The Gila Rough Riders is dedicated to Responsible Off-Roading, Preserving Access to Riding Areas, and Kid’s Right to Ride. That’s been our mission for the last 6 years. The GILA MONSTER ATV JAMBOREE, with your help, will help us with these goals.

These goals are inter-related. Success at one leads to success at another.

“Responsible Off-Roading” is mostly common sense and common courtesy.  The Gila Rough Riders credo is GIVE-RECEIVE-RESPECT, meaning that if you give respect, you will eventually receive it. Respect other outdoorsman, slow or stop at any encounters, don’t litter. Respect yourself by wearing a helmet, proper safety equipment, and not riding beyond your ability. Respect private and public property, know where you are riding, stay on existing trails, “Tread Lightly”. Respect your machine and equipment, know its capabilities and limitations, and maintain it properly.

Go to www.GILAROUGHRIDERS.org to get the full story on the Gila Rough Riders.

Preserving access to riding areas takes more than just responsible off roading.  It means getting involved with land managers to make sure they make the right decisions.  Whether you are riding on State, Federal, or private land, you need to be active in keeping your riding areas open.  The people that want to see us go away are very active. If we aren’t active too, they win, and we lose.

Kid’s RIGHT TO RIDE.  Here in New Mexico our opponents wanted to ban all OHV riders under the age of 16.  That’s what we’re up against.  A bunch of “do-gooders”, who don’t have a clue, but have too much influence, and a decidedly anti-OHV point of view.  They figure that the best way to kill our sport is to start with the kids.  We fought this in the State Legislature and the State OHV Advisory Board.

Here’s what we ended up with, and we’re okay with it.

  THIS IS NEW MEXICO LAW

10mph speed limit within 200 ft of pedestrians, equestrians, bicyclists, homes, businesses, animal shelters. Our “closed-course” qualifying track at Saddlerock is exempt from this provision.

NO Riding under the influence of ALCOHOL or DRUGS

D.O.T. Helmet and protective eyewear for OHV riders under 18.

If you are under 18 years of age you can not carry a passenger.

OHV Safety training for riders under 18. Nothing is yet in place or available, but the requirement went into effect Jan. 1.

Adult supervision, safety training (N/A) and 250cc maximum displacement for riders under 16 until they have any kind of driver’s license or permit, even a motorcycle license, which is available at age 13.  450cc maximum displacement with any license, and safety training, (N/A).

Parental supervision for riders under 10.  100cc maximum displacement, and safety training.

A temporary “User Fee” sticker is required of OHVs from states that do not have a similar user fee.  So far, this means that Utah and Colorado are exempt, and Arizona and Texas riders gotta pay….$18 for 90 days or $31 for two years.  The good news is that Arizona riders who buy the New Mexico sticker can use it in Utah,,,,and it costs less than the Utah sticker.  If Arizona passes the “Copper Sticker” program, then they would be exempt too.

OHVs legally registered can ride on Forest Service and County Roads so long as they are NOT PAVED.

There are no provisions for street legal OHVs in New Mexico. 

You can cross paved roads, not freeways, after coming to a complete stop and yielding to all traffic. 

You can ride off the side of a roadway, within the right of way, so long as you do not interfere with traffic and yield to all vehicles entering and exiting the roadway.

GILA MONSTER ATV JAMBOREE rules and guidelines…..

We are qualifying riders so that we don’t have the problem of riders bunching up or getting left behind.  Each group will be organized from fastest qualifying to slowest, so the group comfortably stretches itself out as it goes along, then closes up as the leaders stop for junctions, scenic vistas and cool stopping points.  We think this will avoid some common problems, but we need your help in making this work.

THIS IS NOT A RACE!  But we want you to ride at a comfortable pace for you and your riding style, that is why we are doing this. You will not be riding at your maximum speed capability, that is not the point.  Rather, you should be riding along enjoying yourself without someone much slower than you right in front of you holding you up, or having someone right behind you, breathing down your neck trying to pass, or being left way behind the group.  So, in order to make this work we have the following rules.

NO TAILGAITING Give the rider in front of you a little space. He/she may see something in the trail and need to slow or stop quickly, and you don’t see it because you are right on top of them. We’ve had a lot of rain this year, and there are lots of little ruts to slow for.  If you are tailgaiting, you won’t see them, and when the rider in front of you slows quickly for one of these ruts, you will run into them.  Your Fault.

It is our intention that faster riders should be at the front of the group, and slower riders should be in the back.

PASSING IS ALLOWED if the rider in front of you is not keeping up with the rider if front of them.  Choose a wide and clear area, like a sandwash, to negotiate a clean pass. 

If YOU are not keeping up with the rider in front of you and there are riders immediately behind you wanting to pass, pull over and let them. (GPS Treasure Hunters on Sunday will be allowed to pass other riders in sandwashes where there is adequate room)

NO Riding under the influence of ALCOHOL or DRUGS

NO LITTERING  We’re leaving the Burros cleaner than we found them, and that goes for everyone’s campsite as well.  There is some trash out there, Let’s clean it up.

NO LEAVING THE GROUP without informing someone.

DOUBLE TAP at gates and junctions.  Instead of waiting for just one rider at each gate or junction, wait for two.  That way we ensure that no one gets left behind, and any problem can be communicated up through the group.

SIGNALS

  A thumbs up, or a nod of the head means “ALL IS WELL, CARRY ON”

  A side to side Wave of the hand or arm, or a side to side shake of the head means “STOP, WAIT, DO NOT PROCEED”  Something is up.

 

Gila Rough Riders Essential Off-Road Guidelines

ATVs and Motorcycles aren’t toys, they’re serious machines.

Choose an ATV or Motorcycle appropriate for your age, size, weight and experience level.

Take a Safety Training class and receive proper instruction.

Never ride beyond your ability.

Always wear a Helmet, protective eyewear and appropriate safety gear.

Watch out for the “Other Guy”!

Stay on Existing Trails.

Respect the Environment, and Public and Private Property.

Respect your fellow outdoorsman,

Slow WAY down for Hikers and Bicyclers.

Look for signals from horseback riders as to whether you need to stop and kill your engine or just ride by very slowly.

Leave gates as you find them.

Don’t Litter, if you packed it in you can pack it out.

Ride for Life, WEAR YOUR HELMET!