UTV's Splashdown in Cherry Creek!

Hosted By UTV Offroad Adventures!

Written and Photographed By LeeAnn Nix and Jim Smith of Drone 30 (May 2021)

Only found off the beaten path, Young, AZ is a true gem! Deep in the heart of the Tonto National Forest lies this small ranching community. There are roads in and out but only by getting a little dirty. No fully paved highway will connect you to Young, only dirt roads. There is a beautiful winery called the Bruzzi Vineyard that holds wine tastings and has wonderful food, there is a gas station, and a few places to stay. The Dead Broke Inn Saloon Guest House and Corral had a movie made there recently.

This event was held at the beautiful Cherry Creek Lodge. Established in 1879 this area was the site for the famous 10 year Pleasant Valley War. Cherry Creek Lodge is now a working dude ranch full of adventure and wonderment! Feed the chickens, pet the goats, ride horses, skeet shoot, fish and venture out on the many UTV trails (and there are many). Your hosts Pete, Reece, Carol, Kenny and more will welcome you and make your stay memorable. The lodge will host your event filled with food, fires, comfort, relaxation and drinks after your long day rides. The perfect Arizona old west feel to hold any event. We thank you all for the enjoyable stay and accommodations.

Bear, bobcat, mountain lion, turkey and much more frequent the area and a few of us on the trails had the pleasure of seeing them. You will also be entertained by cattle, horses and plenty of birds. It is hard to believe you would experience all of this at all, let alone from your UTV. The scenery is nothing short of miraculous. This place is a must do for anyone seeking adventure and to get away from the tech of the world.

The Friday night ride kicks off the event with lights, lights, and more lights! Against the backdrop of rolling Arizona hills and remarkable sunsets you can watch the flashing light parade weave in and out of the trees. The best place to be to witness this is at the back of the pack. A long line of lights can be seen for what seems like miles once the sun fully drops. The fun is in the colors and flashing of lights to music or on random waves. Some have their undercarriage lit up.

Wash up after each day's ride, you will need it. Enjoy cornhole and cocktails on Saturday evening. Sit with old and new friends and enjoy the ranch life. After a feast by the Cherry Creek Lodge fit for a slew of ranch hands, the true fun begins. UTV Offroad Adventures holds some terrific raffles. There are so many product sponsors that donate some seriously sweet loot! Whip lights, oil, coolers, slime, all things for your UTV to be won. There is also a 50/50 raffle with proceeds going to the Phoenix Children's Hospital. A very near and dear cause to many here at UTV Offroad Adventures. Do not forget to check your poker hands from your weekend of fun, grab your cards on the ride stops.

Choose a ride for Saturday then again choose the other one for Sunday. Wash up, rinse and repeat the next day on a totally different ride.

Try the Haigler Creek Loop of 40+ miles to stop at a watering hole and jump in if you are brave enough, water is a little cold still but a few certainly jumped. There are multiple water crossings to splash through and a jaunt through the town of Young. A quick stop at the field of very interesting large boulders makes for a great time to snack and visit.

The Aztec Peak Loop of 60+ miles leads you past waterfalls, over bridges, through water crossings, and to a cabin that is frequented by many off road travelers. Aztec Peak is amazing and boasts views for miles. There is Flinstone style furniture made of stone to eat lunch at and relax at what feels like the top of the world. You can even see Roosevelt Lake from the fire towers here. A miraculous site to see.

These events would not be possible without all of the amazing people behind the scenes working endlessly to make all of this happen. Thank you!

See you all at the Brewsky UTV Fest event happening June 11-13, 2021 in Showlow, AZ. Join us for fun, friends and memories.

For all schedules and events please visit us at UTVoffroadadventures.com.