Utah Off-Road Trails

New Castle-Pine Valley Road functions as a low-key connector, linking the Pine Valley area to Newcastle by cutting straight through Grass Valley rather than following the paved routes around it. Drivers use it to experience the shift from pinyon-juniper foothills to open grassland without technical difficulty. One stretch narrows to a shelf road about two vehicles wide, so drivers should watch for oncoming traffic. Be cautious of land boundaries, as a few short sections cross private property, where staying on the established road is important.

Dispersed camping is scattered along the route in roughly five informal pullouts. The largest comfortably fits two rigs or a rig and trailer, and while several spots offer no shade or privacy, at least one has a bit of both. A sanitation station near the north end suggests additional dispersed camping nearby beyond what the road itself reveals.

The 2025 Forsyth Fire burned through the area, and the route still passes through a recovering burn scar with young replanted pines visible alongside the standing damage.

Red Hills South Road threads along the crest of the Red Hills, linking the north and south ends of the ridge and offering wide views back across Cedar Valley toward Cedar City and the Markagunt Plateau. It works well as a scenic connector between nearby routes rather than a standalone destination, with the layered red and tan rock bands standing out best in early morning or evening light.

The route is a moderate high clearance 4x4 trail, with a rocky, undulating surface that keeps traction interesting when dry. Most of it is a steady, one vehicle wide track with occasional passing spots, but two sections stand out: a rougher patch right at the start and a tougher stretch about a third of the way in, where the climb through the ridge is steepest.

Dispersed camping is available along the upper half of the road. One area fits two to three rigs and can accommodate a larger trailer, while a second, smaller pullout sits nearby. Neither offers shade or privacy, and the area is also popular for target shooting, so extra awareness is worthwhile on busy weekends.

103P connects 102 and 103 to be used as part of a route across what is known as John R Flat. If you are driving east to west, the White Cliffs will provide a visual distraction to the jarring washboards. The road is suitable for any high-clearance vehicle in dry conditions. When wet, the wash crossing on the far eastern edge could be impassable.

No campsites exist along the route.

Black Rock Road is a half-day, out-and-back adventure that offers a rewarding climb to a lofty overlook near a cluster of radio towers. The roughly 6.7-mile trail begins mellow, following generally easy terrain suitable for high-clearance 2WD vehicles while steadily working toward the surrounding high country. However, the final climb becomes considerably tougher, with loose rock underfoot that calls for four-wheel drive. Just below the summit, drivers encounter a short but narrow shelf-road section stretching roughly 200 yards. At about a vehicle and a half wide, passing opportunities are limited, so watch ahead for approaching vehicles before committing to the climb or descent. The road ends at a popular turnaround near the radio towers, where there is enough room for several vehicles to gather and enjoy the expansive views before retracing the route.

Camping along Black Rock Road is limited. One shaded dispersed campsite can accommodate a single vehicle and offers a convenient place for a quiet overnight stay, though it sits directly along the road and provides little privacy from passing traffic. Despite appearing relatively spacious, the site's layout makes it difficult for larger rigs to maneuver into position.

This road serves as a scenic out-and-back overlook of the Parowan area. It climbs gradually through sagebrush and juniper country to a high point looking east over Parowan, Parowan Gap, and Paragonah. High-clearance 2WD is sufficient, with stock vehicles able to work through a couple of minor rocky stretches, where careful tire placement helps avoid contact with larger stones.

Parowan Gap to the north has long served as significant ground for the Fremont and Southern Paiute people, marked by petroglyphs including the well known Zipper Glyph and dinosaur tracks dating back tens of millions of years. Paragonah, visible from the trail's end, was settled in the early 1850s by farmers from Parowan and was originally named Red Creek before its incorporation in 1916.

Suitable camping is not present on this road. Travelers looking to camp nearby will need to find a spot elsewhere in the area before or after the drive.

This loop offers a short, self-contained technical run within the broader Red Hills OHV network, making it a good choice for drivers who want to work in a quick obstacle-focused stretch rather than commit to a full day out. Since it returns near its own starting point, it pairs easily with other Red Hills routes in the same outing.

