If you’re looking for a fun and scenic way to explore the diverse landscapes of Utah, you might want to check out the Parker Mountain OHV Trail. This trail is part of the Paiute/Gooseberry OHV Trail System, which covers over 2,000 miles of trails across central and southern Utah. The Parker Mountain OHV Trail is a loop that runs for about 80 miles around the Parker Mountain range, offering stunning views of forests, meadows, canyons, and plateaus.
We decided to take off-road adventure on this trail and had a blast. Here’s how our day went:
Getting There
I started from the town of Loa, which is about 200 miles south of Salt Lake City. Loa is a small and friendly town that has some amenities for OHV riders, such as gas stations, restaurants, and lodging. We stayed at the Road Creek Inn in Loa, that is generally used for groups with amenities designed ideally retreats, reunions, and leisure groups. It also has a large parking lot for trailers and ATVs.
From Loa, we drove to a large dirt area used for parking trailers in the Big Rocks Recreations area five miles south of town. From here we started our adventure until we reached the Parker Mountain OHV Trailhead. There is a large sign and a map at the trailhead, as well as some picnic tables and restrooms.
The Trail
The Parker Mountain OHV Trail is marked with orange signs and arrows. It is open to all types of OHVs, such as ATVs, UTVs, motorcycles, and jeeps. The trail is mostly dirt and gravel, with some rocky sections and steep climbs and descents. The trail is rated as moderate to difficult, but we found it suitable for most riders.
The trail follows the contours of the Parker Mountain range, which rises to over 9,000 feet above sea level. Along the way we rode through Aspen groves and pine forests that provide shade and cooler temperatures on hotter days. Wildflower meadows and grasslands added color along with red rock canyons and cliffs that contrast with the green vegetation. The high plateau and ridges offered panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and mountains.
Antimony
We rode the trail to the town of Antimony located on the west side of the Parker Mountain complex where we had lunch at the Mercantile that’s famous for the juicy hamburgers. We completed the loop in about six hours, including some stops for lunch, photos, and rest. We had a great time on the Parker Mountain OHV Trail and definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys off-roading in Utah. The trail showcases some of the best natural beauty that Utah has to offer.
If you want to learn more about the Parker Mountain OHV Trail or the Paiute/Gooseberry OHV Trail System, you can visit The Paiute/Gooseberry OHV Trail Map | The Paiute Trail
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Plan ahead and prepare, travel and camp on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, minimize campfire impacts, respect wildlife, be considerate of others, support local business and honor community, history and heritage. Help us keep Utah and Capitol Reef Country’s outdoor recreation areas beautiful, healthy, and accessible.