ATV Adventures: ATV-friendly Utah cities for you to visit in 2025
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- Riding the rugged trails west of Green River.
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- Riding onto the forest trails west of Richfield.
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- Riding in the raw and rugged beauty of the backcountry west of Green River.
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- Lynn Blamires
This is the third in a series of articles I have written on ATV-friendly cities in Utah. My purpose is to provide some ideas you can refer to when making your riding plans in 2025. These cities have the amenities you are looking for when planning ATV adventures, including motels, places to eat, gas to keep you going and trails to ride.
Richfield
Like Marysvale, Richfield is located in the middle of the Paiute ATV Trail System, the largest system of trails in the country. When you drive by Richfield on Interstate 70 and see a large, pink water tank in the hills to the north of town, be aware that it is a landmark for one of the key access points to the Paiute trails. From Richfield, you can ride north, south, east and west into some of the most beautiful trails in Utah.
Palates are easy to please in Richfield due to the large range of eateries in town including Mexican, Chinese, popular fast-food franchises, local drive-ins, barbecue joints, grills and cafes. I like to plan rides through Richfield for this very reason.
I was dining on delicious comfort food in the Little Wonder Café after a day on the trail when I looked out the window. I saw a guy lose his balance on a big Honda Gold Wing motorcycle. I started to get up to see if I could help right that monster, but before I could, several people came to his aid. I couldn’t help but be grateful that I had four wheels on my machine and didn’t have to worry about falling over.
Motel choices abound in Richfield. Many of the major hotel names offer lodging, and many of them include a hot breakfast. Non-ethanol gas is also available in town.
Green River
When choosing to use Green River as a base for four-wheeling fun, it is important to indicate which Green River. I was lining up a group of riders for a ride out of Green River when I got a call from a couple who was signed up for the ride asking where we were meeting in Green River, Wyoming. They didn’t make the ride.
Green River, Utah, has access to some amazing trails. South of town is the trailhead for the Orange Trail. I don’t know why it has that name, but it is a fun trail that goes through some otherworldly terrain connecting with the White Sand Dunes riding area to the south. At the south end of the dunes, there is a slick rock area worth visiting.
North of town is access to Tusher Canyon, which is dotted with Native American petroglyphs. The trail continues to a beautiful overlook of the Green River and includes trails that travel along the face of the Book Cliffs.
Trails west of town connect with the historic Old Spanish Trail and the Buckmaster Trail. Green River is also a base for access to the San Rafael Swell trails. Green River is warm enough for early spring riding.
Green River doesn’t have a plethora of restaurants, but you won’t go hungry. Ray’s Tavern is known for its burgers and steaks. I got in trouble for taking my 12-year-old grandson there. We had a great meal, but when we got home, he told everyone that Grandpa took him to a tavern where they served — BEER! I didn’t have a chance after that to defend myself. I thought the food was great.
The Tamarisk Restaurant sits on the banks of the Green River on the east side of town. The views of the river from your table make it a fun place to eat. The food is American and delicious.
Green River also has a Blimpie, a Subway, pizza, Mexican food, a local drive-in, Arby’s and a coffee shop. As a backup, you can always get a dog and a drink at the Maverik. Maverik will also take care of your non-ethanol gas needs.
Motels in Green River include Hampton Inn, Comfort Inn, Holliday Inn Express and others, so it is not difficult to find a room. Some include a hot breakfast, but I would avoid Motel 6 unless you are traveling alone. It is a nice motel, but they charge per person and not per room.
These two ATV-friendly towns are favorites of mine for staging ATV adventures. When you go, take plenty of water, keep the rubber side down and choose one of these towns to start your backcountry fun.
Contact Lynn R. Blamires at quadmanone@gmail.com.
