By Jon Crowley
I love exploring new riding areas, so when Kawasaki invited me to spend two days on Utah’s Arapeen Trail System, I rearranged my schedule and headed for the mountains.
The Arapeen is a sprawling network of motorized trails and forest roads in central Utah’s Manti-La Sal National Forest. Routes climb from the Sanpete Valley floor at roughly 6,000 feet to Skyline Drive and High Top, which reach nearly 11,000 feet above sea level.
For our late-October trip, we stayed in Manti and explored the trail system in two versions of the Kawasaki MULE PRO 1000. Although the MULE is best known as a working side-by-side, this ride showed how comfortably it can transition from chores around a property to an all-day backcountry adventure.
Where Is the Arapeen Trail System?
The Arapeen Trail System spreads across the mountains east of Utah’s Sanpete Valley. Riders can access the network from communities including Fairview, Mt. Pleasant, Spring City, Ephraim, Manti, Mayfield and Sterling.
The official Arapeen trail organization promotes more than 600 miles of motorized trails and forest roads, while the U.S. Forest Service describes more than 350 miles of designated ATV and four-wheel-drive routes. The difference largely comes down to which connecting forest roads and associated routes are included in the total.
Either way, there is far more terrain here than most riders could explore in a single trip.
The 3,000-mile Great Western Trail also passes through the Arapeen system, adding another layer of significance to the area for riders interested in long-distance motorized routes.
Riding the Arapeen in Late October
We based our group in Manti for two nights. The town sits directly below the Wasatch Plateau and provides convenient access to the trail system through Manti Canyon.
Our trip took place in late October, a few weeks after the typical peak for fall colors. Many of the aspen leaves had already dropped, but the combination of remaining yellow foliage, dark conifer forests and expansive views across the surrounding valleys was still spectacular.
Elevation is one of the defining features of an Arapeen ride. The system rises several thousand feet from the valley communities to the high ridges, creating major changes in scenery, temperature and trail conditions during a single day.
Skyline Drive, designated as Arapeen Trail No. 1, follows the top of the plateau and reaches 10,897 feet at High Top. From the ridge, riders can look west across the Sanpete Valley or east toward the canyons, forests and reservoirs of central Utah.
Those elevations also make the riding season highly dependent on snow. Lower routes may become accessible during late spring, but the upper portions of the system often do not clear until around July 1. Skyline Drive is typically one of the final routes to open.
Riding the Kawasaki MULE PRO 1000
Kawasaki supplied two different machines for the ride: a Kawasaki MULE PRO-FXT 1000 Ranch Edition and a MULE PRO-FXR 1000 LE. Both were part of the 2024 Kawasaki MULE 1000 lineup introduced shortly before our trip.
The 2024 models were powered by Kawasaki’s new 999cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine, which delivered substantially more power and torque than the previous MULE PRO models. The updated platform also brought a higher top speed, increased ground clearance, revised styling and, on select models, Kawasaki’s first self-leveling rear suspension.
The MULE PRO-FXT 1000 is the more utility-focused of the two. Its Trans Cab system allows the vehicle to convert between three- and six-passenger configurations while also changing the size of the cargo bed. That flexibility makes it especially useful for owners who need to carry a crew one day and cargo the next.
The MULE PRO 1000 represents the modern evolution of a utility-vehicle family that Kawasaki introduced in 1988. Learn how the platform developed over nearly four decades in our history of the Kawasaki MULE.
Neither machine is intended to behave like a Kawasaki Teryx KRX sport side-by-side. The MULE’s priorities are controlled power delivery, comfort, durability and the ability to carry people or equipment. Those qualities worked well on the Arapeen’s long forest roads and scenic mountain routes.
The engine had enough power to maintain a comfortable pace as the trails climbed into thinner mountain air. The predictable throttle response and stable chassis also made the MULE easy to drive for hours at a time.
Our two days in Utah reinforced an important point about the MULE PRO lineup: these machines are not limited to farms, ranches and job sites. Add a cooler, recovery equipment and a trail map, and a MULE PRO 1000 can be a comfortable platform for exploring hundreds of miles of mountain terrain.
For more information about the available models, see our guide to the current Kawasaki MULE lineup.
Planning an Arapeen Trail Trip
The size, elevation and remoteness of the Arapeen require more planning than a short ride near a developed trailhead.
- Main riding season: Upper routes generally become accessible around July 1 and are commonly ridden through mid-October. Snowfall can change those dates significantly.
- Fall colors: Peak color is generally expected from late September into early October, although timing varies by elevation and weather.
- Highest point: High Top reaches 10,897 feet along Skyline Drive.
- Width restrictions: The trail network includes routes with different vehicle-width limits. Some are restricted to 50, 60 or 66 inches, so confirm that a planned route accommodates your UTV.
- Fuel and supplies: The gateway communities are relatively small. Fuel, food, lodging and repair services can be limited, especially outside the primary riding season.
- Navigation: Download maps before leaving town. Cell service can be unreliable or nonexistent in the mountains.
- Weather: Conditions can change quickly above 10,000 feet. Carry extra clothing, food, water and emergency supplies even when the valley weather looks favorable.
Utah OHV Permits and Education Requirements
Riders bringing an OHV registered outside Utah generally need a Utah nonresident OHV permit. The permit currently costs $35 and is valid for 12 months from its purchase date. It applies to the vehicle rather than the individual operator.
Utah also requires OHV operators to complete an approved education course. Adult operators must complete the state’s free online adult OHV education course, while riders younger than 18 must meet Utah’s youth certification requirements.
Permit costs and legal requirements can change, so verify the latest information through the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation before traveling.
Arapeen Trail Maps and Suggested Rides
The trail system is large enough that first-time visitors should select a specific loop or destination rather than simply heading uphill. Available routes range from short canyon rides to multi-day trips linking several Sanpete Valley communities.
Popular options include Skyline Drive, Horseshoe Mountain, Potter’s Ponds and multi-day loops that allow riders to stay in a different town each night. Some suggested routes exceed 100 miles, making fuel range and available daylight important considerations.
The official Arapeen Trail website offers current planning information, suggested rides and downloadable navigation resources. Riders can also purchase the official Arapeen OHV Trail Map.
The U.S. Forest Service publishes motor vehicle use maps showing where motorized travel is legally permitted. Always check current trail conditions and seasonal closures with the Manti-La Sal National Forest before setting out. Snow, runoff, fallen trees and maintenance work can affect access.
Utah’s Arapeen Trail System: Cool Summer Rides and Spectacular Fall Colors
Is the Arapeen Trail System Worth the Trip?
Absolutely. The Arapeen combines high-elevation ridgelines, aspen forests, long-distance riding and direct access from several UTV-friendly towns. It can support anything from a relaxed scenic day to a multi-day backcountry adventure.
Our Kawasaki MULE PRO 1000s were well matched to that style of riding. They provided a comfortable and predictable way to cover long distances while carrying the people and supplies needed for a full day in the mountains.
I arrived wanting to explore a new trail system and left knowing that two days were nowhere near enough. The next trip will need to be longer—and preferably timed a little closer to the peak fall colors.
Explore more machines, rides and news in our Kawasaki UTV coverage.
