Lynn Blamires, Special to the Standard-Examiner

We are in the middle of the 2022 ATV/UTV riding season, which means we are in the middle of jamboree season. People from all over the country are coming to Utah to enjoy the camaraderie our jamborees offer and to ride our pristine trails. Earlier this month at the Fillmore jamboree, I met Kelsie Keen from my home state of Oklahoma. He comes out to a jamboree in Utah every year to ride our trails.

Because of the amazing variety of terrain in our beautiful state, each jamboree showcases a panorama unique to the location of that ATV event. In other words, a person can’t attend one ATV jamboree and say that they have seen Utah.

Unique to the Bryce Rally is that while the jamboree rides are on trails outside of Bryce Canyon National Park, the views at scenic points along these trails look into the park.

The dates for the Bryce Rally are set for Aug. 16-20. Registration is $100 per driver and $75 per passenger. These fees include three breakfasts, two dinners, a T-shirt or hat, three days of guided rides and a chance to win a cash grand prize of $5,000. In addition to these rides, a bonus night ride is being offered after dinner on Thursday. A fourth breakfast is being offered on Saturday as a fundraiser that will give riders an opportunity to contribute to a worthy cause.

A poker run will be held on Saturday and registration fees include the first hand. Extra hands will be available for extra fees and the prizes will be awarded at the closing social that evening.

Lynn Blamires, Special to the Standard-Examiner

Tuesday is a travel day for riders, with registration and an opening social at jamboree headquarters, which are situated at the Garfield County Fair building. Rides begin after breakfast on Thursday.

The rides offered at the Bryce Rally are limited to 25 machines, but riders have the option to take a self-guided ride if the ride they want to take is booked up. The rally itself has a cap of 300 riders. That number currently is at 175 so there is still room to get in on this riding opportunity. The website for registration and rally information is http://brycerally.org.

That website also gives information on the trails offered at the rally. Here are some I think are worth taking:

Trail No. 2 Circleville — Dog Valley Ride

This 90-mile ride is long, but it is fast paced and covers some colorful country. It leaves from Panguitch on the Fremont Trail to Circleville. Lunch will be at the Butch Cassidy Café and then riders will come back on the west side of the freeway in the Beaver Mountains. I have been on these trails and this is one I would want to take, not only for the scenery, but also for the fascinating history.

Lynn Blamires, Special to the Standard-Examiner

Trail No. 3 Casto Canyon

This trail will make you think you are in Bryce Canyon without being in Bryce Canyon. It is rated as one of the top 10 trails in the country, but it has a 50-inch restriction.

Trail No. 8 Dave’s Hollow/King’s Creek Ride

This is an easy ride through some beautiful country. Beginning at Tropic Reservoir, portions of this ride will border Bryce Canyon National Park featuring amazing views into it.

Trail No. 11 Panguitch, Limekiln and West Hunt Loop

Faster paced, this ride has it all: length, elevation, water, trees and sagebrush. There are some steep climbs and a few rocky spots.

Trail No. 16 Mammoth Cave

The ride will proceed through sagebrush covered flats, then up into aspen and pine covered mountains. I have been to Mammoth Cave and I would love to go again.

Trail No. 17 Buckskin Valley

This ride is designed for the more adventurous rider, containing a wide variety of trail conditions through sagebrush-covered flats, high mountain trails, up and down some steep rocky slopes and alongside some pretty streams.

Vendors of products related to the machines and the people who ride them are attracted to these events. These are times to get great deals on items you may have been thinking about to improve your ride.

It is important to sign up for this rally quickly as registration fees go up $10 after Aug. 1. When you go, take plenty of water, keep the rubber side down and to quote the Bryce Rally banner, “A narrow track of dirt through the forest isn’t a trail, it’s an adventure.”

Contact Lynn R. Blamires at quadmanone@gmail.com.

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