Mojave Desert and Joshua Tree Road Scenic Backway OHV Trail is a 11 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Ivins, Utah that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for nature trips and off road driving and is best used from March until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail.
I used the directions here to get to the trailhead and drove passed the path ( wondering if it was the same) from St George. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the trail and discovered it popped us back out near the place we passed near the Gunlock Reservoir turnoff. There appears to be several turnoffs that could be explored on other trips. There was one spot that I didn’t know to go left or right right when I lost service (beginner mistake to not download for offline). Going to the right appeared to have a steeper grade and my son wanted to play it safe and we went left and that was the right way for us to get back and for being our first time.
Took our all wheel drive to the end, nice desert scenery, Joshua trees and ran into some cattle more towards the end. Road is well-maintained, couple of easy to technical uphill and downhill parts of the trail which we did with a Kia Sorento. So a little campsite within the first couple of miles, very quiet with some information kiosks in the beginning.
I drove this route south to north, which I recommend. There were just a couple of spots where 4wd and some extra clearance were needed. Otherwise it was a well graded gravel road. About the first 2/3 of the route was nothing special. But the northern 1/3 provided vast, expansive, and impressive views of the entire St George valley area and well beyond.
good trail. a few rocky parts. ran it in a Jeep Wrangler. a few steep parts when near the power lines only engaged 4x4 a couple times. high clearance now really required. start the trail at old hey 91 coming out of beaver dam for the best views of st George. the descent into the Shivwits Indian reservation is breathtaking.
The road is well marked off Old Hwy 91, but as I continued and came upon forks in the road, I saw no road signs as to where I should go. After about 11 miles, I gave up and returned back to Hwy 91. A lot of this area had burned in the recent past, and many of the Joshua Trees have died in the fire.