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SAFARI TRAILS

Bridger
Jack

#1

UTV Friendly

Time To Trailhead: 65 Min
Trail Mileage: 38
Meeting Location: Monticello
Departure Time: 8:00 a.m.
Moderate
MAP

This trail starts just off Highway 211 near the Dugout Ranch in Indian Creek and circumvents Bridger Jack Mesa. The trail travels through amazing red rock country and gives you spectacular scenic views of North Cottonwood, Lavender Canyon, Salt Creek, Stevens Canyon, and the Six
Shooters. You will ride to the Salt Creek Overlook, where you can see multiple arches and scenic wonders. There are also archaeological sites along this trail. On your way to the trailhead, you will pass Newspaper Rock. Newspaper Rock is a petroglyph panel etched in sandstone that records perhaps 2,000 years of human activity in the area. This is a must-see attraction after your ride and on your way back to Monticello. This is an all-day event. UTV Accessible Trail

Shay Ridge
Monticello

#2

50" Limit

Time To Trailhead: 0 Min.
Trail Mileage: 44
Meeting Location: Monticello
Departure Time: 8:00am
Moderate
MAP


This trail will leave Monticello at an elevation of about 7,000 feet and passes through gamble oak, aspen, and dense alpine forests. The trail travels past Monticello and Foy lakes to an elevation of about 11,000 feet. Be sure to bring a jacket as it may get cold up there. Breathtaking views of the canyons and lowlands will be experienced throughout the trip. You may see deer and elk! This trail is on lands managed by the Forest Service. This trip will be an all-day ride. This trail is not UTV accessible over 50 inch widths. 

Hook
& Ladder

#3

UTV Friendly

Time To Trailhead: 55 Min
Trail Mileage: 40
Meeting Location: Monticello
Departure Time: 8:00am
Difficult
MAP

The Hook & Ladder trail is a maze of trails with unprecedented views of the La Sal Mountains and the backside of Wilson Arch. Indescribable views of red rock fins, canyons, and overlooks will greet the rider. You could spend a week in the Hook and Ladder trail system and not see everything. There are technical spots on the trails, and assistance with difficult terrain will be provided as needed. This is one of the most popular trails in San Juan County, so enjoy! The trail traverses lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. This is a daylong ride.
UTV Accessible Trail

Falls
Missile

#4

UTV Friendly

Time To Trailhead: 80 Min
Trail Mileage: 20
Meeting Location: Monticello
Departure Time: 8:00am
Moderate
MAP


Falls Missile Trail received its name because of the waterfalls on lower Indian Creek, and a spent booster rocket that was launched from Green River, Utah and crashed to the earth not far from the falls. The trail travels past the old booster rocket and traverses slick rock, sandy terrain, and multiple stream crossings. The trail is adjacent to Canyonlands National Park on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
UTV Accessible Trail 

Bulldog
Monticello

#5

UTV Friendly

Time To Trailhead: 0 Min
Trail Mileage: 31
Meeting Location: Monticello
 Departure Time: 8:00am
Moderate
MAP

The Monticello Bulldog Trail starts just west of Monticello and accesses the Bulldog trail via the Wagon Wheel trail, which is a great ride just by itself. A network of trails makes up the ride and runs from an elevation of about 7000 feet to 8500 feet. The trail traverses through several vegetative types including sagebrush, pinion and juniper woodlands, gamble oak and Ponderosa forests. Abert’s squirrels are often seen scampering amongst the Ponderosa pines. This trail is on lands that cross private, Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands. This trail is a good family ride. It will begin and end in Monticello. UTV Accessible Trail 

Bulldog
Blanding

#6

UTV Friendly

Time To Trailhead: 0 Min
Trail Mileage: 50
Meeting Location: Blanding
Departure Time 8:00am
Moderate
MAP

The Blanding Bulldog trail starts just north of Blanding. The trails that make up this ride runs from an elevation of about 6000 feet to 8500 feet. The trails traverse through several vegetative types including sagebrush, pinion, and juniper woodlands, gamble oak, and Ponderosa forests. This trail will take you past Recapture Reservoir, and archaeological ruins, and gives you great scenic views of the Abajo Mountains (or Blue Mountains as they are known by the locals). This trail would be a good family ride. UTV Accessible Trail. 

