Hubbard Mesa Recreation Area is one of the Rifle region’s most popular recreational areas and is located just outside the city limits. Additional local OHV trails arefound on the Roan Plateau, Battlement Reservoirs, Flat Tops, and the Grand Mesa. For those looking to rent OHV’s to explore local trails, multiple companies in the area rent OHV’s and trailers.
Hubbard Mesa is a BLM designated area for Off-Highway-Vehicle use. It sits at the base of the Roan Plateau just a few miles north of town. Users can enjoy a variety of terrain and difficulty levels within the designated OHV area. There’s a large parking area, restrooms, a shade shelter, and a kids’ training course.
The JQS Road is a 7-mile dirt road adventure climbing 3,000 feet up the side of the Bookcliffs to the top of the Roan Plateau. The route is great for OHVs, mountain bikes, and 4 wheel drive vehicles. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended on the JQS Road as it features extremely narrow sections, a rocky road base, and potentially treacherous conditions when the weather is bad. Near the top of the plateau, the trail switchbacks as it cuts through the steepest and rockiest part of the Bookcliffs. Once on top, the trail connects with the road network of the Roan Plateau to visit sites like the Anvil Points.
The Battlement Reservoirs OHV Trail is an 8-mile round trip that includes steep hill climbs, mud, rock-climbing and meadows that end at the picturesque Battlement Reservoirs. The Battlements are a chain of seven reservoirs that provide hiking and fishing opportunities. The trail is an up-and-back adventure that will have you coming back time and time again with the combination of adrenaline and beauty around every turn.
The Flat Tops is a playground for OHV enthusiasts with a series of motorized trails connecting throughout the 235,000 acres of the Flat Tops area of White River National Forest. One of the most popular parking areas within close proximity to Rifle is the West Elk Trailhead, a year-round parking area for motorized and non-motorized recreational activities.
West Elk Creek is located along Forest Road 245 (Buford-New Castle Road) approximately 7.5 miles north of the Forest boundary. The parking area has room for several dozen passenger vehicles and trailers. During the summer, the West Elk Trailhead serves as the southern access point for Motorized Trail #2290 . During the winter, the trailhead is one of the access points to the Flattops snowmobile trail system, providing parking for snowmobilers who wish to follow the Buford-New Castle Road. The trailhead also provides parking for the West Elk non-motorized trail system, which is located immediately east of the parking area.
The Grand Mesa, located about an hour from Rifle, is the largest flat top mountain in the world and provides visitors with endless miles of motorized trails for those looking to explore on OHV’s. It’s considered by many as favorite place to ride due to the high number of trails, 300 lakes, meadows, and mountains to explore.
Click to view a map of the Grand Mesa OHV Trail System: