Utah Off-Road Trails

Crosby Canyon is a very scenic canyon trail that follows in and out of a wash taking you from Smoky Mountain Road down to the shores of Lake Powell. When dry, the path is fairly simple but can become quite difficult if muddy. It also has the potential to be dangerous with flash floods, so users should pay close attention to the weather. The end of the trail has some deep, soft sand, thus 4WD is highly recommended. Some camping can be found at the end of the trails.

This definitely isn’t the fastest way to get from Orem to Springville, but it is certainly one of the most fun ways. The road is paved up to Hope Campground, the first of several USFS campgrounds. All the campgrounds close for winter. However, there is abundant dispersed camping along the trail. Squaw Peak has a little bit of everything, including mountain and canyon views, camping, and several hiking trailheads. After Rock Creek Campground, the 2nd USFS campground, the road narrows, and drainage moguls cross the road. High clearance isn’t necessary, but you may drag your belly going over some of the taller rollers.

Seclusion, desert valley floors, high canyon walls, vegetation, and a meandering wash make Dry Fork Bull Canyon worth exploring. Situated near Moab, Utah, and a quick drive from the famous Gemini Bridges Road, this trail gives you that remote feeling that many off-road explorers seek. Once deep into the canyon, there are endless nooks and crannies along the edge of its walls to explore in detail by foot.

Note: This is not the more well-known trail, "Bull Canyon."

The Panorama Point Overlook 4WD trail in Canyonlands National Park offers an exhilarating journey through a stunning desert landscape. The rugged trail leads to sweeping vistas of the park's iconic red rock formations and deep canyons. The trail gradually ascends to the Panorama Point Overlook with an awe-inspiring panoramic view that stretches for miles, including the Las Sal and Abajo mountain ranges as well as a bird's eye view of the red rock canyons that give the Maze its moniker. From this vantage point, the layers of colorful cliffs and the meandering Colorado River create a breathtaking tapestry of nature's artistry. It's a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts and adventurers seeking a remarkable experience in Canyonlands National Park.

All good 4x4 adventures have to begin somewhere. Motoqua Road is an access route to several remote 4x4 trails within the Utah and Nevada deserts. The trail has an abundance of free primitive camping for all types of recreation vehicles or tents. The route is well-maintained gravel, smooth enough for large RV's to travel far out to a remote site to use as a base camp for exploring this vast region. There are multiple sites where a large group with tents can all camp together. Early in the route, you'll travel through a scenic canyon before you begin the long traverse up and down a seemingly endless number of rolling hills. For more scenery and an offroad challenge, visit the nearby Birthing Cave and Gunlock Reservoir trails.

Traveling between Sliplock Gulch and West Fenceline Road, Resurrection is a 5-mile multi-section trail that provides a small taste of everything you can find within the Sand Mountain OHV area. The trail traverses two natural washes, climbs small, off-camber slickrock waterfalls, visits two bluffs with amazing views, pounds through soft sand, and provides an incredible look of the southwest desert flora.

Resurrection can easily be split into three separate sections with three separate difficulties. The first section, starting at Sliplock Gulch, lasts 0.55 miles and is the most challenging section as it snakes its way through a sandy-bottomed wash with several small slickrock obstacles. These obstacles will articulate your suspension and roll your center of gravity up to 25 degrees. One obstacle, named Skully's Pinch, will require you to traverse up a narrow, two-step cut in the slickrock while leaning to the passenger side, potentially causing rear corner damage. This first section climbs out of the wash as you pass an optional 10-foot waterfall climb and approach the first trail finger. This finger makes its way around Resurrection Rock with great views of Sand Hollow State Park and offers a few flexy holes and a poser rock to take photos. 35'' tires are recommended for long-wheelbase vehicles, while 33'' tires are suitable for short-wheelbase vehicles.

The second section starts on a plateau before dropping downhill and weaving through a second canyon known as Jacob's Draw. This canyon slowly increases elevation and traverses long slabs of slickrock that visually look like long slip-n-slides. Several steep ledges must be climbed, but all are smooth and gradual, making for great traction. This second section is much easier than the first and is suitable for any vehicle but may require prior driving experience or a spotter.

The third section begins as you pass West Fenceline Road and create a big "U" back to West Fenceline. This section is a simple sandy road with occasional protruding rocks, passing through rich flora where you will see many cacti and other desert plants. The trail then heads east to another trail finger around Tombstone Bluff, where you can see an old tombstone and explore a 4'x'4x25' cave cut into the mountainside. This last section is suitable for any high clearance vehicle.

