Trail Overview
BLM 164, a highly scenic route that heads south toward Fruita and offers a fantastic, multi-use desert adventure. The overall environment is a vast, rolling high desert landscape that boasts outstanding, sweeping views of the distant Colorado National Monument, though passing wildfire smoke can occasionally create a hazy, dramatic sky as seen in the photos. Covering the 3.9-mile distance takes roughly 28 minutes, resulting in an average speed of 8.3 mph, which allows for a steady cruising pace with deliberate slowdowns for the rougher terrain. Beginning just off BLM 174, the route welcomes hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders, and all motorized vehicles, so maintaining a watchful eye for crossing traffic is highly advised. A convenient dispersed campsite sits just 0.2 miles into the drive, offering a peaceful spot to settle down for the night. Around the 0.8-mile mark, the route uniquely joins a paved road for a brief 20 yards before diving back into the dirt and crossing over a sturdy metal cattle guard. From there, the track transitions into an engaging series of rolling hills and steeper descents that make for a highly memorable outdoor excursion.
Difficulty
The trail surface consists primarily of very soft, powdery sand and dirt that becomes extremely slick and highly difficult to drive during or after any rainfall. The journey begins with manageable 6 to 8-inch ruts, but the terrain becomes notably rougher after you cross the short paved section. Further down the trail, you will encounter aggressive 12 to 14-inch deep washouts, larger scattered rocks, and a distinctly marked steep descent. Several deeply rutted obstacles will place your rig at approximately a 10-degree off-camber tilt, requiring highly careful line selection. To protect your undercarriage, maintain a slow, controlled momentum over the deep, sandy hillside washouts visible in the photos and avoid the deepest central trenches by hugging the higher edges of the track.
