At Rocky Mountain ATV/MC, we have riding in our bones. It’s who we are. So if there’s a good spot for adventure riding, you can bet we’ll be there.
We’ve been putting together our own routes for years, but we finally decided to release some of our favorites in the form of the RM Rides series. It’s a fun way to showcase some of our riding trips, but it also offers us an opportunity to give back to the community that has supported us since our founding back in 1985.
In each RM Rides article, you’ll find videos that take you through each step of the route. And when you’re ready to go yourself, we’ve got the GPS files to allow you to plan your own trip. We’ve marked good spots to camp for the night or gas up for the next segment of riding. You’ll also find helpful tips and interesting trivia about the route. Who knows? Maybe we’ll see you on the trail next!
RED ROCKS TO MOUNTAIN TOPS
From deep red rock and canyons carved by time to soaring mountain ranges and remnants of the past, the Red Rocks to Mountain Tops adventure ride pays homage to the rich culture, mining history, and sweeping frontier that shaped the Wild West.
The ride begins in Moab, Utah and travels southeast to Colorado through incredible stops like Gateway, Telluride, and Ouray. After riding on the Million Dollar Highway, the route loops back to Utah and travels through stunning desert scenery until returning to red rock once more. Winding with the Colorado River, summiting 13,000’ mountain passes, and traveling past abandoned mines, powerful waterfalls, and varied historical landmarks, all 900 miles of this adventure route are guaranteed to take your breath away.
BATTLE BORN NORTH
Traversing wide-open deserts, climbing numerous mountain trails, passing decrepit ranches, and exploring forgotten spaces of the American Old West – that’s what the Battle Born North adventure ride is all about.
This four-day ride travels across over 700 miles of northern Nevada, providing some of the most breathtaking views the state has to offer. It begins in Wendover on the Utah–Nevada border and crosses through mountainous territory to reach Eureka. From there, it arcs up past Battle Mountain just past the border into Idaho before dropping into a canyon and beginning a southward direction. It turns east and crosses into Utah through the Great Salt Lake Desert before arriving back at Wendover.
BATTLE BORN SOUTH
The Battle Born South motorcycle adventure ride is a journey where you can ride for hours through the vast mountain ranges and miles of open space before ever seeing another living soul. For those who brave a ride through this immense western landscape, you’ll be rewarded with discoveries of mining ghost towns, glimpses of wild horses, countless geological wonders and much more.
This four-day ride travels across over 1,100 miles of Nevada and Utah, with the focus of the route taking place in the central eastern region of the Battle Born state. It begins in Payson, UT, at Rocky Mountain ATV/MC headquarters and heads west in Nevada. It crosses over and around several mountains, passing landmarks like the Lunar Crater and Diana’s Punchbowl. It passes through Eureka and back over to Ely before following the Pony Express Trail into Utah.
DIRTY DEVIL
After traveling 13 miles up a dirt road so treacherous it was named Hell’s Backbone, you reach a bridged crossing with 1,500-foot drops on either side. The surrounding area is called Death Hollow for a reason. Welcome to the Dirty Devil motorcycle adventure ride.
This four-day ride encompasses nearly 1,000 miles of southeastern Utah through redrock deserts and past beautiful mountain vistas. It begins at Rocky Mountain ATV/MC headquarters in Utah and travels down into the San Rafael Swell. It crosses the eponymous Dirt Devil River before arriving at Lake Powell and heading west to Boulder and through Capitol Reef National Park. It travels north along a mountain ridge before dropping down into the valley and rounding Mount Nebo to arrive back in Payson.
HOOKED ON PHOENIX
It’s hard to beat the beautiful deserts of Nevada and Arizona, and that’s exactly what the Hooked on Phoenix ride delivers. It’s a favorite of ours for winter riding, and it’s also the first ride we documented as part of the RM Rides series.
This five-day ride encompasses 900 miles of Nevada and Arizona, beginning in Mesquite. It travels across open desert and drops down through the Moapa Valley, following Lake Mead to Henderson. It’s takes an off-road course over a mountain and into historic Oatman, then follows the old Route 66. It passes through desolate country, up mountain trails and around Alamo Lake before arriving in Phoenix. Once in Phoenix, the route reverses (with a little variation) back to Mesquite.
Idaho Adventure Motorcycle Tour
What are the makings of any good adventure? Good friends, new places, amazing views, tasty food, and fun challenges are likely requirements on the list. Add in some awesome motorcycles, towering pines, winding rivers, and the open road, and you’ve got the RMATVMC crew’s Idaho Adventure Motorcycle Tour.
Follow along with the guys from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC as they traverse the Idaho backcountry on a host of different adventure bikes. Rampant wildfires, re-routed roads, wildlife encounters, historical sites, bike crashes, hole-in-the-wall eateries, and nights spent under the stars telling camp fire stories – the Idaho Adventure Motorcycle Tour will transport you to the Gem State to explore the varied beauty the state has to offer and to share in its storied history.
HOLE-IN-THE-ROCK EAST
Imagine tackling rugged terrain that puts your UTV driving skills to the test – all while knowing that pioneers crossed the same terrain in wagons over a century earlier. This describes the Hole-in-the-Rock East UTV Adventure Ride exactly.
This ride is set up over four days (though it can be very flexible depending how much time you want to spend) in the Southern Utah desert on the southeast side of Lake Powell. It begins east of Hall’s Crossing and travels down to connect with the original pioneer trail. It climbs up Grey Mesa and takes two diverging paths (which can be split into separate day trips): one to the Rincon and one down the Chute and arriving at Little Hole-in-the-Rock. It backtracks to the highway to complete the trip.
KELLY POINT UTV OVERLAND ADVENTURE RIDE
The advent of the UTV has created an avenue of exploration into some incredible places. Exploring out in the deserts of the southwest US, it is as evident as ever that the west is still plenty wild. The Kelly Point UTV Overland Adventure Ride explores some of the most remote country in the nation with breathtaking sights reserved only for those who are willing to traverse the rugged, remote, desert terrain.
Beginning in Mesquite, NV, and traversing into Arizona by dirt roads and trails, this overnight adventure transitions from desert to Joshua trees to pines; from easy two-track to challenging rock climbs; and changes elevation several times. The trail will lead you through the Pakoon Basin, the Grand Gulch, the abandoned Ware Ranch, and will eventually pop out at Kelly Point on the Grand Canyon’s north rim. The return ride has many points of interest along the way, including Snap Point, Savanic Mine, and Whitney Pocket before eventually returning to Mesquite.