Beef Basin Trail is a challenging 4wd road in Utah
Beef Basin Trail is a challenging four wheel drive located in San Juan County, in the U.S. state of Utah. The road is easy as long as it is dry.
How long is Beef Basin Trail in Utah?
Tucked away south of Canyonlands National Park, Beef Basin Road #093 is 132km (81.9 miles) long. The trail is accessible via Utah Highway 211 and San Juan County Road #107. High clearance and four wheel drive required. You come to a point where warning signs suggest you not proceed further without a heavy-duty high clearance vehicle. Beef Basin can be hot, especially in summertime, but is regardless a very arid area. It is recommended to carry at least 1 gallon (4 liters) of water per person per day. It is important to note that road conditions in Southern Utah can change dramatically depending on local weather and when the last road maintenance was performed.
Is Beef Basin Trail open?
Set high on the southeastern portion of the state, after rain, even a single rainfall, conditions of the road can be challenging. Adverse weather conditions can prompt closure of the road. Due to snow accumulation on the slopes of Horse Mountain and the rest of the Abajo Mountains, this route is usually impassable during the winter months (approximately November to April depending on snowfall and average temperatures for that particular year). It is possible that most of Beef Basin “park” and the area by Tower and Farmhouse Ruins in Ruin Park could be accessed in a 2WD vehicle with good all weather tires by an experienced, attentive driver who knows their vehicle well, and then only under ideal conditions via the Bridger Jack and Beef Basin or Elk Ridge and Beef Basin Roads. However, caution is still advised and at least a high clearance AWD vehicle is recommended for the same conditions and route.
Pic: Stan Parker