The Maze at Sand Hollow is a technical red-rock trail in the Sand Mountain OHV Area near Hurricane, Utah. Steep climbs, blind crests, descents and optional obstacles make it a memorable place to test a capable UTV and your rock-crawling skills.
Sand Hollow State Park is a popular gateway to the riding area, where dunes and sandstone trails come together in one destination. For staging, maps and an overview of the surrounding trails, start with our Sand Hollow, Utah ride guide.
The Maze Trail Overview
The Maze is approximately one mile long, but the approach, route finding and time spent spotting obstacles can make it a much longer outing. Our Sand Hollow guide lists it as a technical trail with a rating of 8. Rating systems vary between maps and events, so use the number as a general indication of difficulty and evaluate each obstacle in person.
There are optional lines that allow experienced drivers to increase the challenge, but bypassing the hardest obstacles does not turn The Maze into an easy scenic ride. Several steep ascents and descents are part of the route itself. If steep terrain makes you uncomfortable, choose a less demanding trail before committing to The Maze.
Getting to The Maze at Sand Hollow
On our original ride during the 2019 SxS Adventure Rally, we staged at the Sand Hollow State Park OHV parking area. From there, we used the tunnel to reach the riding area and traveled through the dunes toward Top of the World.
Sand Hollow State Park Tunnel
The tunnel connects the park-side staging area with the riding area. Watch for oncoming traffic and follow posted directions as you pass through.
Top of the World and The Maze Waypoint
After the tunnel, our approach climbed through the dunes past Top of the World. This overlook is worth a stop before heading into the rocks.
The Maze reference waypoint: 37.062494, -113.430667.
This coordinate identifies the area used in our original report; it is not a complete trail track. Sand and rock routes intersect throughout Sand Mountain, so download a current offline map before riding. Our Sand Hollow ride guide includes mapping resources to help you find the approach and stay on your intended route.
The original report also described approaching through West Rim from the Washington Dam staging area. Confirm current staging access and the connecting route before choosing that approach.
The Maze Trail Videos
The videos below give a better sense of the trail’s steep terrain and the tire placement needed to navigate its sandstone obstacles.
During the 2019 SxS Adventure Rally, I jumped in with Reid from Walker Evans Racing as he traversed The Maze in his Polaris RZR XP Turbo S Velocity Edition. The following video captures that ride and shows what to expect from the trail.
Optional Obstacles: “You Gotta Be Nuts”
One of The Maze’s attention-getting optional obstacles is called “You Gotta Be Nuts.” During our ride, one of the drivers in the group attempted it in a Can-Am Maverick Sport RC.
Optional obstacles are a chance to challenge yourself, but there is no reason to attempt a line that exceeds your comfort level or vehicle capability. Walk the obstacle, identify the tire path and exit, and use a spotter before deciding whether to drive it.
Preparing a UTV for The Maze
Low-range control, traction, ground clearance and underbody protection matter more here than outright horsepower. Wheelbase also affects how a UTV handles steep transitions and breaks over ledges. Match the line to your machine rather than assuming the vehicle ahead of you is a perfect guide.
- Use low range: Follow your vehicle’s operating guidance for slow technical terrain.
- Check your protection: Skid plates and rock sliders help protect vulnerable areas when crossing ledges.
- Plan for recovery: Carry suitable recovery gear and travel with another vehicle.
- Communicate: Agree on clear spotting signals before entering a difficult section.
- Leave time: Allow room in the day for route finding, traffic and careful obstacle assessment.
For a more recent example of how a factory UTV performs on these trails, see our Polaris RZR XP S 4 Ultimate rock-crawling review, which includes testing on The Maze, Double Sammy and West Rim.
More Sand Hollow Trails and Ride Reports
The Maze is only one part of Sand Hollow’s rock-crawling playground. Use these related articles to plan additional rides and compare how different UTVs handle the terrain:
- Sand Hollow ride guide: Trail overviews and videos for West Rim, Double Sammy, The Ledges, Triple 7, Sliplock Gulch, John’s Trail and more.
- Double Sammy in our Can-Am Commander XT-P: A dedicated report from another favorite Sand Hollow rock-crawling trail.
- Can-Am Maverick Sport RC review: Testing on Double Sammy, Plan B, The Maze, West Rim and Nasty Half.
- Can-Am Maverick R X rc review: Rock-crawling impressions from Double Sammy, Milt’s Mile and West Rim.
- Can-Am Maverick X3 MAX at Sand Hollow: Our experience taking a long-wheelbase four-seat UTV into the rocks.
Our Original SxS Adventure Rally Visit
This report began with our November 2019 visit during the SxS Adventure Rally. Guided rides can be a useful way to learn an unfamiliar trail with experienced leaders. Check current event schedules and trail selections when planning a future visit.
For the original event coverage, see the 2019 SxS Adventure Rally and 2018 CST SxS Adventure Rally presented by Yamaha.
The Maze Photo Gallery
