Utah is known for its canyonlands, mountains, and ridges, offering beautiful views wherever you go. Its sandy desert and rocky terrain make it an excellent destination for off-roading. If you’re looking for adventure, then visit some of the OHV trails Utah has to offer.
Utah offers many great places to off-road for all skill levels. Experience deserts, high elevations, and scorching summers as you take some of the most scenic rides in the US.
Our top 16 off road trails in Utah are as follows:
- Lizzie & Charlie’s RV/ATV Park
- Hells Revenge Trailhead
- Mill Canyon OHV Trails
- Strawberry OHV Trail System
- Bountiful Peak ATV Trail
- Paiute ATV Trail
- Forest Lake Trail
- Wasatch Mountain State Park
- Wasatch Excursion
- Sand Hollow State Park
- Little Sahara Recreation Area
- White Wash Sand Dunes Recreation Area
- Fins & Things 4×4 Trail
- Gemini Bridges Trails
- Dixie National Forest
- Poison Spider Mesa
You can’t go wrong picking Utah for your next adventure. When you off road in Utah, you’ll find yourself amazed at the stunning views. There’s no better way to experience the landscape.
16 Best OHV Trails Utah
1. Lizzie & Charlie’s RV/ATV Park
This park uses the Paiute trail, which is a 238-mile loop. It goes through three mountain ranges, rugged canyons, and deserts, offering a wonderful tour of the natural scenery Utah has to offer.
Lizzie & Charlie is right in the middle of the Paiute ATV trail system. They have RV space, cabins, and campgrounds. There’s also a rental nearby where you can rent ATVs and UTVs.
2. Hells Revenge Trailhead
Hell’s Revenge 4×4 Trail is ideal for experts, but dangerous for beginners. The trail is just 6.5 miles of hazardous terrain and takes 2 to 3 hours to complete.
Trails are marked for safety, and you should not stray from them. The Trailhead is a government-owned property in the Moab area, and the Bureau of Land Management asks visitors not to damage the plants or water sources in the area.
3. Mill Canyon OHV Trails
The Mill Canyon is around 75 miles of OHV trails, but some sources say you’ll only be able to access 43 miles of it. The trails are not always clearly marked, and you’re going through the wilderness. Expect to encounter wildlife.
Mill Canyon Trails are in a State Park where visitors contact and pay fees to the Wasatch State Park and the Forest Service for a day pass. An appointment is needed.
4. Strawberry OHV Trail System
The Strawberry OHV Trail System is at the Strawberry Reservoir, outside Herber City. It’s a single track mountain trail that goes through a National Forest.
The route is suitable for novices and has some spectacular views. Check with the Cedar City Ranger District to check if the place is open. Camping sites are available at the park.
5. Bountiful Peak ATV Trail
Bountiful Peak Trail is an uphill and downhill adventure. The trail is around 50 miles of mostly gravel road. There’s a rattlesnake warning in these parts, so watch out. Expect large rocks and obstacles.
The trails are open to most vehicles, and there are no fees. There’s an expert OHV trail in this area, the Old Ward Canyon. At the highest point of this ATV trail in Utah, you get to see Salt Lake City at a distance. Bountiful Peak is open from May to October.
6. Paiute ATV Trail
The Paiute ATV trail Utah is a 275-mile long looped-trail. Considered one of the best ATV trails in the country, Paiute is worth checking out. The main routes are marked, and there are also over 1000 miles of side trails, also marked.
The main loop will take 25 hours to complete. If you plan your ride over three or four days, you’ll be able to cover most of it. Be sure to add this route to your ATV trails Utah list.
7. Forest Lake Trail
The Forest Lake Utah OHV trails are at the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. It’s a short 3-mile trail that ends at the Forest Lake. The trail crosses a small creek, goes over rough and rocky terrain, which is perfect for a four-wheel drive.
There is another OHV route, from Shaffer Fork to Forest Lake, that is 8 miles long, more suited for novices. The National Forest is a very scenic location to camp. If you’re looking for Utah off road trails, be sure the check our Forest Lake.
8. Wasatch Mountain State Park
Wasatch Mountain is a popular state park and destination for Moab Utah off road enthusiasts in Salt Lake City. The state park is close to Salt Lake, and it can get crowded on the weekends.
Aside from ATV trails, the park also has water activities and snowmobile rentals in the winter.
