Lower San Rafael Loop - Emery CO Utah

The San Rafael South Loop OHV Trail is a 65-mile, all-day ride in the desert. We spent six hours on the trail at an average speed of 10 mph. Riding consists of graded county roads, sand, and some areas of rocky two-track. Watch our videos from this trail for a closer glimpse of what you will find before you plan your trip. Points of interest include the badlands of the San Rafael Desert, the San Rafael River, and the Chaffin Ranch Geyser. * There is a single track trail that takes off from the trail we rode in on for those who like adventure on two wheels.

There is some intermediate riding on this trail particularly through the badlands of the desert. Watch our hyperlapse of the trail to see what we mean. Proximity from civilization would also dictate that this isn’t a particularly good trail for the beginner. We definitely suggest being prepared for anything and going with a group.

Some of the area we rode in is also open range for cattle. If you come upon a gate, please leave it as you found it.

You can base your trip out of Green River, Utah right off Interstate 70. Green River has options for lodging, restaurants and fuel. This is a terrific area to ride with access to hundreds of miles of trails and the vast desert that makes up the southern end of the San Rafael Swell.

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Directions From the North
Directions from the South
Facilities: Lodging, restaurants, fuel and groceries are all available in Green River. There are no services or rest stops on the trail.
OHVs: All sizes. No width limits. ATVs, MCs, UTVs, 4x4s on most trails.
Terrain: Intermediate - mostly graded county roads with some more technical riding in wash bottoms and sand.
Signage: Most trails have adequate signage but this is a good one to use your GPS on (see below).
KML File for Google Maps
GPX File for your Garmin GPS or other Apps
The closest medical help is Green River Medical Center, 585 Main Street, Green River, UT 84525. Dial 9-1-1 for emergencies or (435) 564-3434. If a hospital is required, Castleview Hospital is in Price. 300 North Hospital Drive, Price, UT 84501. Open 24 hours (435) 637-4800.
Emery County Sheriff – Green River: Dial 9-1-1 or (435) 381-2404; Utah Highway Patrol – Green River: Dial 9-1-1 or (435) 564-3474. BLM Office - Price: (435) 636-3600. We highly recommend you purchase a Utah Search and Rescue Assistant Card (USARA), learn more: https://secure.utah.gov/rescue/

GAIA

We highly recommend you get GAIA GPS for your mobile device. GAIA GPS will allow you to download this trail complete with the photos you see here so you can be sure where you are at all times. Simply install the GAIA GPS app and save this trail from the button below.

Would you like to see the trail in an animated 3D flyover map? If it appears to pause, that is likely a place I stopped for a while. It will continue, just wait a few moments. Link to 3D flyover.

Here is the 360 view at the trailhead. Feel free to tour around a bit inside Google Street Views. We have recorded the trail in 360 and it is now part of Google Street Views so you can take a virtual tour of the trail to see if it is for you. We’ve made it a bit easier to navigate, scroll down and you will see more 360 embedded tours as we encounter intersections, trail markers or interesting places along the trail.

On any image, you can click the ‘X’ in the upper right corner and the view will change to an overview map showing the Google Street View blue lines. You can click anywhere on that blue line and drop down to the 360 ground-level views at that point.

You can move the image 360 degrees, click the arrow to move further down the trail and zoom in and out to take a closer look. Clicking the box in the upper right-hand corner will enlarge to full screen for a better view.

We unloaded just outside of town but you can ride from the hotel to your trailhead if you are street legal. Turn left following the sun-worn sign pointing to the San Rafael Desert. Tracks can be faint in the San Rafael Desert this is where having the GPS track will be helpful and staying on the trail in front of you is very important in areas like this. A lone carsonite rises from the desert to mark the route. Follow it to continue south. Stay right to continue on southward. Riding through the badlands of the San Rafael Desert. Another "otherworldly" area that makes the San Rafael Desert such an interesting place to visit. There will be a carsonite over the next hill follow it to continue on straight heading south. Here you will come to a cross roads with several trail markers and trails heading in different directions. Turn right to head northwest at this junction. There is a segment of singletrack that takes off from the trail that is available motorcycles only. Head straight on the trail southwest. Head south at the trail kiosk. which intersects with other trails and State Route 24. Continuing southeast on the trail near the San Rafael River and the Lower San Rafael Wildlife Management Area. Chaffin Ranch Geyser will be your last stop before heading back on County Road 1010 to Green River. This is where the trail ties back into County Road 1010 heading to Green River.