The Fifth Annual Red Rock Jamboree
Spring in Kanab (Ride is Full)
Spring and the Kanab Red Rock Jamboree come early this year. Kanab is hosting this fifth annual Jamboree with Kane County and the UT/AZ ATV Club. Scheduled for April 24 – 27, this is a great time to get out of the cold and into the splendor of the Red Rock country of Kanab, Utah.
Going, Going, Gone: Spots Are All Full
This year’s Jamboree cap was 250, down from last year’s 300. They had no trouble reaching that number last year; this year was no different. You must act quickly in 2025 to get in on this incredible opportunity. This is one of the first Jamborees of the year. The Tri-State Jamboree usually takes the honor of being first, but this year, it has been reduced to a one-day poker run. The Green River Watermelon Crawl has not yet set the dates for its 2024 event.
Treasures In The Red Rock Country Of Kanab
This opens the beauty of Kanab’s Red Rock Country to treasures in the backcountry you could not find on your own. Guides will take you to hidden gems like – dinosaur tracks, fascinating Anasazi Rock Art, dunes, slot canyons, rock alcoves, scenic vistas, and historic pioneer places. This Jamboree opens on Wednesday, the 24th, allowing riders to check in, pick up registration packets, and become more acquainted with the itinerary. Guides will be available to discuss details about trails being offered. Fourteen different rides are being offered that you can choose from each day of the Jamboree. After you have ridden three, you won’t be able to resist coming back next year for more.
Some Of The Best Trails Utah Has To Offer
I know the Montezuma Trails are top-notch because I have ridden some. Much work has gone into this year’s event to make this a unique experience for riders. New for this year are two daily rides to the famous Peekaboo Slot Canyon, a new ride to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes, and later morning start times. Riders will meet their guides at the trailheads instead of meeting in town and caravaning to the sites.
Quadman’s Thoughts On The Rides Offered:
Coral Pink Sand Dunes
If you love dunes, this is a ride for you. This adrenaline-fueled, fast-paced adventure will have you climbing dunes and diving into winding washes. A hotdog lunch will provide a much-needed break before you take on the challenge of scaling Competition Hill.
Dianas Throne
This is a new ride for me. It is listed as an extreme ride due to a crossing of Devil’s Throat, where you climb steep, slick rock peaks and plunge the sharp faces on the other side. I wasn’t sure I wanted to go, but Mike Reed, an event organizer, told me to stop being such a baby. It features spectacular views of Zion National Park and the White Cliffs beyond the Dianas Throne.
Hoodoo Run
The Hoodoos that spawned the name of this ride are found in Brown Canyon. The ride starts from Johnson Canyon Road and proceeds to the Cowboy Cave Petroglyphs. After circling the Pinnacles, the ride goes to some fantastic Cutler Point views and Brown Canyon. I love a good Hoodoo, but the draw for me is a chance to see the Native American water glyphs featured on this ride. I have written about these before, and they are fascinating. I took this ride last year, and it was amazing.
Poverty
This ride stages off to the west of the road through the tunnel in Zion National Park. It drops down winding switchbacks through the beautiful White Cliffs with stunning views of the East Fork of the Virgin River Gorge. I went on this ride last year, and it was a favorite. Climbing the slick rock on this trail was a highlight of the ride.
These are parts of Utah that you will never see from the highways. If I haven’t given you reason enough to sign up for this Jamboree next year, start at the top and reread the article. When you go, take plenty of water, keep the rubber side down, and get out of the cold and into the backcountry of Kanab.