ATV Adventures: The Arapeen OHV Jamboree – big fun in little Ferron
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- Participants in the Arapeen Jamboree enjoy cool mountain air.
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- An ATV travels along one of the beautiful trails in the Manti-La Sal National Forest during the Arapeen Jamboree.
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- The view from an overlook on the Arapeen Jamboree is shown.
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- An ATV crosses Muddy Creek during the Arapeen Jamboree.
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- Lynn Blamires
The dates are set for Sept. 4 through 6 and registration is open for the annual Arapeen OHV Jamboree in Ferron. Six jamborees showcase the Arapeen Trail System each year; this is the only one that explores the east side of the trail system.
Building on the success of last year's jamboree, the Big Mountain Lodge is again hosting this fun event along with Steadman's Recreation and Emery County. It is important to act quickly because more than half of the rooms and cabins at the lodge are booked. Rooms are still available in the lodge and the cabins. New cabins have been added to allow more people to enjoy this gathering.
If you're pulling an RV, hookups are available nearby at Millsite State Park. Reservations can also be made at Singleton's Trailer Court. Camping is also available at Millsite State Park. If the lodge is full, rooms are available in nearby Castle Dale.
Camaraderie is the theme of this festival. Of all the jamborees in Utah, this one is big because of what it offers but small in the number of riders that can be accommodated. I have attended jamborees that have hosted more than 800 riders; this one allows riders to become well acquainted.
The Big Mountain Lodge is well equipped to host this shindig. Owners and hosts Brad and Julie Benson offer a convenience store with a hot deli, an ice cream parlor, a coffee shop, sandwiches for the trail and a gas station with non-ethanol gas. If you need a UTV to join the fun, Brad has them for rent.
Across the street, they have the best burger in town at the Grub Hub. I say that with tongue in cheek because Ferron's population is about 1,650, but seriously, they serve a great menu of burgers, fries and shakes.
Registration fees this year are only $40 per rider. That fee includes three days of guided rides in the beautiful Manti-La Sal Forest, a fun swag bag and tickets for nightly drawings for prizes. In addition, all participants will be entered into a drawing for a Backou electric scooter provided by Steadman's Recreation. The winner will be drawn this fall. The lodge is catering meals for this three-day event and the evening meals will be served in the gathering room next to the lodge. They can be purchased when you register - lunches are $10 and dinners are $20 - or you can bring your own. The T-shirts are $20 and the hoodies are $35 for sizes up through XL (add $3 more for bigger sizes).
Only three rides are offered so all the riders ride together on the three days of the jamboree. This year, all rides leave from the lodge, so no transport is required. Here is a description of the trails that await your exploration at this year's jamboree:
Wednesday - Six Mile Ponds
This ride leaves from the lodge and goes by Millsite State Park. Trail #7 starts at the forest border and passes Willow Lake and Ferron Reservoir, arriving at Duck Fork Reservoir. Due to a 66-inch restriction, wider machines will take a different route and meet at the top of Skyline Drive. From there, the group will stop for lunch at Six Mile Ponds in the canyon of the same name. The return trip will pass Mt. Baldy and return to the lodge via Ferron Reservoir. This 70-mile ride will give an idea of the beauty of this trail system.
Thursday - The Big Mountain Fishing Expo
Unique to this jamboree is a fishing derby. The ride features three lakes - Ferron Reservoir, Emerald Lake and Wrigley Reservoir. These are prime fishing spots. You will have 90 minutes at each one to catch fish. The person catching the most fish will win a prize, one for each fishing hole. The ride is 62 miles and requires a fishing license. If you have never had a tiger trout on your line, you are in for a treat.
Friday - Black Fork/Muddy Creek
As of this writing, the website has not been updated to show the correct ride information. Leaving the lodge, riders will go up Ferron Canyon past Wrigley Reservoir. At Spinners Reservoir, the trail turns south through the Muddy Creek Crossing toward Black Fork Mountain to a bird's eye view of the Fish Lake National Forest. The return trip is via 12-mile Flat and Ferron Reservoir.