2014 SPRING RIDE GUIDE

Just about every month in the pages of Dirt Wheels magazine you read about cool places to ride and events we attend. This month we are going to list for you all of the most popular ATV events that will take place between now and Fourth of July weekend. These are the jamborees and festivals with the most activities, the largest turnouts and, most important, some of the best riding you can experience. So, get out your calendars and start planning your trip to the event you want to attend this year. If you don’t see the one you are looking for, log on to www.dirtwheelsmag.com, as we will continually update the list as new events announce their dates. Remember, if you don’t see us on the side of the trail taking pictures, drop us a line with pictures of your own ATV vacation for our “Letters” section.

 

Unfortunately, this competitive event is not open to quads, but it is the most amazing display of UTV capability you will ever see. You can use your quad to ride from section to section and spectate pretty much the entire course. The UTV event is held on a Wednesday and the big trucks run on Friday, so plan on staying around for that chaos too.
Price: $20 donation
Contact: (949) 295-2676, www.ultra4
racing.com

 

Florida is not just filled with retired people playing shuffleboard. Top ATV racers use north Florida as a training ground during the off-season. Plus, the Sunshine State opens the Grand National Cross-Country season. The fastest woods riders in the world get to open it up a little further in the sands of Florida. Although the race turns rough for competitors as whoops develop, the spectating cannot be beat. Mud could also be a factor at this brand-new event on the grounds of the Mud Muckers Off-Road Park. This venue is about 30 minutes north of Daytona, so it’s easy to get to.
Price: $20 for spectators
Contact: (304) 284-0084, www.gncc
racing.com

The first jamboree of the spring season kicks off right where the borders of Arizona, Nevada and Utah meet. Over 20 guided trail rides take place throughout the weekend for skill levels ranging from beginner to advanced. All rides require trailering to the trailhead. In town, activities include an ATV expo, ice-cream social and a Dutch-oven dinner. Sign up early, because registration closes on February 19th at midnight. Hurricane is also the host city of the Sand Hollow round of the WORCS schedule. That event takes place on a 100 percent sand dune track, making for some interesting competition.
Price: $110
Contact: (435) 574-9233, www.atv
utah.com/tristatejam

If you want to combine this year’s spring break trip with hot ATV racing action, then the Havasu round of the World Off-Road Championship Series is the place to do it. Whether you want to race an ATV or UTV, or just spectate the action, you will have a good time. The venue is right on the shore of the popular lake destination. Plus, the surrounding deserts on both California and Arizona sides are open to off-road exploring. So bring a four-wheeler, boat or just your shorts and experience WORCS. Check out the complete WORCS schedule at www.worcsracing.com.
Price: $50–$100 (race fee)
Contact: (435) 635-1597, www.worcs
racing.com

While this event is based around mud-racing activities over the past decade, it has grown to be much more. Just as many people participate in activities such as the Dyno Jet Bad 2 Da Bone contest, vendor attractions, BBQ cook-offs, the obstacle course challenge, concerts and more. Plus, the 4000 acres of the Mud Creek Off-Road Park is open to roam for the entire long weekend.
If you can’t make it down south for this event, High Lifter is hosting its second annual Quadna Mud Nationals in Hill City, Minnesota, May 23rd–25th.
Price: $60
Contact: (800) 699-0947, www.atv
mudnationals.com

 

Guided rides, an ATV rodeo event, barrel racing, pole bending, drag racing, mud bogs, bonfires and cookouts are the traditional activities taking place at Windrock Park’s Spring Jam. The non-traditional activities include a Corn Hole tournament. And, don’t forget the numerous vendors and sponsors with merchandise for sale and demo rides on the newest ATVs! Just riding the park is an event all in itself. Windrock sits on 72,000 acres of land with over 300 miles of trails. Campgrounds, cabins and rentals can all be found at the park year round.
Price: $10
Contact: (865) 435-1251, www.wind
rockpark.com

By the first of May, the trails in southern Canada are hardly thawed out yet. That makes for some good sloppy riding on ATVs. A ton of ATV adventures are packed into the two-day ATV Ontario Spring Jam. Unique to many jamborees, this event gives you access to trails not found on maps. A Super ATV Village is set up with manufacturer displays and test rides, and don’t miss the huge ATV parade called the Rumble Ride. Poker runs and ATV rodeo events, as well as dinner, are all part of the admission price.
Price: $150
Contact: www.springjam.ca

