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Two side-by-side UTVs on the backcountry trail beneath Moonshine Arch near Vernal, Utah
Beneath Moonshine Arch on a backcountry tour with Adventure Tours Vernal.
The real Vernal isn’t on the highway — it’s in the backcountry. Remote canyons, thousand-year-old petroglyphs, outlaw hideouts, hidden arches, and terrain that looks like it hasn’t changed since the Jurassic. A guided backcountry UTV tour is the only way most people will ever see it.

What “Backcountry” Means Here

Vernal’s backcountry isn’t a marketing term — it’s literal. The trail systems operated by Adventure Tours Vernal run through terrain with no cell service, no signage, no other vehicles, and no way in without knowing the route. These are canyon corridors, desert washes, ridge-top traverses, and historic paths that have been used for centuries but never developed. That’s what makes them special, and that’s why you need a guide.

Five Trail Systems, Five Experiences

Here is how those systems fit together. Each one runs out from the same staging point in Vernal into its own kind of backcountry — the diagram maps the relationship before the descriptions that follow.

Schematic map of the five backcountry UTV trail systems near Vernal, Utah — Doc's Beach, Moonshine Arch, Ashley Gorge, Asphalt Ridge, and Outlaw Trail — each a labeled spoke leading from the central Vernal staging point into different remote terrain. Not to scale, and deliberately showing no routes, distances, directions, or trailhead locations for this unmarked backcountry.
Five backcountry systems, each running from one Vernal staging point into its own terrain. Schematic — not to scale, and it marks no routes or trailheads.

Doc’s Beach: Open sandy terrain along the Green River corridor. Fast, wide, and accessible. The most popular trail for first-timers who want the backcountry feeling without technical demands.

Moonshine Arch: Red rock canyons winding to a hidden natural sandstone arch. Beautiful terrain with a destination worth the ride. Great for photographers.

Ashley Gorge: Towering sandstone walls create a dramatic canyon corridor with river valley scenery. The most visually immersive trail.

Outlaw Trail: The most remote and rugged option. Follows historic routes used by Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch through canyon terrain that feels genuinely untouched. For guests who want the deepest backcountry experience.

Asphalt Ridge: Ridge-top panoramas with 360-degree views of Dinosaur Country and the Uinta Mountains. A different perspective on the basin — elevation instead of canyons.

Your Guides: Dave & Trudy Wilson

Every tour is personally guided by Dave and Trudy Wilson, who built the trail routes and know every rock art panel, every overlook, and every piece of history along the way. They each ride their own Kawasaki KRX 1000 alongside your group, adjusting pace to match your skill level and interests. This isn’t a follow-the-leader caravan — it’s a personal guided experience through terrain they’ve spent years exploring.

Equipment & What’s Included

Each guest machine is a Kawasaki KRX 1000 2-seater with FOX 2.5 PODIUM LSC suspension, full roll cage, power steering, and automatic transmission. Helmets and safety gear are provided. A thorough safety briefing covers vehicle operation before departure. No prior off-road experience is required.

Tours are three hours at $349 per machine (up to 2 riders). The $125 ride-along option lets a third person ride as a passenger with Dave or Trudy. Groups up to 12 guests across 6 machines — call for custom group pricing.

Backcountry Tip: If you want the most remote, rugged experience, ask for Outlaw Trail when you book. If you want drama and beauty with a hidden destination, go with Moonshine Arch. Dave will help you match the trail to your group.

Plan your ride: compare all five guided UTV trail tours, keep it to your own crew with a private tour, or check dates and book online.