UTAH - THE PARADISE OF ENDURO RIDING
- riffelchristine
- Aug 23, 2024
- 4 min read
With its vast orange desert landscapes, sandy mountains and rocky trails, Utah is the perfect playground for enduro, motocross and trials enthusiasts. Over 80 thousand miles, or 128 thousand kilometers, of public trails that can be ridden free of charge and legally on motorcycles make the off-road heart beat faster. While we in Europe are usually used to transporting the motorcycle to the closed off-road area on a trailer, Americans in Utah simply get on their enduro and ride for a few minutes until they reach the beautiful desert. So renting a motorcycle is definitely worth it!
WHERE DO I RENT A SUITABLE MOTORCYCLE IN UTAH?
Basically, there are various providers of off-road motor sports throughout the state of Utah: from jeeps, quads, Can-Ams, motocrossers, enduros and trialers, there is something for everyone. Southern Utah in particular is known for its breathtaking off-road experiences.
As it fitted geographically well into our 5-week USA road trip with the campervan, we looked around for a motorcycle rental in the south and found what we were looking for in the small town of Hurricane at the „Southern Utah Adventure Center“. The provider has a range of off-road vehicles that can be rented for a few hours or several days. There are two Honda CRF 250s and two KTM EXC 350s available, which are best booked in advance on the website or on site in the store.
We opted for a KTM EXC 350 from the 2021 model year, which we rented for half a day (5 hours). This cost us 255 USD and a deposit of 500 USD. Expensive, but it was definitely worth it when you consider that you can ride a motorcycle for free and legally in a breathtaking desert. Apart from a few signs of wear (some scratches on the frame and plastics, as well as a slight dent in the manifold), the bike was in good condition, had a new rear tire and was wonderful to ride. The KTM was also equipped with a Rekluse clutch, which makes it possible to start without a clutch. The guys at the motorcycle rental company gave us the KTM with an oiled chain and a full tank and even helped us load it into the camper van. The staff also gave us some locations where it is particularly nice to ride - but more on that later.
We did not have to present an international driver's license to the provider. In addition to the motorcycle, we also rented a helmet, goggles and gloves from the provider.
WHAT DO I HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR WHEN RIDING AN ENDURO IN UTAH?
Before you get on the bike, you have to complete a 5-10 minute online course from the government, called the „Utah Off-Highway Vehicle Education Course“. Here you can find out quite well prepared in which areas you are legally allowed to ride and which places (e.g. national parks or nature reserves) are prohibited. The course also explains some rules for off-road driving. You can get access to the course from the off-road provider and after completing the course you will receive a digital certificate, which you should have with you on your cell phone in case you are stopped by the police.
In general, the areas are always marked with signs so that you can determine whether you are legally on the road. The KTM that we rented was registered and had a license plate and blinker, which meant that we could also ride legally in traffic. It's best to talk to the provider before your tour to find out which places are recommended and which areas you should avoid. In our experience, however, motorsport is perceived much more relaxed by the population in the USA. Whereas in Germany you quickly get a notice in your letterbox, here you're more likely to get a “thumbs up” if you're off-road on your rear wheel ;-).
Due to the warm climate, you should have enough water and preferably long clothing with you.
BREATHTAKING SPOTS FOR ENDURO RIDING IN HURRICANE, UTAH
Starting point and parking for cars
Coordinates: 37°03’20.8"N 113°28’03.4"W
25 minutes away from the motorcycle rental, the location offers access to a spacious area and also parking facilities for cars if you have transported the enduro in a van (as we did). After we turned off the highway onto the gravel road, we were immediately met by a few guys and girls on enduro bikes. There were also a few camper vans belonging to Americans who were riding their motorcycles for several days.
Rocky Trails:
Coordinates: 37°01’57.7"N 113°27’44.0"W
Turning right from the starting point, there are some rocky and technically challenging enduro trails at this location. Those who are at home in trials and enjoy riding over steps and stones will find what they are looking for here in the gray desert section.
Flat dirt tracks and steep slopes:
Coordinates: 37°03’48.6"N 113°27'42.6"W
Turning left from the starting point, there is an enduro trail with some smaller jumps and berms right at this location. If you take the dirt road a little more to the west, you will find breathtakingly steep slopes here (37°03'48.3 “N 113°26'28.0 ”W), which create a real desert feeling in the organic sand. This spot was definitely our highlight of the day.
Dunes and long sandy slopes:
Coordinates: 37°05’53.5"N 113°27’00.9"W
From the last viewpoint further north, you will find very steep sandy slopes that often chase up Can-Ams. The sand is much deeper at this point, so you can even get stuck in places. There are also some hills and banks that are great fun.
Overview of locations:
THE BEST TIME FOR YOUR ENDURO-TRIP IN UTAH
July and August are the hottest months in Utah, where temperatures of 35 C are the standard. To avoid the hottest months, we would recommend visiting in April, May, June and October. We went enduro riding in Utah in early May 2024 and can recommend this time.
We wish you lots of fun on your enduro ride in Utah! Here you can find a few videos as inspiration:
