Birds fly south for the winter and so do some butterflies, but where do ATV riders go when the snow flies? I spent some time with members of the Northern Utah ATV Trail Riders to learn where they go for winter riding. Here are some of their tips, along with some of mine.

Washington and Kane Counties

Some members of the club spend their winters in southern Utah. The chance for pleasant riding temperatures are better there than anywhere else in the state.

Home to Sand Hollow and Coral Pink Sand Dunes, these two counties also offer a greater variety of riding experiences. Within the borders of Sand Hollow State Park is Sand Mountain and Sand Hollow Reservoir. Trails wind through large rock formations and down to the lake. The coral-hued sand found at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is situated next to red rock cliffs and is laced with trails that twist through wooded areas as well as the sand.

Apple Valley is east of Hurricane toward Kanab. Ty Tyler of Roy likes to ride the Lost Spring trail in Apple Valley and the Peek-A-Boo slot canyon trail near Kanab.

“I love the narrow slot canyons and the red rock country,” he said, “but finding Indian rock art makes a trail special to me. These two trails have some of the best art I have ever seen.”

Trails go south out of Hurricane to Little Creek Mountain, the historic Honeymoon Trail, to dinosaur tracks and Indian rock art. The Gunlock area offers a variety of trails and there are great places to ride near the Virgin River Gorge.

South of the border

Traveling south of the Utah border will improve your chances of warmer riding temperatures.

Ray Smith of Kaysville likes the Logandale trail system for winter riding.

“The scenery is different from Utah’s mountain riding and the winter weather is nice,” he said. “Connector trails extend riding opportunities to the town of Overton and an area called Whitney Pockets which has some fascinating rock structures and Indian rock art.”

Located south of Mesquite and north of the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada, the Logandale trails are outstanding for their red rock formations and canyons. Connector trails extend riding opportunities to the town of Overton and an area called Whitney Pockets which has some fascinating rock structures and Indian rock art. The average temperatures in December and January are in the high 50s to low 60s.

While I have enjoyed the trails out of Logandale, another good winter ride is a trail out of Moapa, Nevada about 50 miles north of Las Vegas. Moapa was just made famous for a flash flood that washed out I-15 in that section.

The road east from the I-15 off-ramp goes on the south side of the Moapa Trading Post. It makes a curve to the northeast and just at that curve is the trailhead for the Bitter Springs Trail. This trail goes east and a little south over a ridge touching the south border of the Valley of Fire State Park.

Winter is a good time to ride this trail because the barrel cactus shows bright red this time of year. They dot the walls of the canyon like rubies.

Utah’s west desert

If you are willing to invest in some cold weather gear, the West Desert offers some great riding adventures.

West of Fillmore, the trails feature some intriguing volcanic areas and an interesting feature called The Lace Curtain. Trails out of Eureka allow the exploring of some interesting mining history. Five Mile Pass and the Pony Express Trail west of Lehi offer historic riding experiences.

South and west of Snowville starting at Kelton, trails go south to the Bangerter Pumps and Hogup Cave on the south end of the Hogup Mountains. You can ride the rail bed from Kelton west through Terrace and for miles beyond.

When you go take plenty of water, keep the rubber side down, and email me if you would like more information on places to ride in the winter.

Lynn Blamires can be reached at quadmanone@gmail.com.