You’ll find incredible ghost town adventures across Utah’s backcountry using your ATV to explore the Paiute Trail System‘s 1,500+ miles connecting forgotten settlements like Kimberly Ghost Town and Alunite ruins. Hit the Outlaw Trail to reach Rector and Dragon’s mining remnants, cruise paved spurs to Historic Grafton near Zion, or tackle the Tintic Mining District‘s silver camp ruins. From Capitol Reef’s high-elevation Notom settlement to Eureka’s preserved mining heritage, these trails offer unforgettable glimpses into Utah’s abandoned past and hidden historical treasures.
Key Takeaways
- Rector and Dragon Ghost Towns near Vernal offer moderate ATV trails through gilsonite mining ruins and building foundations.
- Historic Grafton Settlement near Zion provides easy ATV access to five original structures including an adobe schoolhouse.
- Tintic Mining District features ATV trails to Silver City ruins and abandoned silver mine shafts in East Tintic Mountains.
- Paiute ATV Trail System connects over 1,500 miles to forgotten settlements like Kimberly Ghost Town and Alunite ruins.
- Capitol Reef Country offers high-elevation ghost town access including 1883-settled Notom via Burro Wash East trails.
Rector and Dragon Ghost Towns via Outlaw Trail System
When you’re craving an authentic ghost town adventure that combines Utah’s mining history with thrilling ATV trails, the Rector and Dragon loop through the Outlaw Trail System delivers exactly what serious riders seek.
Located near Vernal in Uintah County, this moderate 5/10 difficulty trail takes you through two fascinating mining settlements connected by Dragon Canyon and Rector Ridge.
This moderate trail winds through two historic mining settlements via Dragon Canyon and Rector Ridge near Vernal.
You’ll discover Dragon’s gilsonite mining remnants first—foundations, mine adits, and infrastructure tell stories of early extraction operations.
The Rector ruins await at the northern terminus, where building remains and mining artifacts paint vivid pictures of frontier life. Deep gilsonite shafts once exceeded 1,000 feet, creating the wealth that built these communities.
Dragon history unfolds naturally as you navigate desert canyons and ridge climbs on this unforgettable day trip. The terrain features desert paths reminiscent of other historic mining areas throughout Utah’s backcountry. Like other regions throughout Utah, this area attracts a diverse population of motorsports enthusiasts drawn to the marked trails and infrastructure.
Historic Grafton Settlement Near Zion National Park
Why settle for ordinary ghost town experiences when you can explore Utah’s most photogenic abandoned settlement just minutes from Zion’s towering red cliffs? Historic Grafton offers ATV riders an accessible adventure through preserved 1860s Mormon pioneer history.
You’ll ride paved roads to Rockville, then follow unpaved spurs to the ghost town’s parking area. Five original structures await exploration—including an adobe schoolhouse, restored homes, and historic cemetery. Grafton history reveals fascinating flood impact: the 1862 Virgin River deluge destroyed the original settlement, forcing survivors to rebuild upriver.
Watch for seasonal flooding that can affect trail access. Stay on designated routes to protect fragile buildings featured in classic westerns like “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” This National Register site delivers cinematic desert atmosphere with convenient staging possibilities. The settlement reached its peak population of 160 residents before the Black Hawk Indian War forced temporary evacuation to nearby Rockville. The community once thrived as a successful orchard operation producing peaches, apricots, and apples along the vital Salt Lake City to California route.
Paiute ATV Trail System Ghost Town Adventures
You’ll find Utah’s most extensive ghost town hunting grounds along the sprawling Paiute ATV Trail system, where over 1,500 miles of interconnected routes link abandoned mining camps scattered across south-central Utah’s rugged terrain.
This legendary trail network transforms your ATV into a time machine, connecting you to forgotten settlements like Kimberly Ghost Town and the WWI-era Alunite ruins through clearly marked spurs and side routes. The trails showcase remnants of the Bullion Canyon gold rush that sparked settlement across these remote mountain valleys in the mid-19th century.
The system’s strategic staging towns—Marysvale, Koosharem, Monroe, and Richfield—serve as your base camps for multi-day ghost town expeditions across some of the West’s most historically rich mining districts. These adventures unfold within the Fishlake National Forest, where federal management ensures trail maintenance and preservation of both natural landscapes and historic mining sites.
Trail System Overview
Stretching across 2,000+ miles of Utah’s rugged central highlands, the Paiute ATV Trail System transforms your ghost town hunting into an epic backcountry adventure.
