Trail Overview
Non-Resident OHV permits apply to ATVs, UTVs, and dirt bikes. Plated street-legal vehicles typically do not need one on legal motorized routes. This route delivers a mix of scenic desert driving, light technical terrain, and mining history as it passes directly by the historic Memphis Mine. The trail begins as a sandy two track with open views of the surrounding mesas and rock formations before becoming more challenging in key sections. Several washouts cross the route, requiring drivers to slow down and choose lines carefully. Two steep, rocky climbs add the main difficulty, with loose rock and erosion making traction and tire placement important. Between obstacles, the trail opens back up into easier terrain with wide desert vistas. The highlight is the remains of the Memphis Mine, where old structures still stand as a reminder of the area’s mining past.
Difficulty
Most of this route is a relatively easy sandy two-track, but the several washouts and two steep, rocky sections raise the difficulty. High clearance is recommended, and 4WD may be helpful in loose or uneven conditions. Drivers with basic off-road experience should have no major issues when using careful tire placement on the climbs.
History
This region is closely tied to the uranium and vanadium mining booms that shaped eastern Utah in the mid-1900s. During the Cold War, demand for uranium surged, bringing roads, claims, camps, and small industrial sites into the desert. Evidence of that era still remains today in the form of old structures, fenced or barricaded mine openings, tailings areas, and abandoned access roads. These remnants are part of the area’s story: look, photograph, and respect them without disturbing anything.