It's a moderate route that challenges the limits of a high clearance 4x4, and low range gearing is worth having on hand. The wash crossing partway through is the crux of the drive, requiring careful tire placement over loose rock and uneven ground, while the rest of the loop runs as a steady, single-lane two-track with limited room to pass oncoming traffic.

Suitable camping is not present on this road. The surrounding hills get their reddish color from iron-rich sandstone, the same deposits that gave Iron County its name after settlers found ore here in the 1850s, and the formation continues north to Parowan Gap, long used as a travel corridor by Fremont and Ancestral Puebloan people.

North Braffits Creek Road serves mainly as a connector, tying into a larger network of BLM routes at its midpoint and giving riders a way to link up a longer loop through the Red Peak area rather than functioning as a standalone destination. Stock high clearance 2WD vehicles handle most of the route without issue, though the midpoint section where the road joins the broader trail network is noticeably rougher and calls for a slower pace and careful line choice. Suitable camping is not present on this road, so plan to stage or camp elsewhere before or after the drive.

The west end terminates at a gated boundary crossing private property. The road appears passable beyond the gate according to state mapping, but continuing past it is at the driver's own risk and not part of the maintained public route.

102J connects 103P to 106C. From the west, it quickly drops into a flood zone before turning through tight vegetation with little to no room for passing. The western end eventually opens into a wider, meandering wash, where you will need to pick the line that seems most logical. The trail does not follow the road alignment depicted on most base maps.

High clearance is required, and 4WD may be necessary after a rain event. There is no camping along the route, and most of the trail crosses private land.

Avoid this trail during rain or when flash flood warnings are in effect, as it passes through a clearly flood-damaged area.

Drill Hole Road offers a quick, moderate climb through Iron County's east bench, gaining elevation into pinyon and juniper cover as it leaves the high desert behind. Its short length makes it easy to pair with other nearby roads for a longer day, rather than serving as a standalone destination.

A technical spot sits right at the trailhead, followed about a mile in by a steeper hill climb where careful tire placement matters. Past the hill, a rocky, rutted stretch slows the pace and is worth taking slow. The rest of the drive is loose stone and short, steep pushes on a road that narrows to one lane through the rockier sections, with occasional room to pull over for oncoming traffic.

Suitable camping is not present on the trail.

Cedar Pit Mine Road offers a quiet alternative to the more heavily used OHV routes closer to Cedar City, threading through open sagebrush benches with little development in sight. Pronghorn and mule deer are commonly spotted along the way, and the route works well as a short solo or small-group run for drivers seeking solitude rather than a specific destination.

Low range comes in handy for the toughest stretch, where the track crosses open sagebrush and nearly disappears in places. A GPS track is recommended since the route can be tricky to follow without one. Deeper ruts appear later in the run, requiring careful line choice before the road smooths out for the remaining miles.

Suitable camping is not present on the road or trail.

Braffits Creek Road serves as an easy connector route through the Red Peak area, offering a quick way to reach the northern trailheads and drainages branching off Braffits Creek without requiring a dedicated 4x4. Its short length and gentle grades make it a practical warm up or return route for a half day loop rather than a destination in itself.

The two washes near the northern end are the only real point of concern, and while the deeper of the pair is passable for 2WD on a dry day, four wheel drive is recommended if the ground is wet.

Suitable camping is not present on this road, so those planning an overnight will need to look elsewhere in the surrounding area.

Red Peak Road serves as a quick connector route through BLM rangeland, useful for a short scenic loop or an evening drive without committing to a longer trip. The descent is gradual enough that most of the drive is straightforward, with two brief rough patches, a low-speed rocky section partway down and a slightly more technical stretch farther along, that break up an otherwise easy grade. Neither obstacle demands anything beyond stock ground clearance.

The one point worth watching for is well down the route, where the road narrows and brush closes in on both sides; drivers of longer or wider rigs should slow down there to avoid pinstriping. Suitable camping is not present on this road, so it functions better as a through drive than a basecamp option.