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Two riders make it to the top of the hill in the Foothills of Ferron.

Courtesy Lynn R. Blamires

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A line of riders coming to climb the hill in the Foothills of Ferron. Millsite Reservoir is in the background.

Courtesy Lynn R. Blamires

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Ferron is a little town in Emery County about 30 miles south of Price, Utah, on State Route 10. There are approximately 1,546 people who call it home, but driving through town, you won’t see many of them. They are spread out across farms or working jobs related to mining and energy.

You won’t find a Walmart here, but Ferron is a hot spot for outdoor recreation. Situated between the magnificent Manti La-Sal Mountains and the mysterious San Rafael Swell, it is a Mecca for the OHV community. Six hundred miles of ATV trail beckon riders to explore the mountains east of Ferron, and 1,355 miles of trail are open to adventure in the canyons of the Swell. Aside from this aspect of recreation, Millsite Reservoir State Park, a short drive east of Ferron, offers fishing, boating, and a golf course.

Brad and Julie Benson are very aware of these recreational opportunities. They own and operate the Big Mountain Lodge in the middle of town. Recently, they hosted about 45 members of the NUATV club and about 20 members of another club. Considering the comfortable rooms and cabins they offer at the lodge, a well-stocked convenience store, a hot deli, the burger joint across the street, and their smoked BBQ menu, we were happy campers.

With that being said, the club was there to ride. Thursday was a travel day for the planned ride in the San Rafael Swell, but for those who arrived early enough, I planned a ride in the foothills east of town. Twenty-three machines filled with people lined up at about 2 p.m. to see where I would take them.

I happened upon these trails two years ago in the spring, when a seasonal ATV gate was closed on a trail through the Black Dragon Canyon. We were there too early, and I didn’t have a plan B. Heading back down the canyon, I was looking for a trail that might save the day, while at the same time, trying to act like I knew what I was doing.

Just as we were passing the state park, I noticed a dirt road across from the golf course that headed south. I dropped the rider behind me to direct traffic to follow. We rode a trail into a world that wound through juniper trees, taking us up and down the foothills above Ferron. We arrived at the edge of a steep cliff that overlooked Ferron, where we took a break to enjoy the view.

We enjoyed that ride enough to take it again the next year. I hadn’t downloaded the GPS track, so again, I was winging it. The trail we took this time took us up a ridge with steep drops on both sides. It made a tight turn and then a steep climb up the side of a cliff on a narrow trail, with a steep drop-off into the canyon to the left. A Jeep would have never made it.

I stopped at the top to watch the other riders negotiate the trail. We gathered around to hear some of the ladies talk about how they thought they were going to die. I enjoyed the look on their faces when I told them we were going back the way we came.

This is the third year we have ridden the foothills on the evening of the travel day. Once again, I was going on memory – only pride kept me from telling anyone that I didn’t know exactly where I was going. I have to remember to download those tracks!

We made the turn across from the golf course, and I found the trail leading to the cliff overlooking Ferron. After a break, I wanted to find the other trail that climbed the cliffside, but I wasn’t sure about the turn that would take us there. I led everyone back to the golf course, thinking to explore a different trail. It turned out to be a short dead-end loop.

Turning back, I was determined to find the turn. I did, and 22 machines followed me up the trail. During that climb, all I could see was blue sky until the trail leveled out on top.

The challenge made the ride fun because nobody died, physically anyway. It is amazing what UTVs can do. When you go, take plenty of water, keep the rubber side down, and make a reservation at the Big Mountain Lodge. It is a great place to stage a ride.

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