Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument covers 1.9 million acres of public lands in southern Utah, with over 900 miles of routes available for vehicle travel. Off-highway vehicles (OHVs) are restricted to certain designated roads in the Monument.
The motorized OHV category includes cars, trucks, dune buggies, jeeps, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), dirt bikes and motorcycles, SUVs, and bicycles. Street-legal motorized vehicles - four-wheel-drive and mechanized vehicles (including bicycles) - are allowed on approximately 908 miles of routes in the Monument. Non-street-legal all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and dirt bikes are allowed on approximately 553 miles of the designated routes.
Access to some roads may require ATVs and dirt bikes to be hauled in via other transport.
Visitors are responsible for knowing regulations on OHV use. Call 1-800-OHV-RIDE to learn about Utah OHV regulations.
Cross-country travel is prohibited, which includes dry washes. Check at a Monument visitor center for maps and information before your trip begins. Brochure maps are also located at portal kiosks on Skutumpah, Cottonwood, and Hole-in-the-Rock Roads.
Dirt roads in the Monument range from moderately rough to challenging. Please, tread lightly to maintain the primitive characteristics of the land. Drive responsibly:
- Stay on designated roads and stay off wet roads - tires create deep ruts.
- Leave gates (open or closed) as you find them.
- Bring a shovel in case you get stuck.
- If you pack it in, pack it out - including toilet paper.
- Carry good maps.
- Be prepared to spend the night if you get stranded; bring extra food, water, and clothing.
- Cell phone coverage is sparse. Bring a signal mirror as a backup communication device.
Suggested Off-Highway Vehicle Routes by Region
Non-street legal all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and dirt bikes will be restricted to those routes designated as open for their use. Non-street legal ATVs and dirt bikes will be allowed on approximately 553 miles of the 908 miles of routes designated open to street legal vehicles in the Frontcountry, Passage, and Outback Zones; no routes will be designated open to these vehicles in the Primitive Zone.
Great Western Trail
The Great Western Trail (GWT) is a corridor of multiple-use trails that traverse north to south from Canada to Mexico. Recreation opportunities on the GWT may include four-wheel driving, ATV travel, hiking, horseback riding, snowmobiling, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing. However, it is not feasible, nor is it the intent of the GWT to accommodate all modes of transportation on every portion of the route.
A section of the GWT passes through the Monument on 46.5 miles of designated open roads. The route runs north to south, through the Podunk Creek, Deer Springs Wash, Nephi Pasture, and Seaman Wash areas. It follows varied terrain, from deep sandy roads to sections that are muddy when wet, as well as 7 miles of the Skutumpah Road. Much of the route is subject to washouts and flooding.
