Western Mountain Riding

[Ride Elevated]

I have just been to 3 snowmobile shows this fall. My objective at these shows is to give avid snowmobilers a chance and location to ride some of the best snow on earth in Utah. I talked to thousands of riders, some have ridden the powder, most have not but very few know about the riding in Utah. I have ridden over most of the west, grew up in Montana, and now live in Utah. Why don't more people know about the excellent riding in Utah.
Thoughts?

 

[tdblakes]

I would think it is because of its location for the most part. I'd guess that the majority of riders who live out west, ride in the state they live in. All the guys from the midwest and out east that make the drive to the mountains stop at the eastern side of the ranges ie. Montana, Wyoming, Colorado... my .02

 

[The Fourth Wolf]

If Utah has a tourism bureau or agency in state government I'd start there. Ask them why the marketing campaigns for winter tourism are skier centric.

Make sure you have your numbers together first and be prepared to drop data off with the bureaucrats.

Translate everything into lost economic opportunity

Things like:
How many ski resorts are owned by outside (non-resident) interests
How many (what percentage) ski industry generated dollars leave the state
How many registered snowmobiles in UT
Total in-state snowmobile/aftermarket/accessory sales
Total (average) dollars spent by snowmobilers on peripheral sectors (gas sales, motels etc)
Number of people employed by snowmobile industry
Acreage open to snowmobiles
Number of registered sleds/riders in neighboring states vs number of visiting sledders per year

My guess is the data supports your case, but you have to dig it up first.

I know here in AK the economic impact of snowmachines (snowmobiles to the rest of you) is worth an estimated 90ish million a winter. Half of that is generated almost entirely by residents traveling and spending money on their neighbors. Due to the logistics of getting sleds here and the lack of a viable rental market, there's virtually no sled tourism here.

 

[AndrettiDog]

I spent several years in Utah so I have some experience with the state and terrain. There are some great places to ride but here is my take...

Utah's terrorism is hurt by a few of the state laws. Alcohol is very closely regulated. Only 3.2% beer means limits on what beers can be sold (no high content micro brews). Liqueur stores are state controlled and bars have crazy rules. Let's face it, sledders like to drink after a day of riding. Try buying something on a Sunday and you can find yourself very frustrated. Many business' are closed and unless you know where to find what you want you could be SOL. Most of these laws/rules are a product of a mostly LDS state. Good people, but they just don't like the idea of overindulging in the "bad" stuff.

Overall, as good as Utah terrain is, I'd rather ride in my home state of Colorado or venture to Montana, Wyoming and maybe even Idaho. Others will tell me why I'm wrong, but that's my take.

 

[snengineer]

You live in fairview? Talk to snowbigdeal he knows your neck of the woods. Best thing utah has to offer is snow quality, when its good its hard to beat. Check the state ohv website for trail maps.

 

[Bigrock33]

I spent several years in Utah so I have some experience with the state and terrain. There are some great places to ride but here is my take...

Utah's terrorism is hurt by a few of the state laws. Alcohol is very closely regulated. Only 3.2% beer means limits on what beers can be sold (no high content micro brews). Liqueur stores are state controlled and bars have crazy rules. Let's face it, sledders like to drink after a day of riding. Try buying something on a Sunday and you can find yourself very frustrated. Many business' are closed and unless you know where to find what you want you could be SOL. Most of these laws/rules are a product of a mostly LDS state. Good people, but they just don't like the idea of overindulging in the "bad" stuff.

Overall, as good as Utah terrain is, I'd rather ride in my home state of Colorado or venture to Montana, Wyoming and maybe even Idaho. Others will tell me why I'm wrong, but that's my take.

LOL - is it LDS terrorism?. I've seem em - they ride bikes and dress in a white shirt and tie!

 

[Beavis]

Yep, Utah does have great sledding. Lots of great terrain for everybody. But you gotta get up pretty early any more to get a parking spot after a good storm. It gets tracked out fast. Go to less populated states like Wyoming, Idaho, or Montana and you'll ride fresh a lot longer.

 

[Dirty Steve]

Cause all the women are married?

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

 

[Ryan-41]

LOL - is it LDS terrorism?. I've seem em - they ride bikes and dress in a white shirt and tie!

haha I thought Utah was full of Mormons like everyone says, but I got a buddy that lives down there and he said he has never been bothered by any of them! He said that the Mormons in Utah are the fake Mormons that do stuff that is against their religion, so to everyone else they are you everyday Joe!!

