The ground
BLM describes Knolls as nearly 36,000 acres of sand dunes, hills and mud flats in the Great Salt Lake Desert. That mix is the appeal: dunes for play, hills for climbing and flats for covering distance.
Source: BLM: Knolls OHV Special Recreation Management Area. Checked September 10, 2026.
The boundary comes first
The Knolls OHV area borders an active bombing range, and BLM tells riders to stay within the boundaries. Learn the edge on BLM's map before the first ride, and brief every rider in the group.
If a rider is unsure where the boundary is, the answer is to stop and regroup, not to keep going.
Source: BLM: Knolls OHV Special Recreation Management Area. Checked September 10, 2026.
Riding rules to know
- No using man-made ramps or jumps for acrobatic or aerial stunts
- Keep to the posted speed limit on maintained roads
- No camping or motorized vehicles within 200 feet of any perennial water source
Source: Federal Register: Knolls SRMA supplementary rules, 2005. Checked September 10, 2026.
Flags, helmets and paperwork
Utah law calls for a red or orange whip flag on OHVs in sand dune areas and helmets for riders under 18. Operators need a Utah education certificate, and machines from outside Utah need the $35 non-resident permit.
Sources: Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation: OHV laws, Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation: OHV education FAQs, Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation: non-resident permits. Checked September 10, 2026.
This is an independent planning guide. Fees, hours, closures, fire orders and riding boundaries change. Confirm the current details with the BLM Salt Lake Field Office.