Automotive Truck, Motorcycle And ATV

Often referred to as “the Outdoor Adventure Capital of the World,” one would be hard-pressed to not find an ATV trail or activity they wouldn’t enjoy in Moab, Utah. In fact, you’d have to pretty much despise the outdoors all together.

The thousands of miles of ATV trails in and around Moab present rock crawling enthusiasts with some tough challenges and the most breathtaking scenic back drops in the world. Names such as “Hell’s Revenge” and “Metal Masher” suggest what lies ahead, and these are some of the easier ones!

ATV trails are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most difficult. ATV trails with rankings of a 3 will have some tough obstacles, but there are usually by-passes for the timid, and a 4 ranked trail may require a winch or a whole bunch of friends with a rope. So you say you want to see what a 5 ranking has to offer? Well, you’re just asking for trouble.

Get your feet wet first. Take a ride up Porcupine Rim and take a peek into John Wayne’s back yard. From the top of the rim, you’ll look down on monumental valley where many Hollywood classics were filmed.

Moab thrives on outdoor junkie tourism. While you’ll definitely want to check out the ATV trails, don’t be afraid to partake in other activities that you’ll find advertised up and down Moab’s main drag. Mountain biking, hiking, whitewater rafting, Jeep and ATV rentals, rock climbing, skydiving and scenic boat rides down the Colorado River can all be found here. Canyoneering trips with High Point Hummer and ATV come highly recommended. You’ll tackle some of the toughest trails in a Hummer H1, and rappel down a 120-foot arch into Negro Bill’s Canyon. Don’t be afraid to try something new!

There’s plenty of room for everyone in Moab, whether you plan to camp or stay at one of many area hotels. The restaurants are also top notch. Avoid the usual fast food joints and check out the local tastes. The beer cheese soup and microbrews at the Moab Brewery are a must! The burgers at Eddie McStiff’s are excellent and the Drunken Noodles at Singha Authentic Thai Cuisine will jolt your chapped lips.

Moab sits at the top of our must-do off-road vacation list. And there’s always something new and spectacular to see or do every time we return.

Tom Kaiser is Managing Editor of ATV Magazine. You can read more of Tom’s ATV riding adventures at http://www.atvmagonline.com or become a fan of ATV Magazine on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/atvmag

At about 3.79 million square miles, the United States is a vast nation – the world’s third largest by land area. The diversity of our terrain provides off-road riders with an all-you-can-eat buffet of ATV riding choices available for the taking -deserts and dunes of the southwest, towering peaks in the Rocky Mountains, dense forests and the countless lakes of the Midwest, stunning views from atop the Ozark Mountains and the colossal riding areas of the rolling Appalachians.

If you live in the Western United States or want to travel out there for a change in your ATV riding terrain, here are six great spots in the Pacific U.S. region to get you started.

Imperial Sand Dunes

Perhaps the most famous off-road destination in the country, and one of the most popular ATV riding areas in the world, the Imperial Sand Dunes (frequently called Glamis) of Southern California near the Mexican border includes approximately 118,000 acres for off-highway vehicles like ATVs, dirt bikes, sand rails, side-by-sides and trucks.

Riding the Imperial dunes for the first time is daunting, with difficulty ranging from easy to white knuckles. Getting lost is a concern, as the terrain is always morphing, and the scenery blends together. The payoff is riding in an endless desert paradise seemingly designed exclusively as a high-speed ATV riding oasis.

Mojave Desert

A spectacular getaway for residents of the Southwest, and anyone looking for a change of pace, the Mojave Desert in California contains some of the greatest high desert riding in the country. Terrain varies from enormous valley stretches to mostly treeless hillsides that bring riders thousands of feet above the desert floor. Don’t let the extreme weather scare you off. Springtime in the Mojave is particularly delightful, as the desert is bursting with life and blanketed by bright patches of wildflowers.

Mount Hood National Forest

There’s a reason you periodically hear of exploring hikers trapped on Mount Hood in Oregon – the view and extreme high-altitude experience is worth a little risk. If you go by atv and stay on the marked trail system, you can get a similar thrill without having to pack and carry camping gear, and you’ll probably make it out alive at the end of the day.

Mount Hood is incredibly beautiful, and the above-the-clouds (in some cases) ATV trails offer riders great variety and make for a very amusing and scenic ride. This is dream-like riding on a grand scale.

Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area

Located along the beautiful Pacific coast in Southern California just north of Santa Barbara, Pismo Beach’s Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area is a popular ATV destination for sand dune riding right on the ocean coast. Formerly known as the Pismo Dunes, Oceano is a geologically unique location. The prevailing ocean winds create uncommon riding conditions, but all riders must exercise extreme caution in spotting dangerous slipface drop-offs.

Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area

As California’s largest State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA), Ocotillo Wells has more than 80,000 acres of desert that’s open to off-highway exploration, which is a gargantuan amount of riding possibilities. Even better, Ocotillo is affordable: no fees are collected for camping or day use, and camping is permitted for up to 30 days a year – so stay a while!

Key attractions include the eroded Blow Sand Hill, the 200-foot-high Devil’s Slide, Barrel Springs sand dunes, the unusual Shell Reef and Pumpkin Patch sandstone concretions.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

Like no other place on the planet, the Oregon Dunes bring fantastic dune riding, the Pacific Ocean and pine trees together in one remarkable spot. The dunes start at the sea and, at points, stretch two miles inland and reach up to 500 feet above sea level.

The continent’s largest expanse of coastal sand dunes, approximately half of the Oregon Dunes are open to motorized vehicles. Campgrounds, staging areas and several annual events make this a top ATV destination.

For great ATV riding spots throughout the rest of the United States visit http://www.atvmagonline.com/2009/06/america%E2%80%99s-26-greatest-atv-destinations. John Prusak is the Group Publisher of ATV magazine and SnowGoer magazine. John has been riding and writing about off road vehicles for 20 years. To learn why he and his staff selected these six specific Pacific destinations as “must ride” atv spots, visit http://www.atvmagonline.com/2009/06/america%E2%80%99s-26-greatest-atv-destinations.

1. Dampen the winch cable. During winching, it’s a good idea to lay a coat, blanket or even tie a bag to the wire cable to dampen it in case of failure. If it fails and you don’t do this, the wire rope could potentially become a high-speed whip – crack!

2. Off the hook. When feeding the winch cable (whether its wire or synthetic) back into the winch, never hold the hook (clasp). Warn includes a Warn-signature red hook strap with all its winches. Hold the hook strap when feeding the cable. If your winch doesn’t have one, get one! Warn sells replacements.

3. Add a rock guard sleeve. If your winch cable isn’t protected from sharp objects, add a sleeve. This small open-ended rope “sock” looks like a gray Chinese finger trap, but is a wise addition. In the event you must winch over rough, jagged rocks or other obstacles with sharp edges, the sleeve protects the cable from fraying and damage. If the cable is frayed, replace it.

4. Wear gloves when winching. This rings especially true when working with a traditional wire cable. If there is a barb or fray anywhere on the cable, you’ll know it as soon as your finger get jabbed and the blood flows. Winching gloves, which Warn also sells, will prevent this accident waiting to happen.

5. Go wireless. Whether it’s cell phones, computers or winches, wireless systems are all the rage. A wireless winch operates within a 50-foot radius of your vehicle and improves your recovery options. It has an automatic shut off mechanism and fits in a holster on the handlebars.

6. Go with a roller fairlead when using a snowplow. Because of their frequent lifting and lowering of a plow blade, a winch cable always seems to be moving in and out of the winch. With a standard Hawse fairlead, the cable can be subject to damage, especially if the fairlead already has damage or grooves. A roller fairlead has a large center drum and two side drums to protect the winch rope/cable during plowing.

7. Purchase an accessory pack. Warn offers a winching kit that it says “doubles your pulling power.” The kit includes two shackles, snatch block, two tree trunk protectors and a Cordura nylon carrying case. This kit also simplifies individual winching, in case you need to use a tree to get your quad unstuck.

8. Choker chain. Not for your dog, silly, but rather for your quad. If you love to rock crawl, a choker chain is an essential tool. This device lets a sturdy, sharp rock be used as an anchor.

9. Cover that winch. A winch cover, much like and ATV or boat cover, protects the investment that’s underneath it. Keep dust, sand, ice and other debris off your winch by adding a cover. Warn’s neoprene winch cover resists water and cracking.

10. Go with the Multi-Mount. Warn’s versatile winch carrier can be moved from the front or back of an ATV or even your dad’s quad to ensure you get out of trouble. The carrier fits inside model-specific front and rear mounts and attaches using a 50-amp Quick-Connect wiring kit.

John Prusak is Group Publisher of ATV Magazine and Snow Goer magazine. He has more than 15 years experience riding snowmobiles and ATVs and just as much experience writing about them. Learn other tips about your ATV from John and his team of ATV journalists. Visit:
http://www.atvmagonline.com