Ride from the inn
The remote loop: Pink Cliffs lookouts, Zion on the horizon, and almost nobody else
One digit is a loop; two digits is a spur of that loop (52 branches off Loop 5).
The Harris Rim & Swains Creek route from the inn, traced from the official 2019 Markagunt OHV System map. Tap a marker for the trail number.
The Forest Service describes the Trail 6 Harris Rim Loop as remote with minimal use, and that is exactly why we like it. South of Strawberry Valley the plateau narrows toward the Pink Cliffs, the traffic thins to nothing, and the overlooks on spur 68 Lydia's Canyon Overlook and along the rim look out over the cliffs with Zion on the southern horizon. Ridden from our lot it is a 36.6-mile loop with about 4,150 feet of total climbing between roughly 7,680 and 8,520 feet.
We rate it intermediate to advanced for the remoteness and the length rather than technical riding: cell service is unreliable, the spurs are narrow in places, and help is a long way off. Carry the MVUM and a downloaded map, a tool kit, water, and a full tank, and tell the front desk where you are headed. Our routed line uses spur 61 Strawberry Ridge to reach the loop, the 14-mile Harris Rim Loop itself, spur 68 to the overlook, spur 67 Swains-Rim Connector and spur 66 Billingsley Creek, and spur 65 Swains Creek for the return toward SR-14.
7 legs, 36.6 miles loop. Every ride starts and ends in our parking lot.
Fuel first on Movie Ranch Road, then pull out of our lot and follow the village OHV routes (spurs 52 and 59) toward Trail 5. Village streets are 15 mph and transit only.
Trail 5 crosses SR-14 near Duck Lake. If your machine is not street legal you may only cross the highway: stop, yield to traffic, and cross at a right angle. Street-legal side-by-sides may ride SR-14 itself under Utah Code 41-6a-1509, but nothing on this ride needs it. South of the highway, follow the Trail 5 corridor east and south into Strawberry Valley.
Spur 61 Strawberry Ridge (just under seven miles) leaves the Strawberry Valley corridor and drops south to the Trail 6 Harris Rim Loop. Expect the traffic to disappear here; the Forest Service calls this area minimal use.
Follow the markers with a 6 along the rim. Spur 68 Lydia's Canyon Overlook is a 2.5-mile spur to a Pink Cliffs lookout with Zion on the horizon; it is the view of the day and the place to eat lunch.
Spur 67 Swains-Rim Connector (2 miles) and spur 66 Billingsley Creek (2.5 miles) link the rim to the Swains Creek drainage. These are the narrow, less-traveled stretches; ride them slowly and expect brush.
Spur 65 Swains Creek runs about eight miles along the creek back toward SR-14. It is the long, easy exit from the remote country.
Cross SR-14 with the same stop-and-yield rule and follow the designated routes back through the village to our lot. 36.6 miles as ridden from the inn.
Best time: June and September for long, stable days. In monsoon season start by eight and be off the rim spurs by early afternoon. The lower country along Swains Creek is the first to dry out in spring.
Rules in full, including permits, helmets and the highway crossing law, are on our rules and safety page. Rentals and packing are on rentals and tips.
What guests ask at the front desk before they head out.
The Forest Service describes Trail 6 as a remote area with minimal use. Expect no cell service in places, few other riders, and a long wait for help. We suggest two machines, a tool kit, a full tank, and leaving your plan at the desk.
Spur 68 is a 2.5-mile spur to a lookout on the Pink Cliffs with views toward Zion. It is the best view on the loop and the natural lunch stop. There are no railings; park back from the edge.
Not especially. The intermediate-to-advanced rating comes from distance (36.6 miles), remoteness, and narrow, brushy connector spurs rather than rock or steep pitches. Confident intermediate riders with a good map do fine.
A full tank. There is no fuel anywhere on the loop; the only pump is Loose Wheels / Phillips 66 in the village, open daily 9 to 6.
September 2026
We ride these routes and send guests out on them all season. The route line, mileage and elevation were traced from the official 2019 Forest Service Markagunt OHV System map and routed by computer, not recorded with a GPS, so treat them as a plan, not a survey. Loop and spur names, mileages and closures come from the Forest Service pages below; the highway crossing rule from Utah Code. Closure orders change: carry the current MVUM and ask at the desk.
Rooms and cabins at Duck Creek Village Inn, trailer parking in our lot, rentals across the street, and the trail a few minutes from the door.
