Guides/OHV areas
OHV area18,000 acresRoughly 100 miles of unmarked motorcycle, ATV, and 4WD routes trail midifficulty: difficult

Five Mile Pass Recreation Area

AgencyBureau of Land ManagementLast verified—
Five Mile Pass Recreation Area — ohv area near Eagle Mountain, Utah
Photo by Staplegunther via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Area vitals8 facts
Size
18,000acres
Trail miles
Roughly 100 miles of unmarked motorcycle, ATV, and 4WD routes
Technical difficulty
Difficult
Vehicle classes
ATV, UTV / Side-by-side, Motorcycle / Dirt bike, 4WD truck/SUV
Best months
Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov
Permit
Required
Fees
No site fee for general OHV use.
Cell coverage
Reliable along Highway 73; spotty in the southern washes.
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Five Mile Pass Recreation Area is roughly 18,000 acres of BLM-managed Great Basin desert 14 miles west of Eagle Mountain on Utah Highway 73, between the Oquirrh Mountains and the East Tintic Range. The area covers sagebrush flats, sandy washes, and low rocky hills with about 100 miles of unmarked motorcycle, ATV, and 4WD routes. The historic Pony Express trail runs along the south side, with marked Pony Express monuments at intervals.

The BLM Salt Lake Field Office manages the area. There is no site fee. The recreation area is the closest organized OHV ground to Salt Lake City, Provo, and the Wasatch Front cities, and serves as the local introduction to Utah desert riding for families. Active mining operations sit on the area's edges; stay on existing routes.

Hazards

Read before you go

  • Heat. Summer afternoons exceed 100°F. Plan for shoulder seasons.
  • Cold and snow in winter. Five Mile Pass sits at 5,200 ft and gets winter storms.
  • Mining activity on the edges. Stay clear of fenced perimeters and active operations.
  • Mixed-use traffic. Practice motocross riders, slow ATV families, and built trucks share the same staging area.
  • No services on-site. No water, no fuel, no developed facilities.
  • Unmarked routes. Easy to get lost; bring a GPS.
  • Ammunition debris and shooting. The area sees recreational shooting; check before camping in unfamiliar zones.

Area map

OHV area

Coordinates 40.29920, -112.13690

Area facts

7 fields
AgencyBureau of Land Management
Nearest townEagle Mountain, Utah
PermitUtah OHV registration required (street-legal or OHV-registered); non-residents need a Utah non-resident permit. Riders under 16 must complete Utah's OHV education course. Helmets required for ATV and motorcycle operators and passengers under 18.
Agency contact801-977-4300 (BLM Salt Lake Field Office)
Websitewww.blm.gov/visit/fivemile-pass-recreation-area
ClosedJul, Aug, Dec, Jan
Coordinates40.29920, -112.13690

Getting there

Directions

From Salt Lake City, take Interstate 15 south to Exit 279 (Lehi). Head west on SR-73 for 25 miles to the main parking area, just off the highway southwest of Fairfield.

GPS: 40.23722, -112.16353.

Photos

2 photos

Photos · 2

Field notes

Getting Oriented

Five Mile Pass sits on the Utah-County / Tooele-County boundary, west of Eagle Mountain on Utah-73. The standard staging area is the BLM Five Mile Pass parking zone on the south side of the highway, with primitive camping and trail access. The Pony Express trail runs through the south end of the area as a historic corridor.

The Bureau of Land Management's Salt Lake Field Office manages the area. The site has been the regional motocross practice ground for the Salt Lake area since the 1970s; you'll see kids on 50cc bikes alongside built rock buggies in the same staging area.

What to Expect

About 100 miles of unmarked OHV routes spread across the basin. The riding mix:

  • Open creosote and sagebrush flats for ATV and family riding.
  • Sandy and gravel washes for motorcycle play.
  • Low rocky hills on the south end with hill climbs and short rock sections.
  • A motocross-style practice area with banked turns and tabletops.
  • Pony Express trail markers as a historic side-stop.

Five Mile Pass is dispersed-use; routes are not signed by name. Riders pick a wash or ridgeline and explore. The area is busier on weekends than most Utah desert OHV areas because of its proximity to the Wasatch Front.

Vehicle and Permit Rules

  • Utah OHV registration required (street-legal or OHV-registered).
  • Non-resident riders need a Utah OHV non-resident permit.
  • Riders under 16 must complete the Utah OHV education course.
  • Helmets required for ATV and motorcycle operators and passengers under 18; recommended for all.
  • Spark arresters required on all motorized vehicles.
  • Stay on existing routes; cross-country travel through native vegetation is prohibited.
  • The Pony Express historic corridor has interpretive markers; do not disturb.

Trailheads and Camping

  • Five Mile Pass Trailhead. Primary staging area on Utah-73, with vault toilets and gravel parking. Primitive camping nearby.
  • Pony Express staging. Smaller staging at the historic Pony Express trail crossing.

Dispersed camping is allowed across the recreation area under the standard BLM 14-day rule. No developed sites, no water.

Where to Camp

Dispersed camping under the BLM 14-day rule. The Five Mile Pass main parking area sees the most camping; quieter sites are along the side roads off Highway 73. No water, no hookups. Carry everything in. The Tooele and Eagle Mountain area has private RV options.

Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip

  • Five Mile Pass is a navigation destination. Routes aren't signed; bring a GPS and an offline map.
  • The reliable season is spring and fall. Summer afternoons hit 100°F and winter has periodic snow.
  • Carry water. The recreation area has none.
  • Active mining operations sit on the area's edges. Stay clear of fenced perimeters.
  • The Pony Express trail markers are interpretive; do not disturb.
  • Cell coverage is reliable on Highway 73; drops in the southern washes.
  • Pair with the Paiute ATV Trail or Little Sahara for a multi-area Utah riding trip.

Frequently asked

Common questions

How difficult is Five Mile Pass Recreation Area?
Five Mile Pass Recreation Area is rated difficult.
When is the best time to visit Five Mile Pass Recreation Area?
The best months are Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov. Avoid Jul, Aug, Dec, Jan.
Do you need a permit for Five Mile Pass Recreation Area?
Yes — a permit is required. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management — check the agency listing for current requirements and fees.
Is there cell service at Five Mile Pass Recreation Area?
Reliable along Highway 73; spotty in the southern washes.