This massive network spans four counties and connects forgotten settlements through scenic routes that’ll take your breath away. You’ll navigate everything from gentle forest roads to challenging mountain passes, with trail accessibility designed for most skill levels.
The system’s strategic design maximizes your exploration potential:
- 238-mile main loop connects multiple ghost town regions in one epic ride
- 1,000+ miles of side trails lead to hidden settlements off the beaten path
- Multiple trailheads from Marysvale, Circleville, and Junction provide flexible starting points
- 25-hour continuous riding time allows multi-day expeditions with overnight camping
You’ll discover authentic freedom as these interconnected trails reveal Utah’s most remote historical treasures. The trails traverse the Fishlake National Forest, offering diverse terrain and elevations that once supported thriving mining communities. The Paiute ATV Trail Committee provides ongoing support through fundraising and management assistance to ensure optimal trail conditions for your ghost town expeditions.
Historic Mining Sites
When you venture beyond the main Paiute Trail corridors, dozens of authentic mining ghost towns await discovery through challenging spur routes that’ll test your ATV skills and reward you with untouched historical sites.
Kimberly Ghost Town offers stone ruins and mine tailings accessible via spur #13, where you’ll navigate rocky terrain to explore authentic mining layouts.
The Silver King and Old Bully Boy cluster delivers high-elevation adventures with switchback approaches leading to collapsed adits and tailings that showcase hardrock mining techniques from the late 1800s.
At Alunite, you’ll discover concrete processing foundations from 20th-century industrial operations, while Marysvale serves as your basecamp with museum exhibits explaining local ghost town history. The trail system offers colorful rides that make these historical sites accessible for easy exploration of the surrounding mining heritage.
Each site demands respect—stay on designated routes, avoid unstable structures, and leave artifacts untouched for future explorers. An interactive map helps identify recreation areas and historic sites across the extensive trail network from Puffer Lake to Manning Meadows Reservoir.
Tintic Mining District Ghost Town Exploration
Deep in Utah’s East Tintic Mountains, the remnants of a silver mining empire await your ATV exploration across trails that wind through one of the state’s most historically rich ghost town districts.
Utah’s East Tintic Mountains hold silver mining ruins and ghost town trails perfect for adventurous ATV exploration through authentic frontier history.
The Tintic history spans from 1869’s silver discovery to recent revival, offering authentic mining heritage experiences you can’t find elsewhere.
Your machine will navigate past foundations of Silver City, abandoned since 1890, while Eureka’s surviving main street provides the perfect basecamp.
With hundreds of underground workings and scattered historic records in weathered buildings, you’re riding through genuine frontier territory.
Essential Tintic District ATV Stops:
- Silver City ghost town ruins at Dragon Canyon’s mouth
- Eureka’s National Register historic buildings and mining museum
- Abandoned mine shaft entrances throughout the valley
- Scattered foundations of forgotten settlements surrounding the district
Eureka City Mining Heritage and Surrounding Trails
Every weathered headframe dotting the ridgelines around Eureka tells the story of Utah’s silver boom, and your ATV can access most of these historic mine sites through a network of county roads and BLM trails that branch out from this remarkably preserved mining town.
You’ll ride past the Chief Consolidated hoist house where 1950s machinery sits frozen in time, then climb toward Eureka Hill’s mining structures that once made this district one of America’s top silver producers.
The downtown’s intact courthouse and depot anchor your exploration, while two-track corridors lead to abandoned workings and tailings piles across the Tintic Range.
Check land ownership before riding—private properties intermix with public access throughout this National Register district rich in Eureka history.
Capitol Reef Country High-Elevation Ghost Town Access
Moving east from Eureka’s silver-scarred ridges, Capitol Reef country opens up an entirely different domain of high-elevation ghost town adventures where your ATV will climb through red rock canyons toward abandoned settlements perched on desert mesas.
Desert mesas cradle forgotten settlements where red rock canyons guide ATVs toward high-elevation ghost town adventures.
Notom ghost town, settled in 1883 and once home to 23 families, sits near Capitol Reef’s eastern edge. You’ll find excellent ATV access through moderate-rated trails like Burro Wash East, connecting to the Notom-Bullfrog Road just 9.3 miles east of the Visitor Center.
