Northern Highlands

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 is a well-traveled graded dirt road that offers an easy and scenic drive through open desert terrain. The surface is mostly smooth with packed dirt, light gravel, and wide turns, making it suitable for almost all vehicles in dry conditions. Gentle climbs and rolling hills provide changing views as the road winds through scattered brush, small trees, and colorful sandstone landscapes. Along the way, drivers are rewarded with wide vistas of distant mesas and the surrounding backcountry. Minor erosion can be seen along the road edges in places, so staying aware of drop-offs near the shoulders is recommended. Overall, this is a relaxing route focused more on scenery and exploration than technical driving, making it a great connector or casual backcountry cruise.

Photos of Northern Highlands

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Difficulty

This route is a wide, graded dirt road with a mostly smooth surface and no major technical obstacles. Gentle hills, light gravel, and minor edge erosion are the only factors requiring attention. In dry conditions, most stock SUVs, crossovers with adequate clearance, and 4WD vehicles should have no trouble. Difficulty may increase slightly after heavy rain, as the sandy surface can feel like driving on ice.

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.

Technical Rating

Northern Highlands can be accessed by the following ride types:

• High-Clearance 4x4
• SUV
• SxS (60")
• ATV (50")
• Dirt Bike