Kane Creek Trail

Kane Creek Trail is a single backcountry route rather than a network of trails. It runs up Kane Creek Canyon on BLM land west and south of Moab, Utah, following a graded gravel and dirt road that winds back and forth across the canyon floor. Riders who have written it up describe many creek crossings, mostly shallow but with a few deeper pools, a scenic high-walled canyon, and a few rocky or ledgy sections toward the far end. One rider report describes a round trip of about 20 miles in a half day, on double track and jeep road with a short narrow ATV-width section, rated mostly easy with some difficult spots. That is a single blog report, not a measured official length. A related route continues past the canyon and climbs the Kane Creek anticline to Hurrah Pass, then drops toward benches above the Colorado River.

It suits riders who want scenery and a relaxed backcountry day more than technical singletrack. The road is open to off-highway vehicles, but riders must stay on marked routes at all times. Because it is a shared road, expect jeeps, side-by-sides, and mountain bikers.

Getting there

From Main Street (US 191) in Moab, turn west on Kane Creek Boulevard, which becomes Kane Creek Road, and follow it into the Colorado River canyon. The pavement ends partway along, and the road continues as Kane Springs Road. The BLM notes that unlicensed vehicles must start where the pavement ends. The road becomes a four-wheel-drive, high-clearance road beyond the Ledges Campground and eventually connects toward Lockhart Basin and State Route 211. The coordinates on this page are the BLM's published point for the Chicken Corners trailhead on Kane Springs Road; treat it as a general staging reference, not a surveyed trailhead for this route. Moab has all services.

Fees, permits, and rules

No day-use fee is listed by the BLM for this road. Campgrounds along the corridor generally charge about $20 per night per site. Street-legal, plated motorcycles registered in your home state do not need a Utah non-resident OHV permit. Non-plated off-highway motorcycles ridden by non-residents need a non-resident OHV permit ($35, valid 12 months, bought online), and Utah residents register their off-highway vehicle. Utah also requires an OHV education certificate for operators; check current rules with Utah State Parks before you go.

Camping in the Kane Creek corridor is limited: the BLM has closed popular corridors including Kane Creek to dispersed camping, so plan to use a designated campground or site. Confirm current rules with the BLM Moab Field Office at 435-259-2100.

When to ride

Spring and fall are the best seasons; summer is hot and the canyon has no shade at midday, and winter brings ice and cold. The road is normally dry, but Kane Creek can flood, and flash floods can make the crossings impassable for short periods, so check the forecast and creek conditions before heading in.