Dune Guy Meets… Not Dunes?
Mr. Sandrail Himself Jumps Into A SXS For A Ride To Island Park
Story and Photos By: Neal Rideout
Dunes, Dunes, Dunes! Yep, that’s my thing. My name is Neal Rideout, and I’m a photographer located in Edwards, CA, where hills of loose sand rest just a stone’s throw away. I’m a sandrail guy who plays in the sand, and anything else I loathe. So imagine my reaction to being told I was going to be put in a UTV for an adventure ride. I traveled to Idaho to dune on the most bitchin’ sand dunes in the country and some guy tells me I’ll be on dirt for about 120 miles round trip?! At the time, my head may have been slowly nodding a reluctant yes, but my brain was screaming, “Are you nuts? I drove 900 miles for this when the dunes were right there!!” I didn’t even have a UTV with me, but it seems all had been planned out for me.
After the initial shock wore off, I thought it might be interesting to see how much fun a UTV is out on the trails. I do ride my Yamaha Rhino around in the desert area near my home in Southern California, but it hasn’t been a very good representation of the capabilities of modern UTVs. Laura Ackerson, the General Manager of Idaho Dunes RV at the St. Anthony Sand Dunes, graciously offered up the passenger seat on her Polaris RZR XP Turbo. I thought, “Now that’s what I’m talking about. Something with suspension and power.” Of all the modern sport UTVs, I was told the RZR is probably the most representative of their performance. Other than an aftermarket cage, it was all stock.
Now I have to admit, as a sandrail guy, I had some preconceptions of UTVs. After all, years of having to pass a herd of Rhinos in the sand and watching a RZR struggle to get up a steep dune paints a negative picture. However, I’ve been doing this a long time and am very conscious of the evolution of any platform. It’s not unusual nowadays to see UTVs mixed with rails on a dune run. UTVs are also the dominant vehicle in the dunes. They have evolved to a point that rail guys have crossed over to their team. With all that, I was guessing this little adventure might have been good for me.
Strapped in my seat, we left Idaho Dunes RV and headed out past the dunes and into the Idaho desert. The dirt roads were in good shape and we were moving pretty well. While enjoying the scenic vastness, I would occasionally peek at the speedometer; 55, 60, yea, we were moving. The closer we got to the mountain foothills, the tighter the turns. It quickly became evident that the RZR was actually pretty nimble; Laura was getting her power slides on. As the altitude rose, the trails got tighter with more turns. The vastness turned to forest, and with the heavy rains just days ago, the road had a lot more mud puddles. The RZR didn’t care. It just went where Laura pointed. Most impressive was the part where we were climbing a steeper part of the trail that had rocks and large ruts. I was expecting the normal slow crawl as if I was in a jeep. Nope, just a push of the gas pedal as we blipped effortlessly over the obstacles. The power was responsive, and the suspension made it a non-event. The trail got better and our speeds were back up. The forest was amazing: Absolutely stunning views. Cresting the mountain ridgeline, we were rewarded with an awesome view of a lush green valley with a large lake. Our trail would take us around the lake and on some fast straight roads.
After several miles, we arrived at our destination, the Island Park Lakeside Lodge and Resort. Sweet place! Very off-roader friendly. They even had a fuel station to top off your tank. Premium fuel straight, no alcohol. As we say, the good stuff! Speaking of the good stuff, they had a bar. Perfect opportunity to exit your dusty, dirty steed and wash down the trail dust. Very 1880’s-esk. You could even mosey on over to the back balcony, and take in the view of the lake; Sit down, grab a menu, and order up some grub. The food was really good. We hung out for a while and saddled up for our return run. Originally, we were going to continue on to West Yellowstone, but the trails were closed because last winter’s snowfall was still blocking them. The cool thing about that adventure was the alternate routes you could take. There were many different trails to choose from. Our group decided on the trail that took us to the Civil Defense caves since some hadn’t visited them yet. Overall, we were out for about 7 hours: A perfect day’s adventure. If you want to replicate our adventure or even create your own, visit Idaho Dunes RV’s website. Maps and GPS waypoints are available.
Our RZR performed perfectly, and I gained a new respect for its capabilities. Modern UTVs have evolved tremendously over the last several years. As a passenger, I was comfortable, felt secure, and didn’t have much mud slung into the vehicle. The exhaust wasn’t loud, and Laura and I could carry on a conversation. However, to really lay down a good evaluation or comparison, I would have to drive. But one thing is for certain, the RZR will provide its driver with fun in the dunes and on a dirt trail. One last point: Is there really a comparison to be made? My sandrail is a purpose-built vehicle and the RZR is a commercially available, all-purpose vehicle. I guess it comes down to what your favorite “purpose” is. Either way, I had a fun day. Thank you, Laura, that was great. Best driver ever!