About Sand Mountain

Sand Mountain is an extremely unique parcel of public land. Designated as an Open OHV Area, riders are free to make their own trails. Due to this, many of the long-established named trail routes have several variations that can take easier or more challenging routes through the intended trail. The GPX track for this trail helps you navigate the area, but various lines, bypasses, and additional obstacles may exist along the way. Riders are encouraged to stay on existing trails and not unnecessarily drive over or destroy vegetation.

Fees

Riding on Sand Mountain is entirely free. However, there are multiple entry/exit points for the area, including "the tunnel," which connects Sand Hollow State Park to the open OHV area. Any entry into the boundaries of Sand Hollow State Park requires a Utah State Park Pass.

Requirements

When operating on Sand Mountain, users must attach an orange or red safety flag to the vehicle, rising at least 8 feet off the ground.

Strawberry Ridge at Duck Creek is the alternate trail to epic camping and a breathtaking vista. This route is the best way to reach the amazing cliff views at Strawberry Point and possibly find a great campsite along the way. This easy gravel road travels along a pine-covered ridge with an abundance of free primitive campsites. The trail is less crowded and a little more scenic than the residential sections along Strawberry Point trail. There are 20 plus campsites that are easily accessible for all 2wd vehicles, including passenger cars. The trail makes for an excellent basecamp area for when you're out exploring the hundreds of miles of OHV trails within the Dixie National Forest. Be sure to visit nearby Cascade Falls and the truly memorable Mammoth Cave.

A true hidden treasure in the Utah desert. This area is rich with both ancient and recent history. It is interesting that no more than a few hundred yards apart there are Anasazi ruins that date at nearly 1000 years old and remnants of an old west trading post dating at 130 years old. This mix of historical timelines is not common to find so immediately close together. Add that to imposing red rock formations and the lush green San Juan river valley this is an oasis that you can walk through time visiting.

This is one of the harder trails within this network, other than Sidewinder. Even more modified rigs will be put to the test just to get to the hardest of the obstacles; Eagles Nest. At this point, you should expect breakage or a rollover if you even have the guts to attempt this wall. There is a winch point beyond it, but it can only help so much. Many people turn around at the sight of Eagles Nest, however, a few have made it beyond this point and reached the top. This is a great trail for a bit more of a challenge within "the snakes" as the locals call it. Consisting of 5 total well-established trails, this area is sure to never leave you wanting more.

The Staircase is an older optional route previously closed for 10-15 years. Added back onto the Hell's Revenge trail map in 2022, this difficult slickrock chute is an excellent connector from Tip-Over Challenge to the large slickrock domes near the start of Hell's Revenge. The trail is one-way from west to east and descends a steep, narrow hill before leveling out and approaching the namesake obstacle. The main obstacle is a steep, slickrock chute with several off-camber ledges and deep holes. Tire placement is critical and short-wheelbase vehicles will find this obstacle more challenging.

This trail is best suited for experienced drivers with well-equipped off-road vehicles. Good suspension travel and traction aid devices such as lockers are highly recommended.

Panguitch Lake is where some of Utah's largest rainbow trout are fished each year; it's no wonder since the Paiute word for "big fish" is Panguitch. Visitors to the lake can also enjoy canoeing, camping, and exploring the Panguitch Lake OHV Trail System. As Utah grew in the late 1800s, the Panguitch Lake area became a retreat for people from all over southern Utah. You’ll find restaurants, boat rentals, general stores, lodges, and cabins for rent. Summer is the most active time of year around the lake, but during the winter months, ice fisherman and outdoor enthusiasts flock to the area for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. This trail easily descends 2,600’ through a beautiful mountain region within Dixie National Forest, ending in the valley near Parowan, Utah.

Whether beginning or ending your adventure into the San Rafael Swell with the Nielsen Dugway trail, the yellow and orange sherbet cliffs are always a wonderful backdrop. The few challenges do little to distract from the views of towering rock buttes that poke out behind the Ponderosa Pines and Rocky Mountain Juniper trees that line the trail. The contrasting layers of the sandstone cliffs are incredibly vibrant along this specific trail within The Swell. Set up basecamp near the southern trailhead to explore all the historic stops this region offers.