Editor’s note: This report documents the inaugural UTV Rally held near Moab, Utah, on June 7–9, 2007. Trail access, regulations and conditions have changed since the event. Consult current land-management information before planning a ride.
More than 100 side-by-sides and approximately 200 participants gathered near Moab, Utah, for the first annual UTV Rally in June 2007. At a time when organized UTV destination events were still unusual, the three-day rally brought together recreational riders, manufacturers, aftermarket companies and some of the most heavily modified Yamaha Rhinos and Polaris RZRs in the country.
The event included rides to White Wash Sand Dunes, Seven Mile Rim, Gold Bar Rim and Golden Spike. It was also an early demonstration of how quickly the side-by-side industry was evolving from utility-oriented machines into long-travel desert vehicles and capable rock crawlers.
For the Yamaha Rhino in particular, the rally helped prove that a properly equipped UTV could travel long distances and negotiate the same technical terrain that had traditionally attracted Jeeps and other four-wheel-drive vehicles. Explore more of that story in our Yamaha Rhino history.
Driving Through the Storm
The trip to Utah began with challenging weather. Rain followed us from Reno to Salt Lake City, and winds exceeding 40 mph made towing difficult. Wednesday was cold and windy around Moab, a sharp change from the 95-degree temperatures the area had experienced only a few days earlier.
Conditions gradually improved, and by Friday we had beautiful weather for the scheduled rides.
Day Zero: Exploring Near Archview
Before the official rally began, we spent some time exploring the terrain near Archview Resort with Troy and Don from CartWheelin’ Magazine. The rocky ledges and open desert around the campground provided a preview of what was waiting for us during the next three days.
Day One: White Wash Sand Dunes
The first organized ride headed to White Wash Sand Dunes, northwest of Moab. The route was considered an easy ride by the event organizers, but it still covered more than 70 miles round trip from Archview Resort.
We rode with Aaron from PRP Seats and Pete from Got Sand?, traveling across open desert before reaching the sand dunes. The combination of dirt roads, desert terrain and open sand made this a good introduction to the area and a test of each machine’s range and comfort.
The ride also provided an opportunity to demonstrate the practical value of a winch. A Moab Action Shots van became stuck in the sand, and the UTV riders worked together to recover it.
Day Two: Seven Mile Rim
Day Two took us to Seven Mile Rim, a roughly 21-mile trail overlooking Archview Resort and the surrounding desert. Event organizers rated the route approximately 3.5 out of 5, making it more technical than the previous day’s trip.
Our group included representatives from Got Sand?, Warn Industries, Bikeman Performance and Seizmik. The variety of machines and accessories on the ride reflected the rapidly expanding UTV aftermarket in 2007.
The route offered expansive views across the Moab landscape. From the rim, we could look down toward Archview Resort, where the rally was based.
One of the ride’s memorable landmarks was Uranium Arch, a natural sandstone arch tucked into the surrounding rock formations.
Day Three: Gold Bar Rim and Golden Spike
The final day delivered the most difficult terrain of the rally. Gold Bar Rim was rated approximately 3.5 out of 5 by the organizers, while Golden Spike carried a 4-out-of-5 rating.
The route featured a succession of famous Moab obstacles, including Body Snatcher, Golden Wall, Golden Falls, Golden Stairs and Golden Crack. These obstacles demanded careful tire placement, good ground clearance and confidence in the machine.
Body Snatcher
Golden Wall
Golden Falls and Golden Stairs
Golden Crack
Golden Crack was one of the best-known obstacles on the ride. Although the gap looks intimidating, careful positioning allowed the short-wheelbase UTVs to cross it successfully.
Coverage from this portion of the trip later appeared in the September 2007 issue of Side x Side Action Magazine.
Wally’s Long-Distance Adventure Rhino
For the final miles, I rode with Wally from RhinoWorld.net. His Yamaha Rhino had been configured for long-distance adventure travel with upgraded wheels and tires, seats, suspension, A-arms, a custom cage and bumper, spare parts and GPS navigation.
The quick descent from the slickrock toward the valley showed how versatile these early modified Rhinos had become. They could crawl through technical obstacles during the day and still cover substantial distances across the desert.
The Polaris RZR Aftermarket Takes Shape
The UTV Rally also offered an early look at the new Polaris RZR and the aftermarket that was already forming around it. The original 2008 RZR had only recently reached dealers, yet fabricators were quickly developing suspension, cages, bumpers and other performance components.
Jagged Extreme displayed a RZR with a plus-six-inch long-travel suspension system, custom cage and bumpers. The company also brought a second custom-painted RZR.
KMS Performance also allowed Pete and me to test its brand-new RZR. Seeing several modified examples at the rally made it clear that the RZR would have an enormous influence on the performance side-by-side market.
Learn how the platform developed in our complete Polaris RZR history.
Industry Exhibitors and Early UTV Community
The event attracted many of the companies helping shape the young side-by-side industry. Participants and exhibitors included RhinoWorld.net, Got Sand?, PRP Seats, OMF Performance, Warn Industries, Bikeman Performance, Seizmik, KMS Performance and representatives from Toy Hauler Magazine.
The machines were just as varied. In addition to Yamaha Rhinos and the newly introduced Polaris RZR, the rally included an Arctic Cat Prowler and a Cub Cadet diesel utility vehicle.
Legacy of the 2007 UTV Rally
The original UTV Rally continued for only a few years, but its influence extended beyond the event itself. In 2010, Rally on the Rocks began bringing UTV enthusiasts back to the Moab area for organized trail rides and technical rock crawling.
Looking back, the inaugural rally captured an important transition. Utility vehicles were becoming recreational machines, aftermarket companies were turning the Rhino into a serious rock crawler and the brand-new RZR was beginning to redefine performance expectations.
Most importantly, the rally showed that a large community was forming around destination UTV adventures. More than 100 machines and 200 participants traveled to Utah to explore together—an early example of the organized side-by-side events that would become common across the United States.
This story is part of a pivotal period when the Yamaha Rhino aftermarket, Polaris RZR and Kawasaki Teryx reshaped the side-by-side industry. Explore the complete story in our history of the UTV industry in 2008.
Explore more firsthand stories in our UTV trip reports and adventure ride archive.
