Frame Arch is one of the many famous picturesque destinations in Moab.
Upon entering town, I immediately noticed Highpoint Hummer--the oldest ATV outfitter in Moab--showing off a bunch of new quads. With my bargaining beer in hand, I entered the establishment in search of trail information and ended up leaving with the whole crew taking me out on a great ride.
The Highpoint Hummer staff is really pleasant. In fact, all the guide companies here are friendly. It's really hard to pick one over another. They all have a specialty. Six-year-old Highpoint Hummer's focal point is being family-oriented. The folks there are very well-bred yet laid-back. After my journalist spiel, I talked them into taking me to Behind the Rocks. This locale is excellent for riding with the whole family, as it offers plenty of scenery and you can camp in designated sites that are accessible by any vehicle, even the trusty station wagon. Less than a half-mile from camp is a fun set of small sand dunes for the kids, and for kids at heart. The highlight of the trip is stopping by Picture Frame Arch for fantastic views of the desert.
Moab has almost every type of riding available to suit anyone's taste. We even fit in a spot of sand riding.
Highpoint Hummer also has a nicely equipped shop with full-time mechanics who will fix your machines after you trash them. Upon entering the professional and clean-looking shop, I immediately locked eyes on the lovely counter lass, Heather. Definitely worth a visit just to see her, but I wouldn't advocate using one of your "no fail" pickup lines. You will just embarrass yourself, and none of your trickery will work either because she is married to a pro-freestyle/MXer who is studlier than all of us. The only things Heather won't reject are questions you may have about trail info, and since she is only 19, you can keep your bargaining beer for later use.
All this talk of reckless alcohol usage needs to be backed up by words of caution. In case my Mom is reading this, I am not an alcoholic. That bottle of Mad Dog 20/20 you found in my room back in 1985 wasn't mine. Writing about booze just makes me sound cool. And now, the serious part. Utah's drinking laws boil down to this: It is illegal for any occupant of a vehicle to drink or even open an alcoholic beverage--wherever the vehicle may be. Does that stop a bunch of losers from getting wasted on the trail? Nope. If you booze it up while riding and end up in court, consider yourself lucky. Riding in Moab is not like taking a cruise through your backyard. Some of the trails can be very technical, and driving with impaired judgment and slower reaction times can leave you and your machine careening off a 1000-foot cliff to your doom. So save your partying until after your ride and your out-of-state beer for the locals.
The next group I finagled into taking me out was the Moab Tour Company. These guys used to work for Highpoint Hummer and recently left to start their own gig. I sensed some bad blood between the two companies, but this ain't no gossip column. The guys who run this shop are extremely knowledgeable of the local trails and love to drink. So bring in the previously mentioned bargaining chip and hook yourself a deal. No need to worry, though. You will be in very good and professional hands with this crew. Moab Tour Company would probably do best with the younger crowd and technical riders. These guys deal mainly in Honda ATV rentals and Hummer tours, but they are starting to stock more and more parts for every brand of ATV. So don't be afraid to stop in and check to see if they have the parts you need.