ATV Bryce Canyon
Although there is no ATVing or off roading allowed in Bryce Canyon National Park, there are miles of excellent ATV trails throughout the region.
These trails take you through red rock country with some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Utah.
If you don’t have your own ATV, scroll down to ATV Rentals Bryce Canyon. We have a list of local rental companies with links to what they offer.
Paunsaugunt OHV Trails
Overview
- Total Trail Miles: 77 miles
- Skill Level: Mostly easy/ some moderate
- Usage: Heavy
- Open: late Spring – late Fall
- Vehicles Allowed: ATV, SxS, full size, 4×4 (ORV)
Paunsaugunt OHV Trail is the most popular and easily accessible Bryce Canyon ATV trail.
Paunsaugunt Trail is actually 6 separate loop trails that are all connected one after another. These loops are multi-use trails open to OHVs, hiking, biking and horseback riding. Most loops can accommodate full sized vehicles, but there are a couple trails that have small sections that require ATVs < 50”.
These trails open in late Spring depending on snow/conditions. To minimize damage to the roads they don’t open until the snow has melted and the roads are mostly dry.
You can still ski and snowshoe on the trails during the winter, but they’re closed to motorized traffic.
Five different parking areas are available to access the different loops. Most of the trailheads have vault toilets and loading ramps.
You can also access the ATV trails from the Ruby’s Inn campground or the gas station across from the Inn via a connector trail.
Forest Service: Paunsaugunt OHV Trail
Paunsaugunt Loops
Coyote Hollow Loop
- Trail Miles: 12 miles
- Open To: Hiking, biking, horseback riding, OHVs and full size vehicles
This 12 mile loop takes you through forested rolling hills and grasslands.
Parking for this loop is right off Hwy 12 just a few miles up the road from Ruby’s Inn. The parking area has a vault toilet.
Dave’s Hollow Loop
- Trail Miles: 7 miles
- Open To: Hiking, biking, horseback riding, OHVs and full size vehicles
This is the closest loop to Ruby Inn Campground and gas station. You can ride directly from the campground or gas station to this trail.
This loop also has a connector trail to the rest of the loops.
Trailhead parking is available at Gateway Trailhead which has a loading ramp, but no vault toilet.
This route takes you through a primarily forested area.
King Creek Loop
- Trail Miles: 17 miles
- Open To: Hiking, biking, horseback riding, OHV’s and full size vehicles
To access this trail, park at the Tropic Reservoir parking area. A loading ramp and vault toilet are available.
If you’re looking for a place to camp to explore the area, then Tropic Reservoir is going to be your best bet. Kings Creek Campground is located at the reservoir. (see camping section)
The King Creek Loop travels along the plateau through mixed conifer forest with some beautiful sweeping views along the way.
Badger Creek Loop
- Trail Miles: 30 miles
- Open To: Hiking, biking, horseback riding, OHV’s < 50”
This loop takes you through forests and past hoodoos as you drive to the top of Paunsaugunt plateau where it overlooks the town of Hatch.
Straight Canyon Loop
- Trail Miles: 19 miles
- Open To: Hiking, biking, horseback riding, OHV’s < 50”
This loop trail travels through pine and aspen forest with amazing views of the red rock hoodoos and cliffs below the mesa.
This is one of the more challenging trails – it’s winding, narrow and rutted.
Crawford Pass Loop
- Trail Miles: 8 miles
- Open To: Hiking, biking, horseback riding, OHV’s and full size vehicles
This trail is one of the more remote loops on the Paunsaugunt OHV Trail. It’s a 17 mile drive on East Fork Road off Hwy 12 to the large parking area. There is a loading ramp and vault toilet available.
This popular loop travels through pine and aspen forest along the Paunsaugunt Plateau. It offers excellent views of the red rock cliffs and hoodoos with distant views into the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Camping On The Paunsaugunt Plateau
Ride in Ride Out Camping
The only campground on the plateau is located at the Tropic Reservoir. The campground and reservoir are on a well maintained dirt road that can be reached by car or RV.
