Red Rock Review
It's Time to make your Labor Day Plans!
September 4th thru 7th
Following on the heels of an eventful, busy and successful Easter Jeep Safari the Red Rock 4-Wheelers are busy preparing for a much calmer and quiet Labor Day Safari and Campout. We hope you are making your plans to join us!
Labor Day happens in September this year so the weather will hopefully be even more pleasant than the 2025 event. The Campout this year begins with registration on opening Friday, September 4th and activities continuing through Labor Day, September 7th. This event is meant to be much smaller and relaxed than EJS, with participation limited to 150 vehicles and trail runs limited to a maximum of 25 vehicles.
The event will again be headquartered at the Moab Rim RV Campark with both camping, RV sites and cabins available for participants. If camping is not your style please feel free to check out one of Moab's many hotels for your lodging needs. The entire campground has been reserved for the event. The Campark will also be the location for many activities throughout the event including registration, merchandise, breakfasts, dinner, the traditional ice cream social, the raffle and movie night!
What's New For 2026!
As with Easter Jeep Safari there are a few changes coming to Labor Day Safari and Campout. Based on feedback from our participants we have added a few new twists for 2026. The biggest changes are in the trails being tackled with three new trails for participants to enjoy. 3 Icons, Kane Springs Rim and Lockhart Canyon are the new additions for you to enjoy.
3 Icons visits three of the iconic locations in the Moab area, The Gooney Bird Rock, Gemini Bridges and Long Canyon. This trail is mostly shelf roads, short ledges, sandy sections and some steep grades. You will enjoy Gooney Bird Rock, Gemini Bridges overlook, Long Canyon and the natural rock arch tunnel, Pucker Pass, Jug Handle Arch and the scenic Colorado River canyon.
Kane Springs Rim is not to be confused with Kane Springs Canyon. This trail begins in the Behind the Rocks Tip Toe route (in reverse) and then continues further west. This route has spectacular views of Hatch Wash for a long portion of the run. Most of this run will be on sandy dirt trails with occasional rock outcrops. The trail passes several lesser known arches in addition to many popular ones. There are no named obstacles on the trail, but...one section is slightly reminiscent of Cliff Hanger but not nearly as spooky.
Finally, Lockhart Basin is on tap for a group of hardy adventurers on Saturday. The run will begin at the south end of Lockhart Basin and explores portions of Bears Ears National Monument. This trail traverses maintained County "B" roads that are mostly packed dirt but if you have been here before "maintained" has a different meaning out here. There may be washouts along the route post rain storms that do rumble through the area. Scenery abounds in the Basin and we encourage you to have your phone (or camera) at the ready on this adventure.
We have also added a few options for the more adventurous, with Moab Rim, Porcupine Rim and Metal Masher joining the lineup. All three trails are filled with a plethora of named obstacles that are highlighted in YouTube videos, Facebook posts, Instagram and just about every other social media platform. These trails will test your skills and leaving you wanting more once done. Grab your Easter Jeep Safari magazine to read in detail all these trails have to offer.
So make those plans now and get registered to join us at the 54th Labor Day Safari and Campout!
What Is A Utah Cultural Site Steward?
A Utah Cultural Site Steward is someone who volunteers their time to monitor archaeological and/ or culturally significant sites across the state of Utah. Site Stewards come from all walks of life, levels of abilities, a wide variety of professions, unique hobbies and interests. However, they all have one thing in common; the desire to safeguard the history and stories of those who came before us.
Being a Utah Cultural Site Steward provides a fun opportunity to give back to the past. It is a great excuse to get outside, out on your favorite trails, or to your favorite places in Utah and make a difference. The only catch is that you are able to protect Utah’s unique story while doing the things you love.
How do you become a volunteer steward? All volunteers are required to go through a three hour training to learn the in’s & out’s of what being a cultural site steward is all about.
Finally the Utah Cultural Site Stewardship Program works closely with land managers to identify sites in need of stewards. Whenever possible we use the information that volunteers provide to assign them to monitor a site(s) that best fits their ability and interests. Lastly, UCSS will reach out to them and set up a time to get them out in the field and monitoring.
All stewards will have the opportunity on their first site visit to go out in the field with one of the UCSS Team members or a UCSS Regional Coordinator to be made familiar with the site.
You're probably wondering why we are educating you on this subject. Well, the Red Rock 4-Wheelers are becoming a Cultural Site Steward! Our Utah Cultural Site Stewardship Program training is here. The classroom session is Wednesday, July 15, at 5:30 p.m. at the Clubhouse, and dinner will be provided for participants -- sandwiches, chips and snacks. The field session follows Thursday morning, July 16, on site.
If you would like to become part of our team please email president@rr4w.com with your intent to attend these two training sessions.
This training matters more than you know, and future travel management decisions will depend on the record of stewardship we build. This is conservation through presence, use and care -- not closure. Please be there.
This commitment by members of the Club furthers strengthens our commitment to responsible land management, historical preservation and continued wheeled access to these historical and cultural sites that dot our landscape here in southeast Utah and the 4-Corners area.
