Region

The San Rafael Swell

Utah

Offroad Trails in The San Rafael Swell

A Region within Utah

4.3/5 (459)

"The Swell," located in south-central Utah, is a geological upheaval that created a colorful desert landscape with towering buttes and narrow slot canyons. Encompassing 900 square miles, San Rafael Swell is an outdoor paradise with abundant trails for all types of offroad enthusiasts. There are numerous historical sites where you can get up close to America's best ancient Native American artwork or step into an old log cabin. Buckhorn Draw and Black Dragon Wash trails travel into narrow slot canyons with designated sites for viewing the artwork.

The trail system is vast and divided into two regions by Interstate 70. The southern area trails are easier and less popular with the average weekend user. Day trips can include stops at Goblin Valley State Park or squeezing your way through Crack Canyon and Chute Canyon hiking trails along the Behind The Reef trail. The northern section includes the more difficult and famous 4x4 trails like Eagle Canyon, Devil's Racetrack, and Fix-it Pass; all three have breathtaking views and adrenaline-pumping rock-crawling obstacles. The far northern region near Wellington, UT, includes an educational stop at Jurassic National Monument, a real-time dinosaur dig open to visitors.

The winter months can be below freezing during the day, and summer temperatures can be over 100° in the shade. The vast majority of the region is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, which allows camping up to 15 days. Several areas are protected and designated as no camping; most of these sites are around ancient artwork sites. Buckhorn Draw now has paid campsites along this very well-groomed scenic drive. While other, more remote trails have that private campsite with a canyon view you've been searching for. The Swell is remote, requiring planning, even for a day trip; venturing into this vast desert also requires a map system you can count on. Preload the San Rafael regional trails offline before you begin your adventure.

Top Reasons to Explore Here

Altitude

Beginner

Camping

Desert

Ghost Town

Iconic

Mine

Mud

Overland

Rock

Sand

Scenic

Snow Wheeling

Wash

Water

The San Rafael Swell includes trail difficulties ranging from:

EASY

DIFFICULT

Most Popular Trail Guides

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4.9/5 (17 reviews)

Updated: 01/07/2025

Devil's Racetrack

Open

Green River, Utah/

9.04 miles/

About 3 hours

With a name like Devil's Racetrack, you expect a thrill ride or sense of danger. That's partially true for this iconic Utah trail. There are a couple of rock-crawling obstacles near the edge of a shear cliff but nothing like the trails in Moab. The endless panoramas of distant arches and rock spires along the entire route keep you occupied between the rocky challenges. The trail's most iconic section is along The Razorback, a rocky stretch that tilts the driver off-camber while traversing a narrow spine high above the canyons below. The northern portion of the route crosses grassy meadows with the Twin Priest's rock spire as a backdrop.

4.8/5 (20 reviews)

Updated: 02/05/2025

Wild Horse Road

Open

Green River, Utah

Wild Horse Road is a visually stimulating treat of quintessential Utah landscapes. Starting just past the towering form of Factory Butte, this offroad trail takes you through the distinct features of Little Wild Horse Mesa, Little Wildhorse Canyon, the San Rafael Swell, and Goblin Valley. Encapsulated between more popular offroad areas of 'The Swell,' Capital Reef National Park, and Moab, this trail is lightly used by comparison and feels utterly remote. If the stunning visual scenery isn't enough, add a river crossing, winding washes to navigate, and your pick of dispersed campsites - and Wild Horse Road may quickly become a new favorite for you.

4.9/5 (19 reviews)

Updated: 05/04/2024

Behind the Reef

Open

Hanksville, Utah

The San Rafael Swell of central Utah is considered by many to be one of the most unique, rugged, and beautiful geology in the western United States. Spanning from Price to Hanksville and Emery to Green River, this colorful sandstone triangle brings out the adventurer in all of us. You can raft the San Rafael River, mountain bike the innumerable single tracks, explore pictographs and petroglyphs, horseback through the red rock, or kick back in a remote campsite. But the miles and miles of offroad trails running through desert juniper forests onto dry and arid plateaus before descending to cottonwood-lined rivers is the largest draw. Behind the Reef may be the hidden gem of the magnificent Swell. Behind the Reef traces along the huge jutting San Rafael Reef, the eastern wall of the Swell. The dichotomy of jaw-dropping and conflicting views adds to the uniqueness of this remote meandering red track. Looking west, you feel like you are on top of the world, an eagle's perspective of the vast sandstone solitude below. To the east, towering cliffs remind you just how small you really are in this endless stony landscape. What will you find Behind the Reef?