The ATV trails are around 30 miles, singletrack. Snowmobiles use the same routes in the winter. The trails are marked but seldom maintained, and are best for novices. Camping is allowed with fees.
9. Wasatch Excursion
Wasatch Excursion is a company authorized to provide guided ATV and UTV tours at the Wasatch Mountain State Park. If you’re looking for Moab Utah jeep rentals, look here first.
They have off-road tours for all skill levels, and some trails go up to 11,000 feet elevation. You can also go without a guide.
The company provides rental and free shuttle service from Park City and the nearby Heber Valley. The company is at the clubhouse at the base of the Wasatch Mountains.
10. Sand Hollow State Park
This is a 20,000-acre state park where you’ll find the most permissive Utah jeep trails. There’s very little vegetation here, and mostly red sand and rocks.
Sandy Hollow State Park also has a beach by a large reservoir. The campsite is on the shores of the reservoir.
11. Little Sahara Recreation Area
Little Sahara is a vast 60,000 acres BLM area, just two hours from Salt Lake City. They have flats and hills, a good variety of ATV trails in Utah. All ATV trails are sand dunes, and some trailblazing is allowed.
The place has a visitors area, campsites, and amenities. Little Sahara gets very crowded on the weekends and holidays.
12. White Wash Sand Dunes Recreation Area
The White Wash Sand Dunes is a large open space with marked desert trails. Dunes for OHVs are fenced off, so there’s a specific area just for motorized vehicles.
The surrounding areas are private land and off-limits, and the trails are marked but seldom maintained. It is best for beginners.
13. Fins & Things 4×4 Trail
Fins and Things is a 9.4-mile one-way trail at the Sand Flats Recreation Area. It’s frequently recommended for Moab Utah jeep trails because it’s close to Moab.
The terrain is sandy and rocky with well-maintained trails. Fins and Things is for moderate skill levels. For expert level, go to Hells Revenge trail, which is also at the Sand Flats Recreation Area.
14. Gemini Bridges Trails
Another noteworthy trail in the Moab area, the Gemini Bridges trail, is 13 miles, famous for its scenery. The OHV trail is rocky, sandy, and dusty. There are some steep inclines with some slickrock. There are cliffs, which can get dangerous with two-way traffic.
15. Dixie National Forest
The Dixie National Forest has their office at Cedar City, the park itself is two million acres. There’s a designated area for OHV riding at Dixie National Forest, as part of their land management policy.
16. Poison Spider Mesa
Poison Spider is a popular Moab offroad trail with fantastic scenery typical of Utah. It is a bit over 9 miles long with some steep climbs and sandhills. Much of it has slickrock, and a smaller portion is bare rock.
The trail is marked but not maintained, so you can still get lost. Call the Moab office for more information. Note, they may close due to weather or policy changes.
Conclusion – OHV Trails Utah
So, what are the 16 best OHV trails in Utah? To summarize, here they are again:
- Lizzie & Charlie’s RV/ATV Park
- Hells Revenge Trailhead
- Mill Canyon OHV Trails
- Strawberry OHV Trail System
- Bountiful Peak ATV Trail
- Paiute ATV Trail
- Forest Lake Trail
- Wasatch Mountain State Park
- Wasatch Excursion
- Sand Hollow State Park
- Little Sahara Recreation Area
- White Wash Sand Dunes Recreation Area
- Fins & Things 4×4 Trail
- Gemini Bridges Trails
- Dixie National Forest
- Poison Spider Mesa
Utah gives nearly free reign to OHV riders. Fees are low if there any at all, and routes are loosely marked. Pick an easy or difficult trail, whichever suits your level.
The scenery will always impress. Utah OHV riders all say the same thing – you’ll love the views but don’t forget your sunscreen, hat, and bottled water. Off-road riding in Utah is hot and sweaty.
Off road trails in Utah are mostly sandy and rocky, with very little shade. There are trails close to streams and reservoirs, but for the most part and most of the year, the place is scorching. It is one of the few places you’ll get to try Utah ATV trails over dunes in the country.
Most OHV trails are open most of the year because they’re managed public land or BLM property. Check out some of these Jeep, 4×4, ATV, and UTV trails Utah has to offer.
Kris is an avid off-roader and outdoor enthusiast who loves to brave the elements and take on challenging terrain. He also enjoys sharing his passion and knowledge with others so that they, too, can appreciate the ride.
About Kris