 

Rally on the Rocks is fast becoming one of the most popular events of the year and is the first catering only to UTVs. This venue is the perfect place to explore at any pace in a stock or modified UTV. The rally includes four days of guided rides on trails for all skill levels. A dinner is included in the rodeo arena, plus the huge vendor area is bound to tempt your wallet in the form of new goodies. If you don’t have a UTV yet, rentals are available in town, as well as many lodging options.
Price: $115
Contact:  (435) 851-3637, www.rallyon
therocks.com

Iron County has the largest ATV trail system in Wisconsin, with more than 200 miles of scenic trails that are open year round. The Memorial ATV Rally brings in riders by the thousands into Mercer and Hurley for the activities. Most of them take part in the big ATV parade this event is known for. Activities like mud bogs and poker runs can also be enjoyed. Music, campfires, BBQs and awards finish off each day’s riding.
Price: $10
Contact: (866) 340-4334, 
www.hurleywi.com

The White Knuckle activities include big-name country star concerts, a sled pull, mud surfing, guided rides, drag races, an obstacle course, moonshine run and other rodeo events. Another highlight is the Kawasaki Wild Mountain Rampage, which is a GPS navigation event that takes you on a treasure hunt of the Brimstone Recreation Trails. Speaking of trails, Brimstone has 300 miles of what they call “bad roads,” which translates to awesome trails. A huge vendor area and demo rides round out the list of fun. Camping and rentals are available at Brimstone year round.
Price: $50–$75
Contact: (800) Brimstone, www.brim
stonerecreation.com

A little over an hour’s drive from the western suburbs of Chicago, Sunset Ridge MX Track in Walnut, Illinois, hosts one of the best stops on the ATV MX National circuit. The track is home to two-time champion Chad Wienen, and the fans come out in droves to cheer on their hero. If you have never been to a national, it’s worth the trip this summer. Along with the pro action, there are classes for all age groups and skill levels so that you can compete in one. Check out the complete ATV MX schedule at www.atvnationals.com.
Price: $20–$40 (for spectators)
Contact: (304) 284-0084, www.atv
motocross.com

The Great Plains states of this county are full of ATVs, but unfortunately the major riding opportunities are somewhat limited. That’s what makes the Nebraska Off-Highway Vehicle Association Jamboree so attractive. Nearly 2000 riders attend this event each year to ride over 700 miles of trails of the Headworks OHV Park. Along with open riding, there is a seven-mile parade ride, poker runs, drag racing, a sled pull, obstacle course and barrel races. Non-competitive activities include dealer displays and demo rides on brand-new machines.
Price: $40
Contact: (308) 381-2143, www.atv
jamboree.org

California’s only major ATV/UTV jamboree takes place every June on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Twenty guided rides allow you to explore everything from cactus-lined trails to old mining and ghost towns. During one ride you can travel to over 12,000 feet in elevation, and running into some snow is almost a guarantee. Many of the trails of the Eastern Sierra Jamboree are only open during this event, which makes it a treat for visitors as well as the locals.
Price: $150
Contact: (530) 208-6078, www.eastern
sierraatvjamboree.com

This unique event is growing in popularity. At the Idaho Rally, you can ride and compete on gorgeous forest roads just north of Boise. The competitions are timed events, where you basically race alone and against the clock. Not only do you race for bragging rights against other UTVs and ATVs, you can compare your times against real rally cars like Subaru WRXs and Mitsubishi Evos. Also part of the weekend’s activities, an ATV rodeo takes place in Idaho City, with barrel racing, pole bending, trail rides and more. Southwest Idaho also holds a Rally X series for ATVs.
Price: $25 (rodeo)
Contact: (208) 888-4441, www.idaho
rally.com

The 30 guided rides for this jamboree take place in or around the Pahvant mountain range east of Fillmore and in the west desert. Some of the rides take you from Fillmore’s 5186-foot elevation to a little over 9500 feet, so come prepared, because even in June, you can see snow on some of the trails. Off-trail activities in and around the national ATV jamboree include sled-pull mud bogs, a burnout contest, drag races, GPS training, meals and giveaways.
Price: $110
Contact: (800) 441-4ATV