We encourage you to look for updates on the Club's commitment to this program with specifics on which site will be stewarded by the Red Rock 4-Wheelers. This site is what we hope to become the first of many in the area that we as a Club become stewards. We will let you know of opportunities for you to get involved if you wish as sites are identified. Look for more information on our Facebook page and in upcoming newsletters.
Learn more about the Utah Cultural Site Stewardship program at the Utah State Historic Preservation Office: https://ushpo.utah.gov/publicarchaeology/ucss/
Giving Back
Giving Back has been a big part of the Red Rock 4-Wheelers mission. And thanks to our members that tradition continues!
During the Grand County High School awards night the Red Rock 4-Wheelers awarded three $2,000 scholarships. The recipients of the 2026 Eric Brewer Memorial Scholarships are are Paya Maughan, Tyler Book and James Holyoak. . This is the 23rd year the club has awarded scholarships to graduating GCHS Seniors and is the 10th Year the scholarships have been awarded in memory of Eric Brewer.
The giving didn't stop there. On graduation night the Club hosted the All Night Graduation Party for students at GCHS. Several thousand dollars in prizes were awarded to students. Prizes and cash donated by the Club and many local businesses. Member and First Responder Jed Hazlett was happy to report, "On graduation night no calls were made to first responders in Moab". Party was successful!
Red Rock 4-Wheelers
PO Box 1471
Moab, UT 84532
Trail of the Month
Popularity Rising!
Trail of the Month continues to be very popular and we have introduced a few changes to the program. A registration system is in place for ToM. There will be no charge to register for the TOM. Registration for each month's ToM will open up 30 days prior to the run. When you register you will just need to provide your name and email address. You will receive a confirmation email. The email will include a link to cancel your registration. So if you cannot make it please use the cancellation link in the email so other people can get on the list.
We have also created a new Facebook page dedicated solely to Trail of the Month!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/rr4wtom
This new page is the hub for all ToM information, updates and news. It will also be a great place to share your photos, videos and recaps of our monthly sojourns.
In May the ToM group, or should I say groups, ventured into Lockhart Basin. I say groups because we had two groups running the Basin trail. One very hardy group spent the night camping in Lockhart Basin. The other ventured in and out on Saturday only. The overnight group was especially successful and we will be considering trips like this in the future.
June's adventure was a unique ride through Metal Masher, a Tip Toe version.
2026 Trail of the Month Schedule
Date Trail Rated Depart
July 18San Rafael Swell - Red Canyon 39:00am GR Mav
Aug 15TBD - Labyrinth Rims 39:00am
Sept 26NPLD - Trail TBD
Oct 10Abajo Leaf Peepers 39:00am
Nov 14Hell's Revenge 6 9:00am
Registration is open for July run to the Swell. Please note the change from our original schedule. The Labyrinth Rims trip has been moved to August when hopefully we'll have great news to share with everyone.
DOLORES RIVER TMP ANOTHER ONE IN OUR BACKYARD
On June 22 the BLM Moab Field Office released preliminary alternatives for the Dolores River Travel Management Plan, covering approximately 127,000 acres and roughly 321 miles of existing routes in Grand County, from the Dolores Triangle south toward the La Sals, including a portion of Kokopelli's Trail. This is the travel plan that will decide the future of wheeled access in the Dolores country east of Moab. Important: NO comment period is open yet. The BLM expects to release a draft environmental assessment for public comment in fall or winter 2026. What is open right now is the window to prepare.
The preliminary alternatives follow the familiar structure. Alternative A is no action, keeping the current network. Alternative B is the most restrictive, closing the largest share of routes. Alternative C falls in between. Alternative D keeps the most routes open and best reflects the multiple-use mandate of FLPMA and the direction of Executive Order 14408.
RR4W's baseline position is no closures: the existing network, reflected in Alternative A, already represents decades of managed use. Where the BLM moves to an action alternative, we will support a variation of Alternative D, the alternative keeping the most routes open, with every route proposed for closure defended on its own record. That approach aligns with the BlueRibbon Coalition, the Utah Public Lands Alliance and the State of Utah through PLPCO, which opposes the closure of any existing access. Expect formal recommendations from these organizations when the draft EA is released, and expect organized opposition from anti access minded groups, some have already announced they will fight all three of the current Utah travel plans.
Here is what you can do now. Review the alternative maps. Run these trails. Record your tracks, take photos, and write down what each route means to you, access for hunting, rockhounding, camping, family recreation, or reaching country your grandparents worked. Member knowledge from EJS and club runs is the strongest evidence we have. When the comment window opens, we will be ready with a route-by-route case, not a form letter.
Review the plan and maps by searching "Dolores River Travel Management Plan" at the BLM National NEPA Register: https://eplanning.blm.gov
BLM announcement on all three Utah travel plans: https://www.blm.gov/announcement/blmadvances-travel-management-planning-across-utah-three-initiativ es
PLPCO Dolores River TMP page: https://publiclands.utah.gov/dolores-river-travelmanagement-plan/
BlueRibbon Coalition: https://blueribboncoalition.org
Utah Public Lands Alliance: https://utahpla.com
PLPCO travel management overview: https://publiclands.utah.gov/tmp/
