Ride Utah: Find adventure in Garfield County

Utah is an off-highway riding mecca, and Garfield County is one of the most popular places to go, featuring thousands of miles of back roads and trails.

There are many options to access the trails. The town of Panguitch is a favorite place to use for a base camp. Panguitch has restaurants, gas stations and several motels and lodges. There are also campgrounds that offer full hookups for RVs or tent camping sites.

It’s best to take everything you need for a full day of riding before you head out on your journey. That means food, water, extra clothes, first-aid supplies, tools, a tire patch kit, map, cellphone and extra gas.

To access the Casto Canyon and Limkiln OHV trails from Panguitch, ride along Highway 89 south out of town to the first dirt road on the left. This will take you to the trailhead.

From here, you can ride on either the Casto Canyon or Limkiln trails. These trails link up with other trails and roads so there are thousands of miles to ride.

Be prepared for some spectacular scenery, with sandstone cliffs, red rock and even forested areas of ponderosa pines. Be careful around dry riverbeds since quick thunderstorms can fill them quickly. The Limeklin trail ends near the Panguitch Airport.

Utah OHV rules include: Riders and passengers under age 18 must wear helmets while helmets, gloves, abrasion-resistant clothing and over-the-ankle boots are recommended for everyone. Youth 8-15 years of age must possess an OHV education certificate before operating an OHV on public land.

Also, be alert to oncoming traffic, especially on blind curves or in dips and crests of hills. It’s illegal to operate an OHV while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Lights must be used between sunset and sunrise.

Mufflers with an approved spark arrester are required on all OHVs.

For more trail information, go to utah-trails.com.