Off-Road Trails: Utah

Riding off-road in the huge state of Utah is one of the most checked bucket list items of any ATV or UTV enthusiast's life. The adventure of destinations like Moab and the Paiute trail bring so much fun with family and friends. There are many very rugged sections to this state, but there are also many that cater to beginners.

One unique facet of riding in Utah is that many small towns are very off-road friendly. Local businesses will cater to the off-road crowd and there are always great facilities to camp or lodging for those who wish to "rough it," city slicker style. With proper permits you can ride your machine right down the streets of many towns as long as you obey the local laws as you would in your automobile. KOA and other RV campgrounds are scattered around the state as it is a destination for adventure for many families.

When talking of terrain in Utah, it is really all over the board. There are obviously massive rock formations that everyone wants to try and there is also plenty of sand combined with rocks. Locations like Sand Hollow Recreation area give off-roaders and their family plenty of variety from mild to wild dune riding as well as some super technical rocks like the "Double Sammy" to test that slow crawl technical adventure that Utah is known for.

Epic Recreation

Anyone who rides off-road should have Utah at or near the top of the list for states to visit for off-road fun. The state has it all, but one of the hidden gems is in the Northeastern area around Garden City and Logan - The Bear Lake recreation area. This area boasts some of the best trails you’ll ride on with elevation changes, deep woods, wide-open terrain and everything in between. Sounds pretty epic, right? That’s where Epic Recreation comes in. This Destination Yamaha outlet has a full stable of Yamaha RMAX, Viking and dirt bikes available to rent so you can explore the area. Many of their customers come back after a day on the trails and say they wish they could live there and ride all the time. With camping and lodging nearby, you can stay and play as long as you want.

High Point Hummer and ATV

Of course every off-road enthusiast will want to head to Moab, Utah at some point. The trail systems there are world famous and should be on everyone’s list of must-do adventures. High Point Hummer and ATV can get you set up and going in a Yamaha Viking XI. You can explore the rock formations, sandy desert trails, search for dinosaur bones and more. With National Parks nearby, this makes for a great multi-adventure vacation. You can take your pick from trails linked to the Sand Flats Recreation Area, such as Hells Revenge, Fins & Things, Monitor & Merrimac, Behind the Rocks, and Kane Creek, which then leads to Hurrah Pass and Chicken Corners. There is so much to see and do here that you’ll want to spend multiple days. You won’t regret it.

• Size Thousands of Acres
• Skill Level Moderate to Experienced
• Trailhead Moab, Utah

Moab OHV Trails

Moab OHV trails have been the talk of every ATV or UTV owner that yearns for the technical and exciting rock-climbing experience in their new machine. This area is world-renowned for its technical slick rock and off-road trails, but it also offers sand trails and the area is chock full of scenic points for that family selfie. No matter the terrain you are riding, you will see some amazing scenic views.

• Distance Thousands of Miles
• Skill Level Moderate to Experienced
• Trailhead Beaver, Richfield, Salina or Filmore, Utah

Paiute Trail

Giving riders of any ATV or UTV off-road vehicles over 1000 miles of trails, the Paiute Trail system is Utah's longest and one of the country's most popular off-road trail systems. Located in South-Central Utah, the Paiute trails can be accessed from small towns like Beaver, Fillmore, Richfield and Salina. Each of these towns offer all the necessary accommodations as well as lodging for those who want to take their family along for an extended stay. Riders can ride from town to town while enjoying the beautiful scenery of the national forest and surrounding mountains. Riders can also enjoy stops along the way to fish or camp.

• Distance 50+ Miles
• Skill Level All
• Trailhead Hurricane, Utah

Sand Hollow State Park

Located just east of St. George, Utah, Sand Hollow State Park is nestled in the mountains of Hurricane Utah and provides plenty of adventure for the off-road family. Although Sand Hollow stretches its boundaries wide, the only place to enter the park is through Hurricane. Made up of incredible red sand dunes and rock canyons, Sand Hollow gives such variety that you can ride for a few days without losing interest. Trails like the "Double Sammy" are great for testing the features of your UTV. The lake at Sand Hollow allows adventurers and their families to enjoy some fishing or even swimming after the ride.

• Distance 600+ miles
• Skill Level All
• Trailhead Orangeville, Utah

Arapeen OHV Trail System

While the lower Utah off-road areas get a lot of the glory, there are so many other parts of the state that cannot be overlooked. Arapeen is one of those areas for certain. Over 600 miles of trails that wind through dense forests and high mountains give you some amazing views and challenging rides. This is a good system for family adventures, and there are occasional ATV jamborees in the area that are a lot of fun to attend. Utah is an off-road lover’s paradise and should be on your agenda.

• Distance 16.5 miles
• Skill Level Moderate
• Trailhead Cache County, near Logan, Utah

Old Ephraim’s Grave

Named after a massive grizzly bear that used to terrorize the local farmers, this trail is extremely scenic and is located near Logan, Utah, in the northeast part of the state. This is a sweet place to go and the trail connects to hundreds of miles of additional trails in the area. It is for the intermediate to skilled rider and has some steep sections along a heavily wooded mountain path. Trees often fall across the trail, so take a winch and appropriate equipment if you go.