Campground is open from late May to mid September. There are two group sites that can be reserved at Recreation.gov, but the regular sites are first come, first serve with no reservations available.
Kings Creek Campground has 37 campsites on a hill overlooking the reservoir. Sites are $19+ a night and can accommodate RVs up to 45’ in length.
There are no hookups, but there is a dump station available as well as flush toilets, drinking water, picnic tables and fire rings.
This campground is located at an elevation of 8,000 ft, so keep in mind that it will be a bit cooler in spring or fall.
Bryce National Park is only 12 miles from the campground, so it’s great for exploring the region. Two hiking trails, Chimney Rock Trail and King Creek Trail, can be accessed from the campground. There are also plenty of opportunities for mountain biking on the roads and trails throughout the region.
The reservoir is stocked with fish, so it offers great fishing for brook, rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout. There’s a boat ramp, but during the later part of the summer, the water levels go down so much that the ramp is not usable.
Or bring your kayak and SUP to enjoy the view from the water.
More Bryce Canyon ATV Trails
Fremont ATV Trail
- Trail Miles: 76 miles
- Open To: Hiking, biking, horseback riding, ATV, full sized vehicles. Some sections require OHV’s < 50”
Not only is Kings Creek Campground ideal for exploring the Paunsaugunt OHV Trails, but it also has access to the Fremont ATV Trail which passes within 1/4 mile of the campground.
The Fremont ATV Trail is 76 miles long and links the Paiute ATV Trail (Circleville UT) with the Paunsaugunt Trail. It also connects with the Casto Canyon OHV Trail which is one of the most beautiful trails in the region.
There are several scenic loops along the way including: West Hunt Loop, Casto-Limekiln Loop, Horse Valley Peak Loop and Table Mountain Loop.
Great Western ATV Trail
- Trail Miles: 11 (Ruby’s Inn section)
- Open To: Hiking, biking, horseback riding, ATV, full sized vehicles
The Great Western ATV Trail is also nearby at Ruby’s Inn. This 4,455 miles trail runs from Canada to Mexico through Arizona. New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. It’s a pretty awesome ATV trail, but it’s hard to find comprehensive info on it.
One thing you need to know about the Great Western is that there are two Great Western Trail sections that run through the Escalante District – one for OHVs and one for non-motorized use. The ATV section starts at Ruby’s Inn Campground.
Casto Canyon OHV Trail
- Trail Miles: 5.5 miles (one way)
- Open To: Hiking, biking, horseback riding, OHV’s < 50”
This is the best off roading trail in the region.
Connects to the Fremont Trail.
When people envision ATVing Bryce Canyon, Casto Canyon is probably what they have in mind.
It takes you through a canyon where you can experience the red rock formations as they tower over you on the trail. You’ll pass many cliffs and red rock formations on this amazing trail.
A vault toilet is available at the trailhead.
Bryce ATV/UTV Rally
The town of Panguitch UT hosts an annual ATV Rally mid August. This event is limited to 300 registrations, so reserve early.
ATV Rentals Bryce Canyon
These are the ATV rental companies that are closest to Bryce Canyon National Park.
American ATV Rentals – Hourly/daily rentals, ATVs, SxS and dirt bikes
Ruby’s Inn ATV Tours – 1 hour guided tour of the Paunsaugunt OHV Trail. ATV and SxS
Bryce Wildlife Adventure – Hourly rentals, ATVs and SxS
Bryce Canyon ATV Adventure – Guided 1 and 3 hour tours, plus hourly vehicle rentals. The 3 hour guided tour is of Casto Canyon which is the best ride in the region.
Grand Staircase ATV – Guided tours, 2 hours to multiple day trips. They offer a 3 day guided tour with overnight stays in a vacation rental or camping on the trail.