But back to topic, I love the riding in Utah and I think a lot of it is location, I live in Wyoming and the only reason I went and rode Utah is because I have friends here that say the riding is amazing!!

Ryan

 

[Bigrock33]

Yep, Utah does have great sledding. Lots of great terrain for everybody. But you gotta get up pretty early any more to get a parking spot after a good storm. It gets tracked out fast. Go to less populated states like Wyoming, Idaho, or Montana and you'll ride fresh a lot longer.

Not if you know where to go!

 

[ryanjeri]

Live in Southern Idaho, and we venture to Utah several times a year, more if they get better snow then we do.

For the group i ride with we will stay here if we have snow. If not we travel, most times to the closest place that has good snow.

Typically though we go on 3/4 trips per season, which require hotel, meals etc, and finding places that are friendly to our sport, is getting increasingly more difficult.

Logistically we look for places that allow the ride from your door type atmosphere. Its convenient to not have to trailer to some crowded parking lot.

A good example is Island Park.

 

[Rixster]

SHHHHHH we don't want the entire world to know what they are missing by not riding Skyline !!!!
But to answer your question, When most riders go on a "road trip" to ride somewhere new they are looking for a ride from your door step location. That's why Tog and cooke city are HUGE. The 2 areas like that in Utah are not great riding. I cant speak for Beaver creek lodge maybe its great, but I would think if it was as good as Tog it would be a busy place. Daniels summit is a very nice place and its a great place to take the family for a ride. Great trail system for the kids and fair off trail riding. Sure you can jump the highway and ride the 12 miles up to tower but who wants that.

 

[Red Stripe]

SHHHHHH we don't want the entire world to know what they are missing by not riding Skyline !!!! <snip>

Exactly, why do we want to advertise it? Nothing to see here, move along please.........

 

[M8Chris]

Utah riding sucks I would highly suggest going somewhere else

 

[phatty]

I think I can safely say that Utah has some of the best riding in the USA. I can also state that it has by far the best snow quality and deepest pow, its not even close.

Lets debunk a few more myths while we are at it: stores here are open on sundays. I live in a town thats 99% LDS and all of our stores are open on sundays, including restaurants where you can get "drinks". Yes the state controls liquor sales (and those are not open on sundays), but its not that big of a deal to plan ahead and get what you need, or bring it with you.

IMO Utah spends far more money on bringing skiers to the state than is necessary. Our resorts have powder that is known world wide and bring customers back time and time again. You cannot glance through ANY skiing magazine and not see at least 1 photo from Utah. Unfortunately the opportunities for those people coming to the resorts to experience snowmobiling are few and far between and so controlled that when they do go, they hardly ever leave the trail.

The other problem is the demographic of the traveling snowmobiler. Most people who drive a distance to go sledding usually stops at the first locations they can get to. Cooke City, Sierra Madres, Snowies, and Front range in colorado, togwotee. Having ridden all those places I can safely say that Utah does indeed have better snow, however it would be incredibly difficult to persuade me (or others) to continue another 6-8 hours to ride in Utah when I am on a 3 day weekend where I drive all night getting to and from my home in the midwest.

The last disadvantage sledding has to skiing in utah is that you can FLY in your skis/board and catch a bus to the resorts. Sledding requires hauling around a trailer and sleds. its just not as easy economically as well as physically to get to Utah.

 

[XFIRE800]

I would be interested in riding Utah, but I know absolutely nothing about the place. You hear a lot about Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, but almost nothing about Utah. The only riding area I can name is Guardsman because we about headed there last thanksgiving when they had good snow. Get some decent information out there and we'll give it a shot.

 

[mtncat1]

one other thing I like about ut. is that when you get to the trail head you are already at the hills, and you don't have to search around . to find good areas to ride .not to bag on I/P but my friend had a cabin in island park for years and it took us quite a while to find the desired areas to ride,and how to get in and out safely, because the hills were hard to find from the trail heads. just saying.

 

[ullose272]

ive got friends in utah and have ridden there quite a bit. and its good, but mccall/west mountain/deadwood/trinities in idaho are just as good. my utah experience has only been the last 3 years and lets be real its been crappy for the whole west. Utah is just fun for different place to ride

 

[turboless terry]

Snow quality or quantity is first in my book. The area is second. It is awesome if you can have both. The deepest snow I ever rode in was in Utah in 96. It was a legitimate 6 foot dump. The following week end it was still like riding in a 4 foot dump. I just wish utah was closer.