along the way.

A high clearance 4x4 is recommended. Two sections stand out from an otherwise mellow dirt and rock surface: a loose rock climb partway down and a set of deep ruts further along that demand careful line choice. Brush closes in tight enough in one stretch to pinstripe a vehicle's paint, and the road briefly crosses private land, so the gate there must be kept closed and travel stays on the road through that section.

Suitable camping is not present on the road, so plan to camp elsewhere before or after running this route.

Orange Trail Shelf Road is a short, moderate spur road off of Orange Trail. At the trailhead, it can look like a simple cattle track across open prairie, but it quickly transitions into a narrow descent that opens up valley views to the south. This spur serves as an alternate access point to the Orange Trail, linking travel between Salt Wash North and the Crystal Geyser Jeep Trail area. The narrow passage down a tight shelf road adds a bit of excitement to an otherwise mundane trail. The difficulty of this trail comes from the exposure. Full-width vehicles such as 1-ton pickups, vans, and vehicles towing trailers should avoid this trail. Otherwise, the trail is suitable for any high clearance vehicle.

Camping is not suitable along this trail, but can be found on many nearby roads.

Spring Canyon 1 branches off Spring Canyon Road in the high country above Trial Lake. It runs through dense lodgepole pine and spruce before opening onto a meadow with a small pond (when in season) at the end. Drivers use this route mainly for the meadow and pond.

The surface alternates between rutted dirt and exposed rock, with ledges and washed-out sections generally under a foot tall. The route is narrow, mostly one-vehicle-wide, with tight turns between trees that require careful line choice and some maneuvering in longer-wheelbase rigs. It's a slow, deliberate drive rather than a technical one, and a stock suspension will feel the rocks and ruts.

Dispersed camping is available along the trail, with two to three sites. The largest is a group-sized site that can comfortably hold several rigs. The forest canopy along the route provides good shade at the campsites, though the lack of tight tree spacing limits privacy.

The Mansard Trail connects BLM 100 with the Hog Canyon Trail System before continuing south and eventually dead-ending at a parking area for the short hike to the Mansard Petroglyphs. Between BLM 100 and the Hog Canyon Trail System, the northern 4 miles are generally non-technical and suitable for most 4WD vehicles. South of the Hog Canyon Trail System, however, the road narrows considerably, and larger rigs, including full-size pickups and taller vehicles, may have difficulty navigating tight trees, off-camber terrain, and deep, soft sand.

Along the higher portions of the route, the views are striking, with sweeping vistas across the surrounding Grand Staircase landscape and south toward Kanab and Fredonia. A few flat, previously disturbed areas also provide opportunities to pitch a tent for the night.

The final mile becomes considerably more challenging as the trail descends steeply toward the Mansard Petroglyphs parking area. Soft sand, loose dirt, and exposed rock can make traction difficult, and traveling this section alone is not recommended due to the terrain and limited recovery options.

Spring Canyon 2 is a short segment on the south side of the Mirror Lake corridor. The route runs through pine and aspen forest. The tread alternates between packed dirt, grassy margins, and stretches of embedded cobble, with a section that firms up into a rock garden covering the full trail width. It connects into the broader Spring Canyon network, which is known for its backcountry lakes and quiet camping, making this stretch a useful link for those exploring further into the Soapstone Basin area.

Suitable camping is not present on this segment of trail. Those looking to camp should plan on finding a site elsewhere in the Spring Canyon or Soapstone Basin area.

Box Springs is a short road that drops through pine and fir forest before ending at a dispersed camping area in a shady drainage. It is used mainly as a quick out-and-back for anyone wanting an easy overnight spot, rather than as a through route to other trails. Along the way it passes a rocky, undulating midsection that breaks up an otherwise mellow drive through dense timber.

At just under a mile, most of the trail is straightforward two-track suited to a stock high-clearance 4x4 with off-road tires. The middle third is where it earns its Moderate rating, with ruts and a narrower line that calls for careful tire placement, though low range isn't needed. The road stays about one vehicle wide for most of its length, with occasional pull-outs for passing oncoming traffic.

Dispersed camping is available at the far end of the trail, with two to three sites spread along the bottom of the drainage. The largest comfortably fits three or more rigs or a larger group, and the sites offer both shade and privacy under the surrounding trees.

Old Woman Road is a 12.7-mile dead-end camping trail within the Fishlake National Forest. Crossing under the interstate and climbing up into the trees will reward you with a couple of free campsites. The campsites have enough room for a couple of vehicles with tents. In dry conditions, the trail can be completed in 2wd. The trail is closed when it is wet or snow-covered. The best camping is far up on the ridge, a short distance before the private property closure.