Mountain trail system · Northeast Utah (Uinta Mountains)
Ashley NF: Outlaw & Yellowstone ATV trails
Uinta Mountains / Uinta Basin riding on Ashley National Forest: Outlaw (38 mi) and Yellowstone (44 mi) ATV trails.
Quick answer
Mileage and elevation here come from an older Ashley visitor guide; confirm against the current MVUM and district office.
Sources disagree two or more sources give different figures; both are shownNot verified not published on the pages we read, or only in a secondary source
Key facts
| Location & counties | Ashley National Forest, Vernal and Duchesne ranger districts (Uinta Mountains / Uinta Basin). Counties not stated on the sources we read. [1]Not verified |
|---|---|
| Managing agency | USFS Ashley National Forest: Supervisor's Office 435-789-1181; Duchesne/Roosevelt RD 435-738-2482 (older guide, confirm). [1, 2] |
| Total miles | Outlaw ATV Trail (Vernal RD): 38 miles. Yellowstone ATV Trail (Duchesne RD): 44 miles in 2 loops. Forest-wide: 1,023 miles of trail. All from the older visitor guide. [1]Not verified |
| Loops & main segments | Outlaw: graded roads, 4x4 roads and ATV trails; brochure at Forest Service offices. Yellowstone: two loops, some portions very challenging and rocky. [1] |
| Trailheads & access towns | Vernal and Duchesne/Roosevelt district offices; trailheads not listed in the sources we read. [1]Not verified |
| Elevation | Outlaw 8,000-9,500 ft; Yellowstone 8,000-10,400 ft. [1] |
| Season | Not published in the sources we read. [1]Not verified |
| Width limits | Not published in the sources we read. Use the MVUM. [2]Not verified |
| Vehicle restrictions | Ashley adopts Utah and Wyoming OHV regulations; areas and routes are closed unless designated open. The High Uintas Wilderness is closed to motorized use. A spark arrestor is required. [2, 1] |
| Permits & registration | Utah-registered machines follow the Utah DMV OHV registration rules; machines from other states need a Utah non-resident OHV permit ($35 per machine, valid 12 months). Every operator needs the Utah OHV education certificate (adult course is free and online; youth under 18 need a youth certificate). Details in the Utah rules summary. [3, 4, 5] |
| Fuel & lodging towns | Vernal and Duchesne/Roosevelt are the district towns; fuel and lodging not individually verified. Dispersed camping on the forest is free, limited to 16 days within an area (older guide). [1]Not verified |
| Difficulty | Yellowstone has some very challenging, rocky portions; Outlaw mixes graded roads and trail. [1] |
Highlights
- High-country riding with big elevation range (8,000 to 10,400 ft) away from the southwest crowds. [1]
Hazards
- Bear-aware camping guidance in the visitor guide; wash 200 ft from water. [1]
- Wilderness boundaries: High Uintas Wilderness is closed to motors. [1, 2]
Maps and official pages
Always download the current MVUM or agency map; the Utah OHV maps page lists statewide map sources. Utah rules summary: Utah OHV rules. We did not build a route map: we have no sourced trail coordinates.
Machines and loads
Ride within the width limits on the MVUM; high-elevation riding is easier on machines with good power and fuel injection (check your manual for altitude notes).
| Class in our database | Models | Front rack rating (lb) | Rear rack rating (lb) | Towing rating (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry (<500cc) | 9 | 66-90 lb | 133-180 lb | 802-1350 lb |
| Mid (500-649cc) | 15 | 75-121 lb | 100-242 lb | 661-1830 lb |
| Mid-large (650-899cc) | 14 | 88-120 lb | 176-240 lb | 848-1830 lb |
| Big bore (900cc+) | 10 | 120-200 lb | 240-300 lb | 1500-1830 lb |
| 2-up touring | 23 | 44-121 lb | 77-242 lb | 772-1830 lb |
Ranges across the models in our database for each class; blank cells in a source are skipped, and some front ratings are not published. Your own machine's rating is on its model page and in the owner's manual and is the number that counts.
See the model database and how to choose. Our database lists overall width where we could find it (see the Width column; blank means unknown). A quad of 50 in or less fits the 50-inch trails. Check your owner's manual against the width limits above, and remember that wide tires, spacers and cargo count toward width.
Gear for this trip
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- High-alpine loadout
- Overnight ATV camp loadout
- Trailside recovery and repairs
- Utah dispersed camping rules
- Recovery checklist, camping checklist, safety checklist
- Recovery gear roundup, satellite messengers & GPS
What we could not verify
- Counties.
- Season, trailheads, widths.
- Whether the 2009-10 mileage still matches current maps.
Sources
- Ashley National Forest Visitor Guide (PDF; appears to be an older edition, about 2009-2010)
- Ashley National Forest: OHV page (updated Jul 22, 2025)
- Utah Outdoor Recreation: Off-highway vehicles (program home)
- Utah Outdoor Recreation: Non-resident OHV permits
- Utah Outdoor Recreation: OHV laws & rules
Last verified Oct 27, 2026 (America/Denver). Structured data: trails.json, trails.csv.
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