Views from Monte Cristo Area, Ogden Ranger District

View to the east from Curtis Ridge on Road 059, Ogden Ranger District

Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa)

The berries look good but are inedible.

Motor Vehicle Use Map of Ogden Ranger District

ATV Route we took in
Monte Cristo Area
Highlighted in Red

Road 059 (also known as Shoshone Trail 5) is a gravel road, very narrow most of the way. It's hard to pass other full-size vehicles. One vehicle must come to a stop as far off the side as possible while the other passes slowly. The gray boxes represent private property scattered throughout the forest.

Monte Cristo Staging Area

The staging area for this trail is pretty small if you park at the entrance to Road 059 next to Highway 39. There isn't very much room, especially if you have a large trailer. Dispersed camping is allowed on Road 059 as long as it is within the boundaries of Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. You must be careful, though, because this area is a patchwork of private property interspersed within the national forest. Heed the signs along the road. If it says it's private property, don't park or ride your ATVs there! Wait until you see signs saying you are entering back into the national forest. We parked next to Road 059 and unloaded our ATVs just south of Arbs Basin. Arbs basin is about 5 miles north on Road 059.

Staging Area (Road 059)





Staging Area Just off SR 39

Just past this staging area are signs that say you are entering private property. Make sure you stay on the main road through these properties. Private property owners are allowing us to go through their land to access the national forest. Please don't abuse that privilege.