4.8/5 (19 reviews)

Updated: 05/04/2024

Black Dragon Wash

Open

Green River, Utah

Black Dragon Canyon has amazing Native American pictographs. These rock art pictographs are considered among the best in Central Utah. This trail combines incredible history, amazing high canyon walls, and even a few challenging obstacles along the way. The end of the trail is very close to the freeway and Green River, so you can stock up for a long day out in the Swell.

4.8/5 (18 reviews)

Updated: 04/13/2024

North Temple Wash

Open

Hanksville, Utah

Deep in the heart of Utah is this legend of a trail, North Temple Wash. Not because of difficulty but because of scenery and dispersed camping. Following this astonishing jeep trail, you will be immersed in some of the most incredible surroundings such as tall cliffs, narrow canyons, intriguing rock formations, and stand-alone spires. Whether you enjoy climbing steep rocks or traveling long distances in your rig, you are sure to be amazed at what North Temple Wash has to offer. If you are in the southern San Rafael area, be sure to add this one to your list.

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5/5 (1 reviews)

Cedar Mountain

Cleveland, Utah

Bird's eye views of the San Rafael Swell from your campsite. Cedar Mountain is an easy gravel road to the summit, where you'll find a day's worth of adventure. There are carefully constructed overlooks with steel walkways and fences on the edge of building-sized boulders. Shaded campsites and picnic tables are abundant before reaching the multiple radio and cell towers. Cell service is amazing. The trail becomes slightly rougher after the radio towers and ends at the airplane runway. The camping is primitive and free. Small individual campsites are tucked within the trees, and larger sites for RVs can be found along the main route. There is a vault-type toilet at the day-use picnic area.

3/5 (1 reviews)

Cow Camp

Lawrence, Utah

Cow Camp is a short out-and-back dirt road leading to a free scenic camping area. Along the short drive, there is a dry wash with access to the San Rafael River. The large open area at the end of the trail has a couple of established fire rings for individual or group campers. The trail is hard-packed dirt and passable in 2WD vehicles.

2/5 (1 reviews)

Lockhart Wash

Green River, Utah

Deep within the San Rafael Swell region lies the Mexican Hat Wilderness, where access is limited to foot traffic. However, one trail, Lockhart Wash, offers an easement, allowing motorized travel into the wilderness before reaching the San Rafael River. The trail once traveled to the river edge, but now erosion has closed the final mile to the river. The trail has one nice camping area with distant views of the sandstone cliffs to the north. There is room for a couple of vehicles with tents. The route becomes rougher the further you travel. It's a bumpy two-track, without obstacles, and passable in high-clearance stock 4x4s. It is imperative that users remain on the established trail, as both sides of the road are wilderness.

2/5 (1 reviews)

Wilson Holes

Green River, Utah

Wilson Holes is a mild connector trail that has abundant primitive camping easily accessible from Buckhorn Draw Road. The trail winds through dense trees to small open areas with fire pits and room for a tent or two. At the end of the spur trail, there is a group party pit area. A veteran's memorial has been posted at the top of a nearby butte, and a very large community fire pit has been constructed over the years. The trail is a typical two-track without any obstacles. It can be completed in stock 4x4s with high ground clearance.

5/5 (1 reviews)

Cliff Dwellers Flat

Green River, Utah

This spur off Arsens Garden Loop leads to two spectacular overlooks, follows an old landing strip, and passes several nice camping opportunities. Turn right off Arsens Garden Loop past a large stock tank and gradually climb to the top of the mesa. At the top, follow the old landing strip for several hundred yards. The only thing that distinguishes the landing strip is the long, straight section of the road. The landing strip appears to be used only rarely but is still listed as an active strip. Near the end of the trail, a spur to the right will take you to the first overlook and several campsites. The last part of the trail crosses Utah State land before ending at the second overlook and several more campsites. Although the trail is easy, wet conditions would make it difficult or impassable.