Essential Capitol Reef ATV Access Points:
- Notom-Bullfrog Road – Primary gateway to backcountry ghost town remnants
- Burro Wash East – Moderate ATV trail leading to settlement ruins
- Tidwell Slopes near Loa – High-elevation access to abandoned mining camps
- Angel Point Trail – Easy ATV route connecting historical sites
Essential ATV Equipment and Safety for Ghost Town Exploration
You’ll need proper safety gear and reliable guidance tools before tackling Utah’s remote ghost town trails on your ATV.
DOT-approved helmets, eye protection, and sturdy gloves aren’t just recommended—they’re your lifeline when exploring rugged sites like Dragon or charting the challenging Paiute Trail terrain.
Your GPS device or onX Offroad app becomes critical when you’re miles from civilization, hunting down abandoned mining camps where cell service disappears and trail markers fade.
Mandatory Safety Gear
When exploring Utah’s remote ghost towns by ATV, proper safety gear becomes your lifeline against the harsh desert conditions and crumbling structures that define these abandoned settlements.
You’re venturing into territories where help isn’t coming quickly, making safety compliance and gear maintenance non-negotiable aspects of your adventure.
Your essential protection checklist includes:
- DOT-certified helmet with impact-resistant goggles – Utah mandates helmets for riders under 18, but smart riders wear them regardless.
- Abrasion-resistant jacket and reinforced gloves – Desert thorns and mining debris won’t show mercy on exposed skin.
- Over-the-ankle puncture-resistant boots – Ghost town rubble hides sharp metal and rotted wood that’ll pierce standard footwear.
- CE-rated chest protector – Rocky descents around unstable mining structures demand serious impact protection.
Beyond protective gear, your ability to navigate Utah’s backcountry ghost towns and communicate with your riding group determines whether you’ll discover hidden mining camps or spend hours circling sagebrush in circles.
GPS Apps like onX Offroad and Gaia GPS provide offline maps with trail difficulty ratings and ghost town waypoints. Download everything before entering cell-dead zones.
Dedicated Units such as Garmin Tread XL handle vibration better than phones, offering glove-friendly screens and preloaded Forest Service trails.
Don’t skip Paper Maps as GPS backup—visitor centers stock detailed trail maps covering preserved ghost towns.
Communication Tools like Garmin InReach messaging keep groups connected in remote areas.
Route Planning with Offline Navigation guarantees you’ll reach those elusive mining ruins without technology failures derailing your freedom-seeking adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Permits or Fees Are Required to Access Utah Ghost Towns by ATV?
You’ll need Utah’s OHV permit ($30 for non-residents, $35 for residents) plus safety course completion. These permit requirements and fee structures grant trail access to Utah’s remote ghost towns, giving you freedom to explore historic adventures.
Are Camping Facilities Available Near Ghost Town ATV Trail Systems?
You’ll find excellent camping options near ghost town trails, from primitive streamside sites to full-hookup RV spots. Nearby amenities include direct trail access, supplies, and mercantiles supporting your freedom-seeking adventures.
Can Children Safely Participate in ATV Ghost Town Exploration Tours?
Yes, but forget jungle gyms—you’ll need serious safety measures and constant child supervision. Children 4+ can explore ghost towns via guided UTV tours with proper restraints, helmets, and certified guides ensuring thrilling yet secure adventures.
What’s the Best Time of Year to Visit Utah’s Ghost Towns by ATV?
Early fall delivers the best seasons for your ghost town adventures, offering stable weather conditions, mild temperatures, and fewer crowds. You’ll experience ideal trail access without summer’s thunderstorms or winter’s snow closures blocking your freedom.
Are Guided ATV Tours Available for Utah Ghost Town Exploration?
You’ll discover hidden treasures as local operators throughout southern Utah offer guided tours combining off-road thrills with historic exploration. These adventure outfitters provide expert commentary while traversing remote trails to authentic ghost towns.
References
- https://capitolreefcountry.com/atv/
- https://www.utah.com/listing/rector-dragon-trail/17345/
- https://www.visitutah.com/articles/riding-the-arapeen-trails
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRxiHnauGJg
- https://www.getyourguide.com/virgin-utah-l125303/exclusive-access-zion-jeep-tour-and-grafton-ghost-town-exper-t441389/
- https://www.onxmaps.com/offroad/blog/ghost-towns-off-roading
- https://www.standard.net/lifestyle/recreation/2024/sep/05/atv-adventures-3-favorite-ohv-destination-rides-in-northern-utah/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VNjvQY1atg
- https://www.utahvalley.com/blog/post/atv-trails/
- https://www.visitutah.com/articles/off-roading-in-central-utah-exploring-the-atv-ohv
