Trail Ride Rules

Please read over carefully to ensure you understand these rules. Participants are responsible for his or her own safety. Additionally, there will be a ride meeting prior to each day’s rides. This is a great time to ask questions or bring up any concerns.

UTV Offroad Adventures recommends wearing helmets and safety gear on the trail rides, but if you are riding a quad or a motorcycle helmets are mandatory. In addition, we highly recommend radio communication. If you have radios, please be sure to confirm you are on the correct radio frequency with the ride leaders before taking off on your ride. Additionally, at registration you will receive an emergency contact card, please be sure to keep it with you at all times on the trail. It is our goal to keep everyone safe!

Before the ride leaders take off, the ride leaders or UTV Offroad Personnel will check in all the vehicles on the rides. They will use your registration number provided at registration to check you in on the ride roster. The roster is kept with the ride leaders. It is very important that you do not leave your group without informing the ride leaders. If you get separated from your group, STOP and stay where you are until we find you. They will not leave anybody!

It is important no one takes a wrong turn and gets lost. The ride leaders use the “rotation method” to prevent a rider/driver from making an incorrect turn. As the trail ride advances down a trail, the ride leader will stop at an intersection where there could be confusion as to the correct direction of travel. The ride leader will instruct the rider/driver immediately behind him to stop at the intersection and direct traffic until all ride participants have passed by except for the tailgunner/sweep rider. The rider/driver, that has been directing traffic, will fall back into line ahead of the tailgunner/sweep rider and continue with the ride. Sometimes the ride leader may accidently miss an intersection where it would have been appropriate to place someone to direct traffic. If this happens and a ride participant believes there should be someone placed to direct traffic, it is appropriate to stop and begin to direct traffic. The ride leader will appreciate any assistance the ride participants can provide.

Turn lights on and assure plenty of spacing between participants due to dust or trail conditions. Running with you headlights on will help the person in front and behind you to see you easily and know that you are following. No aggressive passing other participants while traveling on the trail; space is usually for managing dust.

Make sure you have plenty of fuel, food and water for the length of the trail, plus some reserve of fuel and water. If you do not have radios, be sure that your cell phone is charged and it is recommended you have a charger for your phone.

The ride leader is responsible for providing an enjoyable and safe trail ride experience. The ride leader is responsible for setting a safe and comfortable ride pace for the group. Ride participants should make every effort to maintain the same travel speed the ride leader is using. Ride participants should avoid deliberately driving at a slower speed than the ride leader is traveling and forcing the entire group to slow down. If the ride speed is too fast for a participant’s safety zone, please bring those concerns to the attention of your ride leader. If deemed appropriate the ride leader will adjust the ride speed to meet the needs of all ride participants.

Most trails are remote and there are very few restrooms on the trails so plan accordingly. If you must stop while the group is moving, leave your UTV on/near the trail so that those following will know that you have stopped. When stopping for any reason, always keep the road open for other traffic. Join the ride again as quickly as possible and please keep these stops to a minimum. Ride Leaders pull over periodically for breaks, photo opportunities and to share local histories. Our tailgunner/sweep rider will not pass an UTV on the trail. They remain at the tail end to ensure everyone is safe and accounted for!

If you desire a challenge on your ride, please mention this to your ride leaders…in most cases accommodations can be made. Inform your ride leader if you are a beginner so that you can be placed at the back of the pack. These rules are to ensure a safe and enjoyable trail ride for all participants. Relax and enjoy the ride, the ride leaders for the event will take care of the rest!