The main road of the loop is paved, we took a side trip to warner lake 5 miles each way which was gravel. It starts with the sculptured red rock country in castle valley, climbs into the pines, aspens and high mountain lakes, then drops back into moabs red rock. The skyline drive scenic backway, also known as the utah adventure highway travels north and south across the top of the wasatch mountain plateau of the manti division. Information on travel management direction on other. Warner lake campground and cabin mantila sal national. Offering views of a varied landscape, the route climbs passed deep canyons, mountain meadows and. The snow packed road to the pass and on to dark canyon lake on the other side is a popular area for cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. The mantila sal national forest covers more than 1. I really recommend starting this road south of moab and driving towards castle valley as the sun is getting low. Mountain bike trails near mantila sal national forest. Buckboard campground in mantila sal, utah if you tuck yourself away in utahs southeast corner, youll stumble upon the wonderful buckboard campground, right at the base of. Atv utv riders will see pristine vistas, courtesy of local guides. At first the drive has low foilage and no red rocks. Entering the mantila sal national forest, the scenery will change from moabs sandstone to largest pine and aspen trees.
On these forests, use or possession of a motor vehicle inconsistent with these designations is prohibited under 36 cfr 261. In the park youll find numerous scenic overlooks, as well as opportunities for camping. The 60mile paved scenic loop begins six miles south of moab on u. The ride goes up the manti sheep trail and comes down sixmile canyon, and goes across about 6 miles of skyline drive at well over 10,000 feet with incredible views in all directions. We started it off of highway 128 and it ended at kens lake south of moab and highway 191. The geyser pass road is kept open to the restrooms and parking area at 9,600. As part of the rei coop family, were dedicated to making websites and mobile apps that help outdoor enthusiasts connect, share information and get out into the places they love to play. Running through the mantila sal national forest, its a winding mountain drive with some sharp turns and hairpin turns. The three separate mountain blocks provide islands of green rising above the desert. Best ohv off road driving trails in mantila sal national forest. Singletrack nearly the whole way except for about 1. Access to most areas is off the geyser pass road which is plowed to a parking lot.
Being next to the desert its hard to believe that snow is there year round. Sections of the road have been in place since the 1880s, when sanpete county settlers began cutting timber in nearby mountains to build homes and churches. Looking for a great trail in mantila sal national forest, utah. The maximum elevation is at mount peale, reaching 12,721 feet 3,877 m above sea level.
The ride will be 60 miles with 5500 feet of climbing. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from june until october. The forest is headquartered in price, with ranger district offices in price, ferron, ephraim, moab and monticello. There is a nice view all around and a few minor hills. Usda forest service caring for the land and serving people. Touring up through the alpine evergreens and aspens, various trailheads can be accessed. Huntingtoneccles scenic byway begins in fairview, utah. The geyser pass road is kept open to the restrooms and parking area at 9,600 feet. The manti sheep trail sixmile canyon loop is featured at the manti mountain atv run. This scenic backway has a gravel surface between the tucker rest area us hwy 6 and utah hwy 264, a distance of 24 miles.
Cabs for reflections from the fence after lunch, man and i climbed back into big butt and headed up the mountain, driving into the manti. Few roads can compete with this loop when it comes to variety. This is one of the most beautiful routes you will ride in any cycling event. Usda forest service sopa mantila sal national forest. There is a gps gpx track file at the bottom of the page. Mantila sal national forest national forest foundation. Spectacular views of both the mountains and the valley below along the loop. Oct 04, 2017 in a recent video i shared about a 4x4 trip across a mesa above moab, utah. Along the route expect views of towering mountains and precipitous canyons. Highway 191, traversing the timbered mountains with expansive views of the red rock desert below and mountain peaks above. We will start and finish in the beautiful red rocks of moab and will climb over 5,000 feet in 64 miles. How to read the sopa legend the national environmental policy act of 1969 nepa. Offering views of a varied landscape, the route climbs passed deep canyons, mountain meadows and lakes, topping out among the majestic mountaintops.
Best trails in mantila sal national forest utah alltrails. After reaching skyline drive the ride heads south and returns to manti via lowery fork. Alltrails has 34 great hiking trails, mountain biking trails, running trails and more, with handcurated trail maps and driving directions as well as. The following motor vehicle use maps have been prepared and issued under 36 cfr 212. The mantila sal national forest is located in utah and western colorado. Up for a scenic drive in moab after adventuring around town. Here visitors can find adventure, romance, and unparalleled scenery. You will see mesas and buttes used in movies and drive past steep laccolithic peaks that often serve as the backdrop in photographs of the famed delicate arch. Follow this paved road for 12 miles, then turn right onto geyser pass road, which is.
The cooler temperatures, alpine trails in varying degrees of difficulty, fewer crowds, woodsy smells are irresistible. Hiking north tent mountain and south tent mountain in. Biking in mantila sal national forest moab adventure center. After reaching the summit of fairview canyon, follow highway 31 towards huntington, or highway 264 towards scofield. We can help our clients understand the land improvement process and assist them in making the choices that will lead them to a carefree living. The maximum elevation is at mount peale, reaching 12,721 feet 3,877 m. Skyline drive scenic backway mantilasal natl forest. Bring family and friends and ride the arapeen ohv trail system one of the most scenic mountain trails in utah. The gran fondo moab will be emulating an old italian tradition. It was beautiful and in my opinion, castle valley is. Highlights include big bend recreation site, the priest and nuns rocks formations, and the mantila sal national forest. This beautiful scenic drive that climbs in elevation, has incredible views over the moab valley and canyonlands national park. Manns and tomaski peaks mantila sal national forest.
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