Just an hour’s drive south of the greater Salt Lake City metropolitan area lay two offroad gems: The Tintics and Little Moab. For a quick weekend away into nature with accessible off-grid camping, the picturesque Tintic Mountains are the place to be. Or get a mild to wild taste of Moab rock crawling at Little Moab. Better yet? Visit both!

The Tintics are a small mountain range in the deserts of western Utah, rich with Juniper and Pinyon trees plus the obligatory sagebrush. Almost all the dirt roads in The Tintics come with an “easy” rating, making it a great choice even for those without hardcore offroad rigs. The trails generally consist of packed dirt and crushed rock. That is unless it’s wintertime when The Tintics can turn into a snow-wheeling wonderland. The rest of the year, the little mountain range offers plenty of dispersed campsites, large and small.

While visiting The Tintics, make sure to check out the area’s rich mining history. This mountain range was known to hide gold and various base-metal ores, but its most lucrative mineral was silver. Most of the mines are closed to the public, but a few are still accessible. Tread lightly so they can still be enjoyed for years to come.

As for Little Moab, the name speaks for itself. This play area is a perfectly miniature version of Moab and allows unlimited exploration. What isn’t little about Little Moab are the challenges it provides. Obstacles range from speed bumps fit for a Pius all the way up to buggy lines only the most experienced dare try. Get out there and have some fun, but know your limits.