Colorado Quad Runners

TO BE CLEAR THE IN TOWN VERNAL PORTION OF THIS TRIP IS SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE MAY 31ST RIDES START JUNE 1, LEAVE VERNAL JUNE 5.

JUNE 5 DRIVE 20 MILES TO BOONDOCKING LOCATION AND SETUP. THAT LOCATION WILL BE AT A FLAT PLACE LOCATED AN EASY DRIVE JUST OFF OF US 191 ON THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN AT
40.71508, -109.47469.
AN AFTERNOON RIDE IS AN OPTION. RIDES SCHEDULED UNTIL WE BREAK CAMP AND LEAVE ON JUNE 10.

You can attend either or both.

UNUPDATED 1/1/2026
The Jamboree dates were released, and our dates are now confirmed for the whole trip as May 31 - June 9. I VERY STRONGLY SUGGEST getting your Vernal area reservations now because you will be arriving when the jamboree is still in progress, meaning good sites could be in short supply.
Debbie and Monty will be staying at the KOA.

Some details are deliberately fuzzy at this point due to the new area and the long description so that you can visualize my thoughts on this area; this is not the usual CQR trip. This way, you can ride some or do other stuff if you so desire.

In this area, at approximately the same time, there is:
An ATV/UTV jamboree
A couple of medium-sized lakes
Dinosaur National Monument
Flaming Gorge Reservoir
A rather unusual sandstone rock formation
Open riding areas
A choice of trails without requiring daily trailering.
Another CQR event immediately following, just two hours away in Rock Springs, WY.
All of this activity is only 5.5 hours from Denver via Google Maps.

The following link is from the Vernal Tourist Assn. showing many routes we might explore, and many routes can be combined into longer rides. Do not make plans based on what the Tourist Assn shows we will make CQR plans based on what we can pull off.

https://www.dinolandtrails.com/ohv-trails/?utm_source=meta&utm_medium=paid-social&utm_campaign=ohv-trails-paid-social-2025-video&fbclid=IwdGRzaANej8hjbGNrA16PnWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEekqUUfggXteRCKBezQe5LvbVvr1xy_ELAtj4S88xeWPnXkmyiLWlieawpXEE_aem_ohVLklWdQu-E8vLrrCwtLA&sfnsn=mo

The Grand Plan

This trip is longer than the usual CQR trip; it spans 10 days in total, covering the combined Vernal and boondocking portions only (excluding the jamboree portion organized by others). This is split between two locations that are 20 miles apart, 5 days each.

This area is expansive and offers two distinct types of riding experiences. Near Vernal, it’s arid, primarily like Moab, with some trees and more dirt/sand, less slick rock. However, if you're looking for big rocks, there is an area with plenty to play on. The boondocking area is north of Vernal, and there are more trees and mountainous trails to be experienced.

To be able to make the most of the trails and mixed terrain, relocation midway through is planned to eliminate a 20-mile trailered commute each way on US Highway 191. For the second half of the trip, we plan on boondocking at one of two great locations, still TBD, coin flip.

PART A
Consider being in the Vernal area on Sunday, May 31st (arrival date), with no planned ride on that date, and daily rides from the Vernal area through June 5th.
PART B
On the morning of June 6th, move to the boondocking location, 20 miles north. Stay at the boondocking location until June 10th. On the morning of the 10th, you can travel to the other CQR Rock Springs event, which is two hours away.
Please note that you can attend either part or both.

We plan on being in Vernal even before the jamboree to do research and scout routes and boondock camping areas. As we get better intel (I am working with last year’s maps, so checking for random trail closures, etc.) and closer to the event, more details will be available. As always, you can join for any or all days.

As for accommodations in Vernal, there are several campground options, including a KOA and other similar ones in and near town. You could stay at a hotel in Vernal for the duration of the trip. The boondocking site is only 20 miles from town; note that trailering would be required on all US Highways.

OHV Riding part

The local riding club has mapped about 40 of their club rides in this greater area. There are approximately 20 of those rides they use in the jamboree, from which I plan to choose. Terrain varies from mellow to extreme, with safety equipment stipulations. Most have their descriptions to help you decide if that trail is for you. They even have some trails, intentionally for self-guided rides; again, this would be an on-your-own adventure. I can provide you with their geolocated maps designed for use in Avenza.

Potluck, social hours, and anything else that's fun are still TBD due to the split locations; your input is appreciated.

ADDITIONAL NON-CQR RELATED OR SANCTIONED ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA AS FOLLOWS

If you want to do a non-riding day(s), bring your kayak, do the jamboree, or something else; you are on your own, check rules and regs, and make sure you know before you go. I bet others would like to have a break day, team up. FYI, you drive right by both lakes and toward Flaming Gorge the day we relocate, so if you are looking for a side adventure to do, that day would be ideal.

