House Range Road

The House Range Road cuts across some of Utah’s most desolate and fascinating high desert, connecting the Confusion Range to the Drum Mountains through country that sees maybe a dozen vehicles per week. This BLM route passes through trilobite fossil beds near Antelope Springs, skirts the abandoned mining camp of Swasey, and offers views of Notch Peak’s limestone cliffs—some of the most dramatic vertical relief in the state. The road itself is mostly graded dirt, but washouts and cattle guards keep things interesting, especially where it drops into Tule Valley.

Any decent high-clearance vehicle can handle this route, though 4WD helps in wet weather when the desert clay turns to axle-deep gumbo. Spring brings wildflowers and bearable temps, while summer heat can be brutal with no shade for 50+ miles. Fall offers the best conditions but hunting season means sharing camp with rifle hunters. No permits needed, but bring everything—fuel, water, food, and repair supplies. What you get is genuine Utah backcountry where cell service is a myth and the night sky still looks like it did to the pioneers.