Rated by many industry magazines and ATV enthusiasts as one of the country’s top 5 trails, the 900+ mile Paiute Trail in south-central Utah rides like a system with no beginning and no end. Formed by connecting old roads and trails crossing the Fishlake National Forest, the Paiute has several new sections to form an interconnecting loop, making it essentially the largest trail system in the United States.
The Paiute caters to all types of riders, and promotes relaxing family riding with popular activities such as camping and fishing near the path. Trails four-feet-wide meander through deep, dense forest and there are glorious panoramic views from canyon trails at 11,000 feet altitude that offer sportsmen a chance to look hundreds of miles into the distance. Often riders will spot free-roaming wildlife: herds of deer and elk are a common sight here.
Just the main loop of the #01 trail takes an estimated 25 riding hours to cover, but with thousands of miles of marked and unmarked side forest roads and trails you could literally ride on for weeks.
High elevation trails in the Paiute are closed due to snowdrifts until early July, so the ride over the Pahvants and Sevier Plateau are ideal rides in September and October when the air is brisk and the trees are at their most colorful. In late fall, weather closes this portion of the trail for the season.
The trail system surrounds many small towns, including Salina, Richfield, Aurora, Elsinore, Monroe, Joseph, Marysvale, Junction, and Circleville – to name just a few. These are ATV-friendly spots to set up base before you explore in every direction. ATVs are allowed on designated city streets for easy access to the trail, and there are plenty of camping options, as well as hotels, restaurants, services, and ATV rentals available.
The Paiute ATV Trail is home to two notable ATV Jamboree’s, with the Fillmore National held every June – 14 choices of trail rides for over 500 riders, and the Rocky Mountain Jamboree in September that features 70 guided trail rides and annually draws over 650 riders. The Paiute also hosts the UTV Jamboree in Marysvale each August.
With the main #01 trail at over 238 miles long, riders can tackle the trails and explore the thousands of miles of side roads and forest trails that make up the Paiute in segments, and ride to their heart’s content.
