We spent four days exploring some of Moab’s best-known UTV trails during the fifth annual Discount Tire Rally on the Rocks, held May 14–17, 2014. Our itinerary included Hell’s Revenge, Cliff Hanger, Moab Rim, Poison Spider Mesa, Golden Spike and Behind the Rocks.
The event gave us an opportunity to put our heavily modified 2014 Kawasaki Teryx through several very different types of terrain, from steep slickrock climbs to large ledges and technical descents.
2014 Rally on the Rocks
Discount Tire Rally on the Rocks was headquartered at the Old Spanish Trail Arena in Moab, Utah. The guided trail rides ranged from scenic dirt-road routes rated 1 to extreme trails rated 10 or higher.
More than 20 trails were available during the event. Moab’s combination of sandstone fins, technical ledges, expansive views and varied trail difficulty makes it one of the country’s premier UTV destinations.
Polaris RZR served as the 2014 title sponsor. Polaris offered demo rides in the RZR XP 1000 and the then-new Polaris Sportsman ACE. Kawasaki, Can-Am and Arctic Cat also attended the event.
Our 2014 Kawasaki Teryx
We brought our 2014 Kawasaki Teryx project vehicle, which had recently returned from SDR Motorsports with a new roll cage and front bumper.
SDR also installed a Muzzys Performance dual exhaust, SSV Works audio system, PRP seats and harnesses, a WARN winch with Custom Splice synthetic rope, Super Bright LEDs accent and rock lights, a Lowrance GPS, an Axia Alloys mirror and a fire extinguisher.
Factory UTV UHMW skid plates and rock sliders protected the underside, while an HCR Racing long-travel suspension system increased wheel travel, ground clearance and overall width. Those upgrades helped the Teryx carry more speed through rough terrain while improving its ability to clear large rocks.
We completed the setup with 30-inch STI Roctane XD tires mounted on STI HD5 beadlock wheels. For a closer look at how the machine performed, see Kawasaki Teryx Takes on Rally on the Rocks.
Tuesday: Hell’s Revenge
Hell’s Revenge during the 2014 Rally on the Rocks.
Our first ride was Hell’s Revenge, a trail rated 5+ for the event. Its huge expanses of slickrock include climbs and descents steep enough to make a driver question whether the tires will maintain traction.
The main trail is manageable for an experienced driver, but it should not be taken lightly. Its most difficult optional obstacles include Hell’s Gate, the Hot Tubs and the Escalator. Drivers who do not want to attempt those challenges can bypass them.
Wednesday: Cliff Hanger and Moab Rim
Cliff Hanger
Rock ledges and stair-step obstacles on Cliff Hanger.
Wednesday began with the event’s rated-8 Cliff Hanger Trail. The route immediately drops down a set of rock steps before crossing Kane Creek. It then climbs away from the creek through several challenging obstacles.
The trail eventually follows a narrow shelf with Jackson Hole several hundred feet below. Although Cliff Hanger is less than five miles long, it delivers technical terrain and panoramic views of the Colorado River and La Sal Mountains.
Moab Rim
Climbing the tilted sandstone slabs of Moab Rim.
Moab Rim climbs steeply tilted layers of sandstone above the Colorado River. The trail begins with Devil’s Crack and becomes more technical at the obstacle known as the Z Turn.
Once we reached the top, we were rewarded with outstanding views over Moab and the surrounding desert. The upper portion of the trail also includes a sand hill where we could open up the UTVs and play.
Thursday: Poison Spider Mesa and Golden Spike
Poison Spider Mesa
Poison Spider Mesa combines rock ledges, sand and scenic overlooks.
Poison Spider Mesa is one of Moab’s most popular trails. We trailered our UTVs to its trailhead across the Colorado River from Moab Rim and Cliff Hanger.
The route includes sandstone ledges, a sand hill and faster desert sections. It also offers excellent views of the Colorado River Gorge and the Behind the Rocks area, with a stop at Little Arch high above the river.
Golden Spike
Golden Spike delivers one major rock-crawling obstacle after another.
Golden Spike is a dream trail for drivers who enjoy technical rock crawling. Its well-known obstacles include the Launch Pad, Skyline Drive, Golden Crack, Golden Stairs, The Wall and Double Whammy. Much of the route runs near tall cliffs overlooking the Moab area.
Golden Spike cannot be accessed directly from a paved highway. Drivers must reach it by traveling Poison Spider Mesa from the south or Gold Bar Rim from the north.
Friday: Behind the Rocks
Guardian Hill and the technical terrain of Behind the Rocks.
Behind the Rocks was rated 8+ and proved to be one of the week’s most challenging trails. Some of its major obstacles have bypasses, but others—including White Knuckle Hill—do not.
The trail begins south of Moab and quickly reaches Guardian Hill, a steep climb covered with loose sand and large rocks. It provides an early indication of whether a vehicle and driver are prepared for the rest of the route.
High Dive and Upchuck
About 3.5 miles into Behind the Rocks, we reached High Dive. The extremely steep and uneven descent has several possible lines as well as a bypass. Damon from HCR Racing helped guide our group safely down the obstacle.
Upchuck sits at the bottom of High Dive. It is a steep, slick climb split by a substantial crack. Successful drivers generally straddle the crack, because sliding into it can result in body damage, a rollover or a broken axle. Several vehicles in our group slipped off their intended lines and either tipped over or damaged axles.
White Knuckle Hill
White Knuckle Hill begins with ledges and large rock outcroppings before reaching an approximately 10-foot, near-vertical final drop. As the rear tires descend and the front tires touch the ground, the driver must use carefully timed throttle to pull the front of the vehicle away from the wall and prevent the rear from coming over.
A safety rope attached to the rear of the UTV can also help control the descent. A longer wheelbase is a major advantage, but the obstacle can be negotiated with a careful approach and precise use of the brakes and throttle.
RZR XP 1000 on 33-Inch Tires
Jeff’s Polaris RZR XP 1000 rode on 33-inch BFGoodrich KM2 tires.
Our friend Jeff brought his Polaris RZR XP 1000 to Rally on the Rocks with a set of 33-inch BFGoodrich KM2 tires. The additional tire height gave the RZR an imposing stance and useful clearance for Moab’s ledges and boulders. The machine looked incredible and performed very well throughout the event.
Rally on the Rocks Vendor Area
The vendor area included ITP Tire and Wheel, PRP Seats, GMZ, HCR Racing, Method Race Wheels, Walker Evans Racing, STI and Axia Alloys. Polaris, Kawasaki, Can-Am and Arctic Cat were also represented.
