The Paiute ATV Trail System offers a variety of scenery that represents a true picture of Utah’s backcountry. Because of its size, it is best enjoyed in segments over several days. It can also handle the 131,000 riders that rode the trail in 2023 without any traffic jams.

Seventeen towns provide access to the Paiute trails, but most provide limited services. To be ATV friendly, a city should provide lodging, gas, dining, groceries and trail access. Five are ATV friendly, but the Marysvale Complex, including Big Rock Candy Mountain, is in the middle of the system, as is the city of Richfield. I would like to focus on the features of the three on the edge of the trail system.

Salina

Situated on the north end of the trail system, Salina is a fun place to start an ATV adventure. Not only can you access the Paiute trails to the south of town, but the Gooseberry trails are a short ride to the east. You can get on the Great Western Trail from Salina and access the Arapeen Trails. I have ridden from Ephraim and Ferron to Salina. Four major motels are located near the entrance to I-70 and non-ethanol gas is available.

Lynn Blamires, Special to the Standard-Examiner

After a day on the trail, the dinner choices are good. Mom’s Café is one of my favorites. Located in a historic building on the corner of State and Main, it isn’t fancy, but you are not there for the atmosphere, you are there for Mom’s cooking. It is comfort food at its best – breakfast, lunch or dinner, you won’t leave hungry.

El Mexicano near I-70 serves all the favorite Mexican dishes. I judge a Mexican place by the salsa and the Chili Verde – this place is worth the stop. Salina also has a Denny’s and a variety of well-known fast-food places.

Fillmore

Home to the oldest ATV jamboree in Utah, Fillmore has all the markings of an ATV-friendly town. Access to the Paiute trails is east of town. I love to ride up Chalk Creek Canyon past the campgrounds alongside the creek. West of town there are the lava beds and tunnels that extend the riding season and the famous Lace Curtain, a lava formation unlike any I have seen. A favorite ride is to the hot pots west of Meadow where you can soak and gaze up at a starry night.

Dining options in Fillmore are plentiful, but much of it is fast food. I like dining at the Paradise Café, but I have also been known to get a Bahama Mama and drink at the Maverik on the south end of town. Fast food places are at the freeway exits on the north and south ends with a Five-Buck Pizza in the middle.

Lynn Blamires, Special to the Standard-Examiner

Best Western and Choice Hotels offer rooms in Fillmore with hot breakfasts on the high end. Others offer basic rooms and services. Gas options include the Maverik with non-ethanol and some truck stops.

Beaver

Beaver also has all the amenities to host a jamboree qualifying them as ATV friendly. They have two trails east of town that connect to the Paiute. They also feature east-side trails to the Picture Rock Quarry and Manderfield Reservoir. On the west side, the Mineral Mountains offer the mystique of unusual rock formations and mining history featuring charcoal kilns and ghost towns.

Dining options abound in town and famous places like Arshel’s Loaded Burger and the Crazy Cow Café are highly recommended. El Bambi is a great breakfast place and Beaver Taco is recommended by my friend Phil Bostrom, who knows good Mexican food. The Timberline is the steakhouse in town. The best ice cream is at the Creamery.

Plenty of rooms are available in Beaver with some national chains and a few privately owned motels. Non-ethanol gas is available on the north end of town.

Photo supplied

These towns welcome the ATV community. They have places to ride, stay, eat and the gas to keep you going. When you go, take plenty of water, keep the rubber side down and enjoy the ride.