Shay Ridge
Blanding

#7

50" Limit

Time To Trailhead: 15 Min
Trail Mileage: 50
Meeting Location: Blanding
Departure Time: 8:00am
Moderate
MAP

 
 
The trail travels from the Blanding area north to summit of of the Abajo mountains and on to Shay Ridge. The trail travels though gamble oak, aspen and alpine forests, to an elevation of about 11000 feet. Breath taking views will be experienced throughout the trip. This trail is on lands managed by the National Forest Service. This trip will be an all day ride. This trail is not UTV accessible over 50 inches 

Behind
The Rocks

#8

UTV Friendly

Time To Trailhead: 70 Min
Trail Mileage: 39
Meeting Location: Monticello
Departure Time: 8:00am
Difficult
MAP

  
The La Sal Mountains provide a scenic alpine contrast along with gorgeous red rock formations and overlooks along this trail. This trail will provide you with great overlooking views of Kane Creek. You will travel over a diverse terrain, and visit Picture Frame, Balcony, and Pritchett Arches. Caution should be used on several of the terrain features along this trail. The surrounding land is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. UTV Accessible Trail 

Arch
Canyon

#9

UTV Friendly

Time To Trailhead: 20 Min
Trail Mileage: 32
Meeting Location: Blanding
Departure Time: 8:00am
Moderate
MAP

Just west of Blanding is one of the most popular trails of the local riders as well as participants of the ATV Safari. This trail will take you from South Cottonwood Canyon up and over Comb Ridge. You will travel down the old Highway 95 Dugway which will provide you with a spectacular view of Comb Wash, Little Baullie Mesa, and more. After descending Comb Ridge, it is on up Arch Canyon where you will have several stream crossings to splash through.  The Arch Canyon Trail is amazing with scenic views around every turn and has numerous archaeological sites, including Jailhouse ruins high up on the cliff face.  At the far end of the trail stands the massive Cathedral Arch. 500 yards further is its twin, Angel Arch. This trail is sponsored by Hondaland in honor of the late Ron Toomey and his contributions to the Safari. Enjoy!
UTV Accessible Trail 

River
House Ruin

#10

UTV Friendly

Time To Trailhead: 40 Min
Trail Mileage: 15
Meeting Location: Blanding
Departure Time: 8:00am
Easy
MAP

 
 
This trail was part of the Hole in The Rock Trail. Along this ride you will see the remains of the historic Barton Trading Post, San Juan Hill, Navajo Spring, Native Rock Art, and the magnificent River House Ruin. Riding up San Juan Hill is prohibited. This trail is on Bureau of Land Management lands. Sign up for this ride and you will meet at the old Bluff Fort which is a must-see location in San Juan County.
UTV Accessible Trail 

Piute
Pass

#11

UTV Friendly

Time To Trailhead: 60 Min
Trail Mileage: 46
Meeting Location: Blanding
Departure Time: 8:00am
Difficult
MAP

60 miles west of Blanding, near Lake Powell, is the old mining road known as Piute Pass. This trail travels up Wingate Mesa on an old mining dugway to "The Pass" and drops down into the rugged and remote Piute Canyon. You will pass several rock formations, including Balancing Rock, Chocolate Drop, and multiple "hoodoos". This trail presents some of the most scenic vistas in the county including White Canyon, Jacob’s Chair, the Henry Mountains, Rainbow Canyon, Lake Powell, and Good Hope Bay.  The trail is surrounded by lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. This is a daylong ride. UTV Accessible Trail 

Jacobs
Chair

#12

UTV Friendly

Time To Trailhead: 60 Min
Trail Mileage: 28
Meeting Location: Blanding
Departure Time: 8:00am
Moderate
MAP

 
This ride originates 60 miles west of Blanding in White Canyon across Highway 95 from the Piute Pass Trail. The Staging area is at Gravel Crossing. This ride will make a scenic loop up and around Jacob’s Chair, a prominent geologic feature named after an old-time cattleman named Jacob Hamlin who drowned trying to cross White Canyon during a storm. It continues on old mining roads atop the ridges in the rugged surrounding area. Desert Big Horn sheep inhabit the area. The trail is surrounded by lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. This is a daylong ride.
UTV Accessible Trail ​
 

Wooden
Shoe

#13

UTV Friendly

Time To Trailhead: 45 Min
Trail Mileage: 49
Meeting Location: Blanding
Departure Time: 8:00am
Easy
MAP

 
This trail will take you by Natural Bridges National Monument, up onto Deer Flat, and around the “shoe” and the “heel” of Wooden Shoe, a prominent landmark on Elk Ridge. This trail has many majestic views of red rock canyons, Cedar Mesa, the Bears Ears, and the Henry Mountains. You will travel through gamble oak, juniper, pinion, and ponderosa pine environments. There are many historical features along this trail, including old mines, cowboy corrals, and developed springs. UTV Accessible Trail 

North
Long Point

#14

50" Limit

Time To Trailhead: 30 Min
Trail Mileage: 76
Meeting Location: Blanding
Departure Time: 8:00am
Moderate
MAP

 
 This extraordinarily scenic ride offers outstanding views of the Abajo Mountains, South Cottonwood Canyon, Dark Canyon, Beef Basin, Round Mountain, Seven Sisters, and much more of Elk Ridge. Extra fuel is advised due to the length of the trail. This trail travels on graded county B roads and on two-track 4x4 roads and ATV trails. This trail is on land managed by the U.S. Forest Service. This trail is restricted to machines with 50" widths or less

Table
Of The Sun

#15

UTV Friendly

Time To Trailhead: 45 Min
Trail Mileage: 23
Meeting Location: Blanding
Departure Time: 8:00am
Easy
MAP

 
 
 This highly scenic trail offers views of Monument Valley, Cedar Mesa, Fry Canyon, and Red Canyon. You will also enjoy seeing several archaeological sites, and an Indian Rock Art panel. Petrified wood can be seen as you travel along the route. The trail system is made up of a number of both improved and unimproved county roads. UTV Accessible Trail 

John's
Canyon

#16

UTV Friendly

Time To Trailhead: 45 Min
Trail Mileage: 30
Meeting Location: Blanding
Departure Time: 8:00am
Easy
MAP

 
 The trail begins near Gooseneck State Park and travels along a bench overlooking the San Juan River below and Muley Point, some 920 ft above. You will ride up into historic John's Canyon with great scenic views, petroglyphs, and archaeological sites along the way. Look for a small Kokopelli petroglyph figurine etched on a bolder as you approach John’s Canyon. A Kokopelli is a fertility deity, usually depicted as a humpbacked flute player (often with feathers or antenna-like protrusions on his head), who is venerated by some Native American cultures in the Southwestern United States. UTV Accessible Trail 

Elk
Ridge

#17

UTV Friendly

Time To Trailhead: 0 Min
Trail Mileage: 63
Meeting Location: Blanding
Departure Time: 8:00am
Easy
MAP

This trail travels from South Cottonwood Canyon, through Whiskers Draw, and on up to Elk Ridge. On Elk Ridge, you will travel across the spectacular North Notch which separates Dark Canyon and North Notch Canyon. Once you’re through the notch you may visit North Notch Spring before tying into the ATV trail that will take you off North Elk and back to South Cottonwood. This section of the trail is steep and travels through a large, magnificent stand of Ponderosa Pine. This trail takes you from the desert to the high country and back to the desert. This is a longer ride but packed with scenic views, archaeological sites, and historical mining sites.
UTV Accessible Trail 

La Sal
Canopy Gap

#18

50" Limit

Time To Trailhead: 50 Min
Trail Mileage: 24
Meeting Location: Monticello
Departure Time: 8:00am
Moderate
MAP


 This trail starts at Canopy Gap on the La Sal mountains and travels north up several canyons to the base of Mount Mellenthin, one of the highest peaks in Utah. Mount Peale, the second-highest peak in Utah is also in full view.  You will be traveling through aspens and pines, and just might see a bear! If you enjoy riding in mountains, this ride is for you. Great vistas of Paradox Valley and surrounding areas are abundant. The trail gets a bit rocky at times. This trail is on SITLA land. The trail is not UTV accessible over 50-inch widths

Night
Ride

n/a

UTV Friendly

Time To Trailhead: 0 Min.
Mileage Monticello: < 28
Mileage Blanding: < 20
Meeting Location: Monticello OR Blanding Visitor Centers
 

 
 
 
This a social affair! Leaving after registration from the Visitors Centers in both Blanding and Monticello, riders will ride to a central meeting spot for a chance to make friends and enjoy a bite to eat. This ride is only scheduled for Wednesday night!!

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