Jamboree
The Outlaw ATV Jamboree folks have officially published their dates and they are May 27th - 30th
We have been to this jamboree 3 times, and it is always fun.
IMPORTANT: The jamboree part will have no connection to CQR. That said, if you want to arrive early and double up on your riding, it’s a good way to do that. I will be using their trail maps, descriptions, and going on rides with them to see where we can take you for the most fun.

The Jamboree has fees and rules and stuff; you need to deal with all that on your own if you participate in it.

Lakes

There are two medium-sized lakes in the vicinity. I prefer Red Fleet Reservoir 10 miles away, it’s pretty which is cool, and Steinaker Reservoir 5 miles away, is just a lake, check the Utah website for usage information.

Other activities

Flaming Gorge, 40 miles from Vernal and 17 miles from the boondocking spot

Dinosaur National Monument, 16 miles from Vernal.

Fantasy Canyon, 43 miles from Vernal, is a sandstone canyon; it is not an actual canyon like the Grand Canyon. It’s a bunch of weathered sandstone formations that are hard to describe unless you were around in the ’60s and ’70s. Just think about the shape of thousands of huge frozen lava lamps, but you would have had to be around in the '70s for that, too, so Google it. This could also be a trailered/desert ride trip on your own if you wanted to do that.

There is a designated open riding OHV area on the way to Fantasy Canyon, so let those horses run.

Lastly, this is Utah, so be sure to comply with all their training, licensing, and insurance requirements. Just plan that every day will require some street/highway travel, so be street legal. Please don't ask me to alter trails or how to bend their rules.

This is an amazing area, geographically, it is called the Colorado flat tops. There are many valleys and mountain tops, full of wild flowers and the occasional sheep herd.

We had a great time last year and found a sizable, dispersed campsite that is in the middle of all the trails. Getting there involves traveling for about an hour north of Newcastle on a dirt road. Last year we had no issues on the road, and it is suitable for any size rig.

To get to the campsite travel I 70 west to the town of Newcastle.
To get to the campsite, Paste the following GPS coordinates into your Google maps. 39.8154013, -107.5815187

The Wagon Wheel System has over 250 miles of trails and 16 interconnecting loops in the White River National Forest on the top the expansive Flat Tops. Some of the trails have restrictions depending on your vehicle width. For the most part full size side-by-sides won’t have a problem.

We will have a potluck dinner Saturday night 6:00 pm Please bring something to share if you want to participate.

DOT helmets are required for all drivers and passengers, it is also highly recommended that you have a two-way for enhanced safety and to help you stay connected with your ride group. A two-way radio link is at the bottom of the page.

All drivers and passengers must be a dues paying CQR meetup member of the club, if you wish to be a guest, you may join for free for 30 days.

Current paid members of the club may bring a guest; a waiver will need to be signed upon arrival.

For those of you that use Avenza maps use the following location search:

“Flat tops wilderness”

You will be taken to a link that shows a number of maps in the Meeker area. Which includes a National Geographic bundle, motor vehicle use maps, and wagon wheel maps.

The Gaia app is also an excellent choice for navigation and includes nation-wide National geographic maps.

Directions:
Travel to Buena Visa, go west on main street and head over Cottonwood pass and enter the Taylor park valley. When the road ends at the lake, turn right. The camping area is just off trail 755 on the right about 1.5 miles. It's a large open area. It's best to copy the following GPS coordinate on to your phone's map, it should take you directly to the campsite 38.85267 N, 106.56353 W.

Camping: DRY with no facilities. There is gas and water at the at the Taylor Park Trading Post and there is an RV dump station about 5 miles south of the store. There is also cell service at the trading post, though it may be sketchy in places. There are Cabins (http://www.taylorparktradingpost.com/). book early.

Agenda: This area is huge, so there is excellent riding for everyone. We will be riding all together unless there is an unusually large number of ladies attending. We will have a daily post ride happy hour so bring some finger foods to share. If you are able, please bring firewood for the nightly campfire assuming there is no fire ban in place. I will be updating everyone of any fire restrictions closer to the date.
We will have a pot-luck dinner Saturday night at 6:00 pm, please bring something to share if you would like to participate.

Rides: Trail Difficulty in this area ranges from Easy to Difficult. We will decide which rides to do each day as a group. We can choose the difficulty we prefer. DOT APPROVED HELMETS ARE MANDATORY FOR ALL RIDERS. Be prepared for all weather conditions. As the date draws closer, I’ll update the meetup with more details if conditions change.

Maps: National Geographic Trails Illustrated #130, 131, and 132 cover this area. Also, Charles Wells has a book of the area.

Non-members of the club may join free for 30 days.

Members of the club may invite friends, and family provided a waiver is signed at the event.