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| Home > Utah > San Rafael Swell |
San Rafael Swell
Saturday, December 23, 2023
| Other Names | San Rafael Bridge Campground, San Rafael Swell, Book Cliffs And San Rafael Swell, Book Cliffs Recreation Area, Temple Mountain Trail Area, Five Miles of Hell, Dick Brass Trail System, 5MOH, Moab, Emery County |
| Last Known Status | Open |
This popular area consists of two separate trail systems. The southern area known as Temple Mountain is well suited for ATV riders and consists mostly of sandy washes and scenic jeep trails of low to moderate difficulty.
The Five Miles of Hell Trail to the north is actually 9.6 miles long and open only to dirt bikes and mountain bikes. This epic trail features narrow canyons, sharp rock climbs, off camber rock face turns, and pockets of fine sand so it is recommended for experienced riders only. There are three 'bailout' trails as well but routes are often marked only by a dash of white paint on the rocks so it's easy to lose the trail temporarily. Carry some water, snacks, first aid, spare levers and basic tools because this trail is no joke.
Both of these trail systems are very scenic and remote but there are no services at the campgrounds. Nearby Goblin Valley State Park has developed campgrounds and potable water and there are a host of other attractive tourism activities available in the immediate area including river rafting, fishing, golfing and historic sight seeing.
REGULATIONS
| Permit Required | Yes | UT OHV Sticker |
| Dates Open | Year-Round | |
| Other ATV Stickers Accepted | No | Non-residents must purchase a non-resident OHV permit. |
| Spark Arrestor | Yes | A spark arresting exhaust silencer or end cap is required for all vehicles. |
| Noise Limit | Yes | |
| Whip Flags | Not Required | |
| Maximum Vehicle Width | ||
 Motorcycles & Dirt Bikes | Permitted | |
 ATVs | Some Areas | not permitted on Five Miles of Hell Trail |
 UTV & SXS | Some Areas | not permitted on Five Miles of Hell Trail |
 SUVs & Jeeps (registered) | Prohibited | |
| Dune Buggy & Sand Rail 4x4 (unregistered) | Prohibited | |
| 2 Stroke Engines | No Restriction | |
| MX Helmet Required | Youth Only | required for persons under 18 by state law (RiderPlanet strongly recommends helmets for all riders.) |
 Camping | No Restriction | (camp anywhere) |
 Campfires | ||
| Night Riding | Yes | Not Recommended |
| Trail Blazing | Prohibited | stay on trail |
| Rule Enforcement | ||
| Comment | No specific decibel limit but excessive mechanical noise is prohibited. | |
TERRAIN
| Approx Size | 1,280,000 acres (2,000 sq mi) | |
| Miles Of Trail | 30 | |
| Climate Type | Desert | |
| Elevation | 5500 to 6500 ft. | |
| Trail Maintenance | Marked, Not Rated, Lightly Maintained | trails are marked with white paint dashes painted on rocks |
| Loose Dirt |  Little | |
| Hard Pack |  Mostly | |
| Sand |  Some | |
| Mud | Little | |
| Dust | Little | |
| Rocks | Mostly | |
| Trees |  Few | |
| Steep Hills | Some | |
| Single Track |  All | |
| Hazards |  Many | (hazards assumed marked but use caution) Beware of cliffs. sharp rocks and big consequences on the expert trails |
 Novice | Little | (Temple Mountain) |
 Amateur | Some | (Temple Mountain) |
 Expert | Mostly | (Five Miles of Hell) |
TYPE OF AREA
| Area | Motorized Trails |
| Land | BLM |
KEY SERVICES
 Gasoline | 5-20 Miles (S) | Phillips 66 (435) 542-3298 |
| Diesel | 5-20 Miles (S) | Phillips 66 (435) 542-3298 |
 Water | 5-20 Miles (S) | Goblin Valley State Park (435) 275-4584 |
 RV Hookup | 5-20 Miles (S) | Red Rock Steakhouse & Campground (435) 542-3235 |
 RV Disposal | 5-20 Miles (S) | Goblin Valley State Park (435) 275-4584 |
| Campground | On Site | |
 Conv Store | 5-20 Miles (S) | Phillips 66 (435) 542-3298 |
FEES & PASSES
| Parking | (None) |
| Entry | (None) |
| Riding | (None) |
| Camping | (None) |
RATINGS
| Our Rating |  Very Good |
| Recommended Stay | 1-2 Days |
| Comments | (Scroll Down For Rider Reviews & Comments) |
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
| Nearest City | Hanksville, UT | ||
| From: Moab, UT
1) Take US-191 North about 50 miles 2) Take Exit for I-70 West, continue 82 miles to exit 149 3) Turn left (south) off the exit ramp onto SR-24, continue 24 miles 4) Turn right (west) on Temple Mountain Road, continue 5.7 miles 5) Campground entrance is on the left (south). Note: The above directions are for South Temple Wash Campground. The directions below are for Five Miles of Hell Staging Area. 6) Take US-191 North about 50 miles 7) Take Exit for I-70 West to Exit 131 8) Turn left (south) off the exit ramp onto Temple Mountain Road, proceed under freeway 9) Veer right (west) to stay on Temple Mountain Road, continue 6.6 miles 10) Staging area is on the left (east). |
OFFICIAL CONTACTS
| Contact Info | BLM - Price Field Office 125 South 600 West Price, UT 84501 (435) 636-3600 utprmail@blm.gov www.blm.gov |
| Contact Info | Sage Riders Motorcycle Club 57 W 700 S Ephraim, UT 84627 sageriders@hotmail.com www.sageridersmc.com |
| Contact Info | Utah State Parks OHV Education Office 1594 W North Temple, Suite 116 Salt Lake City, UT 84116 (800) 648-7433 ohveducation@utah.gov stateparks.utah.gov |
| Comment | OHV Permit Info |
San Rafael Swell Trail Photo
Photo Submitted 5/4/2012 (Thanks!)
San Rafael Swell Trail Photo
Photo Submitted 5/4/2012 (Thanks!)
San Rafael Swell Trail Photo
Photo Submitted 5/4/2012 (Thanks!)
San Rafael Swell Trail Photo
Photo Submitted 5/4/2012 (Thanks!)
RIDER COMMENTS & REVIEWS