We can usually tell who read the tour details before showing up. They’re the ones in old sneakers and a faded T-shirt, with a plastic bag of clean clothes and their driver’s license already in hand. The ones who didn’t are wearing white linen and flip-flops, and looking worried.<\/p>\n
The Sierra Madre isn’t hard on people, but it’s hard on clothes. Here’s exactly what to wear, what to bring, and how to get to your pickup point without stress.<\/p>\n
Closed-toe shoes are mandatory on every ATV and RZR tour. Sandals, huaraches and flip-flops aren’t allowed, and for good reason: your feet sit close to the footrests and the trail, and loose footwear can slip off on a bump. Sneakers or old trail shoes are perfect. Pick a pair you won’t mind retiring, because between dust and mud they’ll come back a different color. Pack a spare pair for the ride home.<\/p>\n
Think light, breathable and expendable. Dark or earth-toned clothing hides the dirt better than anything white or pastel. Long shorts or lightweight pants work well, and if you’re doing a combo with zip lines, avoid very short shorts, since the harness straps rub against bare skin.<\/p>\n
A long-sleeve shirt with UV protection is the most underrated piece of gear for this tour. It keeps the sun and dust off your arms and saves you from reapplying sunscreen every half hour. Skip the hat while riding, since you’ll be wearing a helmet, but bring one for the time at the park after the ride.<\/p>\n
At check-in your guide hands out the safety gear: a helmet and goggles. In the dry season you’ll also get a bandana to pull over your nose and mouth. You don’t need to buy any special off-road gear before your trip.<\/p>\n
The park has free lockers, large restrooms and changing rooms, and many of our bases have showers, so you can leave the mountain looking a lot cleaner than you did on the trail.<\/p>\n
| <\/th>\n | Dry season (November to May)<\/th>\n | Rainy season (June to October)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trail conditions<\/td>\n | Firm, dusty dirt roads<\/td>\n | Mud, puddles and wet rocks<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||
| What you’ll feel<\/td>\n | Sun and dust; temperatures from about 21 to 30 \u00b0C (70 to 86 \u00b0F) in November<\/td>\n | Humidity and afternoon showers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Best clothes<\/td>\n | UV long sleeve, dark shorts or light pants<\/td>\n | Quick-dry fabrics; nothing cotton-heavy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Must pack<\/td>\n | Sunscreen, lip balm, a full change of clothes<\/td>\n | Full change of clothes, spare shoes, a plastic bag for wet gear<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Provided at check-in<\/td>\n | Helmet, goggles, bandana<\/td>\n | Helmet, goggles<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n In the dry season, the person in front of you kicks up a dust cloud you’ll ride through. In the rainy season, you won’t stay dry, period. Some guests think that’s the best part.<\/p>\n What Goes in Your Day Bag<\/h3>\nKeep it small. Here’s what earns a spot:<\/p>\n
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