Off-road
Venture Off the Beaten Path on an ATV or Four Wheeler
By Dixie Brunner
ATV or OHV recreation offers real opportunity to explore off the beaten path! Rides on well-marked trails throughout southern Utah and northern Arizona provide amazing scenery and adventure for those wanting to experience off-road travel. Kanab, Utah was ranked as the #1 scenic riding area in the U.S. by Dirtwheels magazine. Responsible off highway vehicle enthusiasts from the Kanab area have worked to develop trails and create a local climate where ‘going off road’ is not only welcomed, but encouraged. Nearby Hog Canyon, located 1-1/2 miles north of Kanab, is a great place to start. You can actually drive from Kanab right to the trailhead in Hog Canyon, so you don’t even have to trailer your ATV, unless you choose to.With trail ratings from easy to difficult, OHV riders can experience scenery, challenges, adventures and fun second to none! The BLM and local four-wheel clubs joined forces to create and mark the Hog Canyon trail system. Maps are available at the BLM office. But please...stay on the trails. If you want something a little more pampered, or if you don’t own or want to rent an ATV, try a customized off-road tour through the area. A customized tour can include seeing such memorable sites as slot canyons, dinosaur tracks, remote Grand Canyon overlooks, ancient ruins, rock art, and the places where legends were really made - western movie sets! Local tour company National Park Tourz owners Tyler and Karie Cornell offer numerous tours, from ATV’s to motor coach, from hiking tours to an animal lovers tour. They also tour all the national parks – Bryce Canyon, Zion, Grand Canyon and Lake Powell. They can be reached at 866-433-8492 or check them out online at www.nationalparktourz.com. Windows of the West Hummer Tours offer four-wheel drive back country excursions to remote slot canyons, dinosaur tracks, hidden arches or ancient Indian sites and petroglyphs. Owner Bruce Speer can be reached at 888-687-3006 or you can book a tour at www.wowhummertours.com. Seldom Seen Adventures will hook you up with canyoneering, hiking, rappelling or 4 x 4 trips. “Owner Nick Smith really knows his stuff – I booked two days with him and bought detailed maps for several more days on my own. I am 110% satisfied with my trip! Nick’s knowledge, attitude and humor all made this the best trip I’ve taken in years! A big thumbs up to Seldom Seen Adventures and guide extrordinaire Nick Smith!” –Nicholas Hanson Smith can be reached at 435-689-1884 or book your next outdoor adventure online at www.seldomseenadventures.net. Dreamland Safari Tours is another Kanab-based outdoor adventure company with 30 different day tours, scheduled multi-day tours, and custom-built options. Check them out at www.dreamlandtours.net or call Will James at 435-644-5506. For more information, contact the Kane County Travel Council at 800-733-5263.
Someone is dog-gone tired after a day of riding ATV’s. Photo by Victor Cooper.
