UTV ATV Off Road Trails in Southern Utah

Do you have a new toy like me? 

I just got the 2010 Polaris Ranger RZR S Side-By-Side Vehicle.  It is a total "kick in the pants" to drive, and really fun to be a passenger too.  I just couldn’t wait to get out and ride so I decided to check out some of the UTV/ATV  trails in Southern Utah.

Guess what?  I’m going to share some of my adventures with you!

For those of you who are wondering, a Polaris Ranger RZR S is like a combination between a dune buggy and a four wheel ATV. It is an UTV, which is an acronym for Utility Terrain Vehicle. Originally a UTV was used mostly for doing work, but when people started using them for sport the fun really began.

TheUTV is sometimes called a Side-By-Side, because the driver and the passenger sit side-by-side instead of one in front of the other like when you are on an ATV, or All-Terrain Vehicle. Other names for a UTV might include SxS, or RUV, which stands for Recreational Utility Vehicle. But whatever name they are known by, you can be assured of one thing, and that is a really great ride in almost any type of terrain.

The Polaris Ranger RZR S is a vehicle that is durable and mighty. It goes just about anywhere you can think of. It dominates the dessert, dunes, mountains, and even smooth rock surface climbing. It can even forge streams and plow through snow. Because of the low center of gravity the Polaris Ranger RZR S has, it makes it able to conquer any type of terrain you encounter.

• 760cc Twin Cylinder High Output EFI Engine
• Industry-Leading 12 in. (30.5 cm.) Long-Travel Suspension
• Fox Podium X® Racing Shocks With Piggyback Reservoirs
• Rolled Independent Rear Suspension (IRS)
• Maxxis® Bighorn® 26 in. Radial Tires With 12 in. Aluminum Rims

After doing an in-depth comparison of all the UTV’s out there, my husband decided on the Polaris Ranger RZR S because it just topped all the charts.  Polaris owners are satisfied customers and we certainly can be added to that list.

One of the first trips we decided to take when we got our Polaris Ranger RZR S was to the beautiful country of Southern Utah. We found that there were tons of areas to ride, with a wide variety of trails to choose from.

We Visited:

• Moab
• Escalante
• Boulder Mountain
  

In Moab the first ride we went on was to Chicken Corners. Chicken Corners gets its name from the short, but intimidating, hike that is on a ledge overlooking the Colorado River. I guess you have to have some “cajones” to walk the narrow ledge and stand out on the point, so you know we had to go there! We started out the trail at the Hurrah Pass, but you can also get there by way of Lockhart Basin.

The ride itself is fairly easy, with only a couple of spots where you have to ride close to the edge of a cliff for a little while.  It takes about two hours to do the ride, and to take the hike, but we stopped for lunch and took our time.  The scenery is totally amazing so don’t rush it! 

Along the way there are plenty of caves to explore if you are so inclined.  We found a really cool one which was totally dark on the inside; you literally could not see your hand in front of your face. These pictures don’t even do the place justice because it doesn’t really seem dark, but believe me it was DARK!  Thank goodness we came prepared with our flashlights. 

It is really important to take along emergency supplies as you are exploring or riding on the UTV trails some suggestions might be:

• Food
• Water
• Flashlights
• First-aid kit
• Rope
• Tarp or canvas material
• Blankets
• Matches

Some of the other interesting things to see along the trails in Moab as you go to Chicken Corners are the petroglyphs that are found on the rocks.  These petroglyphs, or Indian Rock Art, were made by a number of prehistoric and historic people over thousands of years.   Mostly attributed to the Anasazi, whose culture was centered in the Moab area, the petroglyphs were used as a form of communication.  Also local to the area were the Fremont, who were contemporary with the Anasazi people. 

Finally reaching our destination of Chicken Corners, we all got out of our Polaris UTV’s and took the intense hike to the point of Chicken Corners that overlooks the Colorado River.  Believe me; this hike is not for those who fear heights. The view is amazing, and we certainly had to do it so that we could experience the thrill of the adventure.  If you decide to hike to the point just make sure to watch your step, that first one off is a real doosie.

Finally back to the Polaris UTV’s we packed it up and headed home for the day.  We loved the adventures of Chicken Corners and highly recommend it for anyone who likes to be a thrill seeker. We needed to rest up for our next day’s ride which was to Onion Creek.

Feel free to join me on my next UTV adventure to Onion Creek in Moab, Utah.  Click here if you want to continue exploring more UTV trails in Southern Utah.