ATV Adventures: The OHV community is welcome back in Moab
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- The trails on Hell’s Revenge are easy to follow.
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- There is no place like Moab.
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- Another challenge to conquer now that Moab is open.
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- Lynn Blamires
Thanks to the work of the Moab Redrok Rally organizers, with the support of UTV Utah, Slikrok Productions, local businesses, local off-road groups and OHV-friendly leaders, the gates of Moab are once again open to responsible OHV riders.
During the COVID pandemic of 2020, some off-road events were canceled. The following year Rally on the Rocks was moved to another location because of a ban imposed on UTVs by Moab and Grand County.
Anti-OHV organizations tried to capitalize on complaints about riders made by citizens. These included disturbing the peace in the early morning hours, disrupting traffic with police-escorted OHV caravans to the trailheads and the noise produced by these machines in general.
In November 2022, a vision to bring back a dedicated UTV rally began to take shape. With growing support, a proposal was prepared and submitted to Grand County in January for approval for a 2023 event. It was not approved.
The opposition wanted to require the trailering of machines to the trailheads to keep UTVs off city streets. Rally organizers objected because many of the trailheads have no staging areas. Another reason is that Utah law allows properly registered machines to ride on city streets.
On the issue of noise, stock machines have mufflers that meet federal restrictions on noise levels. There is only one way through Moab and a lot of vehicles make more noise than UTVs do. It could be that the noise of a UTV just sounds different.
By the spring of 2023, support was beginning to build from local off-road clubs, businesses and OHV-friendly leaders who understood the value of motorized recreation in Moab. In April, a revised application for the first Moab Redrok Rally was submitted. One month later, the Bureau of Land Management granted the necessary permit allowing the event to move forward.
In the summer, the opposition sparked some strong local debates. Local law enforcement was instrumental in de-escalating tensions. Local businesses rallied to make their voices heard in favor of responsible off-road recreation.
It is easy to see why Moab businesses would want to have the OHV community spend time in town when you consider the results of the Bureau of Economic Analysis report for 2023. Utah’s outdoor recreation economy grew from $8.1 billion in 2022 to $9.5 billion in 2023 – an increase of over a billion dollars. OHV activities including motorcycles, ATVs and UTVs contributed $166 million, which is up $30 million from the previous year. It is estimated that the Moab Redrok Rally will contribute $4 million this year to Moab.
In September 2023, after much deliberation, the Grand County Commission approved the 2024 Rally by a narrow margin, a 4-3 vote. That was the last hurdle. Redrok Rally organizers moved forward to stage the first Redrok Rally.
Key partnerships were formed early in 2024 with Slikrok Productions and UTV Utah. From June 20-22, the first-ever Redrok Rally was held at the Red Cliffs Lodge. It was a success, with 400 people bringing 270 UTVs to the rally.
The event ran so well that the BLM granted Redrok Rally organizers a 10-year permit, ensuring the event’s place in Moab for years to come. In September, the Grand County Commission approved the 2025 event by a resounding 6-1 vote. With this approval came the exciting opportunity to host the rally at the Old Spanish Trail Arena. This is a Grand County facility that will allow further growth and expansion.
The Second Annual Moab Redrok Rally is set to open June 12 and will run through the 14th. This year’s event has attracted 25 industry vendors so far and more are coming on board.
The Rally is proof that the OHV community is welcome in Moab. Registration is open at https://www.redrokrally.com. Fees for this year’s rally are $145 per vehicle and include three days of guided rides, daily raffles, a Redrok Rally T-shirt and all fees required by Moab City and the BLM.
The website has details on all the trails and where to meet the guides. Each rider will ride to meet the guides at the trailheads. The Redrok Rally is committed to working with the Grand County community and requires riders to keep all city, county and state laws regarding OHVs in mind when attending the rally. When you go, take plenty of water, keep the rubber side down and remember, OHVs are welcome in Moab.
Contact Lynn R. Blamires at quadmanone@gmail.com.
