Utah Desert Trip - Where?

[Slowdad]

I'm going to Mesquite on Friday with the rest of the ATM gang, then I want to take the family out camping in the desert. Problem is, I have no idea where? I'm looking for suggestions. I'd like to go somewhere relatively close to Mesquite (back towards Utah), and relatively warm. Thoughts?

[Woody_YZF]

Sand Hollow is a good place to ride (dunes, trails, etc.) That's where I'd go, it's not too far from St. George (closer to Hurricane I think).

[ktyfz]

I agree with Woody 100%. Go to Sand Hollow and you won't be dissappointed. I ride out there a lot in the winter. If your not into sand riding then another good place to go is the Arizona Strip just outside of St. George. Lots and lots of trails to ride out there and there's a usually a little MX track setup out there too. If you want directions to either place just PM me.

[raptor02]

Originally Posted by Woody_YFZ

Sand Hollow is a good place to ride (dunes, trails, etc.) That's where I'd go, it's not too far from St. George (closer to Hurricane I think).

Sand Hollow is fun, you not only have the dunes mixed with slick rock, there is also the Resivior, Not sure if you can fish yet! Might also be to cold to swim too.:

[ktyfz]

Originally Posted by raptor02

Sand Hollow is fun, you not only have the dunes mixed with slick rock, there is also the Resivior, Not sure if you can fish yet! Might also be to cold to swim too.:

You can fish, but last time I didn't catch anything but weeds

[Slowdad]

Thanks guys! Looks like Sand Hollow will be the place. Did you guys camp there? Looks like it's a state run camp ground. Any idea if it gets crowded? Can we ride from the campground?

[ktyfz]

They have a nice campground for the boaters, but not for the atv/dirt bike people. The nice campground has full hookups, but you cannot ride from that camp to the dunes. They make you trailer your machines from the nice campground to the dunes. I've camped out there alot and what we do is camp just below the dunes in the staging area. I know they have plans to build a better campground from the dunes too, but they just haven't done it yet. When you get the pay station just ask the Ranger who takes your money how to get to the dunes and tell them you want to camp at the dunes. If you get there after dark and there isn't a Ranger on duty then just as you pass the pay station there's a dirt road on the right that goes to the dunes. FYI the nice campground is on the left just across from the turn off to the dunes.

Oh and on Prez day weekend I am sure it will be crowded. My dad, brother, and bunch of other friends will be out there.

[Woody_YZF]

ktyfz, are you going to be able to come to Mesquite on Friday?

[Slowdad]

Assuming I go to Sand Hollow, will I need spark arrestors on all bikes? Most of them don't have SAs, since mostly we ride tracks. Am I going to have problems? I'll have my 450, and kids 65 and 85s.

[ktyfz]

Originally Posted by Woody_YFZ

ktyfz, are you going to be able to come to Mesquite on Friday?

I wish. I'm leaving for China on Saturday for 2 weeks. I was down there last weekend and the weather was awesome! Have fun!!!!

[ktyfz]

Originally Posted by Slowdad

Assuming I go to Sand Hollow, will I need spark arrestors on all bikes? Most of them don't have SAs, since mostly we ride tracks. Am I going to have problems? I'll have my 450, and kids 65 and 85s.

You don't need a sparky down there. You'll get hassled for any kids under 8 that ride alone or if you don't have a orange flag. For some reason they give you crap if your flag isn't orange. I keep going with my black flag, but everytime I get a talking to from the rangers.

[Slowdad]

Originally Posted by ktyfz

You don't need a sparky down there. You'll get hassled for any kids under 8 that ride alone or if you don't have a orange flag. For some reason they give you crap if your flag isn't orange. I keep going with my black flag, but everytime I get a talking to from the rangers.

OK, so now I realize this just isn't going to work for this weekend. I've got no flags, and more importantly, my kids have not been through the state mandated OHV training (what a crock!). Going to a state park ain't going to work. I'll have to sign the kids up for that training, I'm sure it won't hurt them, but I think I've taught them pretty well. Too bad we can't "test out" of the class.

So, any other ideas for desert riding, where Rangers won't be around?

[raptor02]

They also check your bikes for the Regestration stickers before they let you in the Park:

[ktyfz]

Originally Posted by Slowdad

OK, so now I realize this just isn't going to work for this weekend. I've got no flags, and more importantly, my kids have not been through the state mandated OHV training (what a crock!). Going to a state park ain't going to work. I'll have to sign the kids up for that training, I'm sure it won't hurt them, but I think I've taught them pretty well. Too bad we can't "test out" of the class.

So, any other ideas for desert riding, where Rangers won't be around?

I'd suggest going out to the Arizona Strip, which is just outside of St. George. It's basically just east of the port of entry right outside of St. George. There are no rangers or rules out there and lots of riding trails too. To get there you take the Bloomington exit, go around the round-a-bout till your heading East, you'll be heading up the hill going past the Flying J. Follow that road until you have to go either left or right (about 3 miles from the freeway). Go right and just keep following the road past the industrial area and you'll end up in the Arizona strip, but you don't have to go that far to camp. You'll see all the trails I'm talking about and most likely there will be people camping/riding out there. If you follow that road for 5-7 miles you'll end up at the Arizona state line. That'd be my suggestion for you guys. I've also seen people camp just outside of Sand Hollow (not in the park) and ride into the dunes from the west. You'd still have to have a flag for that though and the rangers patrol the dunes.