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| Home > Utah > River House Ruins |
River House Ruins
Saturday, December 23, 2023
| Other Names | San Juan River Recreation Management Area, Comb Wash, San Juan Hill, Navajo Spring, Snake Canyon, Butler Wash, Rincone Trading Post, Snake House Ruins, Mule Ear |
| Last Known Status | Open |
This scenic area offers about 10 miles of mostly hard packed and sandy trails that follow the San Juan River. The trail heads south from Highway 163 for about four miles and then turns east around San Juan Hill for a few miles.
Interesting sights along the way include an old abandoned ranch, the foundation of a trading post from 1850 plus the ancient ruins that at one time was the home of the Ancestral Puebloans. The ruins also contain petroglyphs, pottery and stone tool fragments.
Overall this is area makes for a nice day trip. For those on street legal machines looking to make a longer trip head back out to Hwy 163, heading west and taking the first dirt road on the right (north). This is S Comb Wash Road, which eventually ties into the Arch Canyon Trails.
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 | No Restriction | |
 Motorcycles & Dirt Bikes | Permitted | |
 ATVs | Permitted | |
 UTV & SXS | Permitted | |
 SUVs & Jeeps (registered) | Permitted | |
| Dune Buggy & Sand Rail 4x4 (unregistered) | Permitted | |
| 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 | Unknown | Not Recommended |
| Trail Blazing | Prohibited | keep on the trail |
| Rule Enforcement |
TERRAIN
| Miles Of Trail | 10 | |
| Climate Type | Desert | |
| Elevation | 4200 to 4400 ft. | |
| Trail Maintenance | Marked, Not Rated, Lightly Maintained | Trails are marked with wooden posts. |
| Loose Dirt |  Little | |
| Hard Pack |  Some | |
| Sand |  Mostly | |
| Mud | Little | |
| Dust | Little | |
| Rocks | Some | |
| Trees | Some | |
| Steep Hills |  Few | |
| Water Crossings | Some | |
| Small Jumps |  None | |
| Large Jumps | None | |
| Berms | None | |
| Sand/Gravel Pits | None | |
| Single Track | None | |
| Roads | Few | |
| Shade | Few | |
| Hazards | Few | (hazards assumed marked but use caution) |
 Novice | Mostly | |
 Amateur | Little | |
 Expert | None |
TYPE OF AREA
| Area | Motorized Trails |
| Land | BLM |
GPS POINTS
KEY SERVICES
 Gasoline | 1-5 Miles (E) | K&C Trading Post (435) 672-2221 |
| Diesel | 1-5 Miles (E) | K&C Trading Post (435) 672-2221 |
 Water | 1-5 Miles (E) | Sand Island Campground (435) 587-1504 |
 RV Hookup | 1-5 Miles (E) | Cadillac Ranch RV Park (800) 538-6195 |
 RV Disposal | 1-5 Miles (E) | Cadillac Ranch RV Park (800) 538-6195 |
| Campground | 1-5 Miles (E) | Sand Island Campground (435) 587-1504 |
 Conv Store | 1-5 Miles (E) | K&C Trading Post (435) 672-2221 |
FEES & PASSES
| Parking | (None) |
| Entry | (None) |
| Riding | (None) |
| Camping | (None) |
RATINGS
| Our Rating |  Very Good |
| Recommended Stay | Full Day |
| Comments | (Scroll Down For Rider Reviews & Comments) |
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
| Nearest City | Bluff, UT | ||
| From: Blanding, UT
1) Take US-191 south about 30 miles 2) Continue west past the intersection for US-191 and US-163 3.6 miles 3) Turn left (south) onto an unmarked dirt road CR 2351, continue about 1 mile 4) Look for old wooden corrals, stage here. |
OFFICIAL CONTACTS
| Contact Info | BLM - Monticello Field Office 365 North Main Street Monticello, UT 84535 (435) 587-1510 utmtmail@blm.gov www.blm.gov |
| 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 |
River House Ruins Trail Photo
Photo Submitted 10/23/2015 (Thanks!)
River House Ruins Trail Photo
Photo Submitted 10/23/2015 (Thanks!)
River House Ruins Trail Photo
Photo Submitted 10/23/2015 (Thanks!)
River House Ruins Trail Photo
Photo Submitted 10/23/2015 (Thanks!)
River House Ruins Trail Photo
Photo Submitted 10/23/2015 (Thanks!)
RIDER COMMENTS & REVIEWS