The Mama Bear Run

Join in the fun in Circleville on May 10 for this fourth annual event. Offered as part of the Paiute Trail Adventure Series, the Mama Bear Run is a poker run ride designed to give an experience of the awakening of spring on the Paiute Trail in Piute County.

Check-in will begin at 9 a.m. at the Circleville Community Center in Circleville. Poker hands can be purchased for $5 per hand or five hands for $20, should you wish to participate. Breakfast and dinner are available for a fee. Registration information is at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/ymu834m/lp/d4d66748-29cc-481a-a289-068d0e6ae76e. 

Can-Am Rally in the Valley

Lynn Blamires, Special to the Standard-Examiner

This sixth annual event will take place June 4-7 in Bryce Canyon across from Ruby’s Inn. The cost is $150 per adult and $60 per child ages 2-14 years old. Two meals are offered at an additional $20 each. The registration deadline is May 1.

The registration includes a Show N’ Shine, a Rally in the Valley T-shirt, three days of guided rides, a chance to win big prizes, an AR-15 raffle, a light-the-night parade, a rally decal, treats, games and group discounts on rooms and RV sites.

All rides leave from rally headquarters and will take you through the beauties of Bryce Canyon country. Register at https://can-amcrew.com/collections/rally-in-the-valley-registration. 

Some of these trails are part of the Paunsaugunt Trail System, which includes a loop around a valley with the Tropic Reservoir at its northerly end. On the south and east sections of the loop are viewpoints that look out over the pinnacles featured in Bryce Canyon. Crawford Pass is at the south end of the loop with access to views of the picturesque Pink Cliffs.

Arapeen Sunset UTV Ride

Lynn Blamires, Special to the Standard-Examiner

Experience night riding at its best on the Arapeen OHV Trails in the mountains above Ephraim on June 23. $20 provides you with a guided evening ride, a pre-ride pizza dinner, a bonfire dinner under the stars and participation in a whip-light parade.

The evening begins with a lineup on 50 E. 100 South in Ephraim at 5 p.m. followed by a pizza dinner at Roy’s Pizza. The ride departs at 6:15 p.m. with a choice of two trails – one moderate up New Canyon and one more difficult up Pigeon Creek.

These trails will take you through the twilight on the mountain to a bonfire at 9:30, where refreshments will be served. Join a light parade as you ride back down the canyon into town. The ride will end at 10:30. Register at https://utvevents.weebly.com/june-ride.html. 

I have been on both the moderate and difficult trails and had a great time. Arriving back in Ephraim after the Sunset Ride, I have stayed at the Willow Creek Inn. They have nice rooms, and more than once, I have come down to find biscuits and sausage gravy for breakfast. After breakfast, another ride during daylight hours rounds out my stay.

The Summer Mountain UTV/ATV Run

Lynn Blamires, Special to the Standard-Examiner

Experience some of the most beautiful UTV trails Utah has to offer, with great vistas, gorgeous wildflowers and crisp mountain air as you ascend to over 10,000 feet in elevation along the Skyline Drive on July 8-9. The center of operations for registration, breakfast and ride departures will be at the Manti City Sports Park on the north side of the city – north of the Temple and the City Cemetery.

Registration is $99 and includes two breakfasts, two sack lunches to take on the trail, one catered dinner and a Manti ATV Run T-shirt. Rides are offered on three different skill levels: 

• Level one will be on moderate trails with remarkable mountain views.
• Level two will feature tighter trails with a little more challenge but no less beautiful.
• Level three challenges are not for the faint of heart but are no less fun.

Register at https://www.manti.gov/atvrun. 

The Arapeen Trail System is one of the best Utah has to offer. With 600 miles of trail, there are some 53 fishing holes stocked for your fishing pleasure. This is not a one-and-done destination. I find myself drawn here for new ATV adventures every year. When you go, take plenty of water, keep the rubber side down and start planning your ATV adventures.