Behind the Reef Trail is one of the BLM’s highlighted OHV/ATV trails within the San Rafael Swell. The trail provides a challenging off highway adventure and launching point for a variety of recreation activities.

Directions: From Hwy 24, turn onto the Goblin Valley/Temple Mountain Road. Instead of turning down to Goblin Valley, continue west through the Reef. As you come out on the west side of the Reef near Temple Mountain Campground West, you'll see a well maintained road heading south marked as the Behind the Reef Road. Start of trail: GPS 38.66748, -110.68762.

The trail is suitable for larger street vehicles until roughly 6.5 miles in, the character of the trails grows more rugged with a rocky climb along a ledge.

At mile 13, the trail changes from a high-clearance full-width trail at the intersection with BLM854 (GPS 38.60383, -110.84234). The trail at this point turns into a 52 inch or less trail that exits around the Hidden Splendor Mine area. All vehicles over 52-inch must either turn around or head north on BLM 854.

This area was part of the uranium mining boom, so you’ll find lots of historic mining roads, but the BLM and environmental groups are trying to close off access to many existing roads (see San Rafael Swell TPM Alternatives Map - https://utahpla.com/san-rafael-tpm-al.... Please join/donate to UPLA (https://utahpla.com/) and BlueRibbon Coalition (https://www.sharetrails.org/) to help keep this land open for OHV use.

Along the trail, there are several hikes that go through the reef including Wild Horse Canyon, Crack Canyon, Chute Canyon, Little Wild-Horse Canyon, Bell Canyon and Ding and Dang Canyon.

We are driving in a Kawasaki KRX1000 on this trail.