After discussing this with Don and doing a bunch of checking and talking to people on the phone and people I know that have been going to the Moab Jeep Safari for many years, I wanted to post what I have found and let everyone have a bit of a heads-up. Here is what I have found:
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I get the yearly newspaper from the Jamboree people each year. Here is a picture I clipped from that this years paper that was taken last year on the "Poison Spider Trail" in Moab. Motorcycles can whip around this traffic, but I'm sure some of the trails are setup to accommodate the 4X4 people and may be off limits to non-participants. If you look closely, you can see people standing outside their vehicles waiting their turn to move forward. I scanned this picture from the newspaper. I made a phone call about the Jeep Safari and how the rules are. There are about 30 trails, so the Safari designates about 10 per day to keep from restricting the other trails by non-participants of the Safari. However, keep in mind, the Safari only allows about 1000 entrants each year, so the other few thousand will be crawling around on their own just like us, so the possibility of crowded trails, especially those deemed most favorable can and most likely will still be crowded.
1) There are many trails, but the Safari people will select about 10 per day that the Safari participants will travel. These 10 routes will become very congested and should a problem occur, passing is not allowed unless you can pass without leaving the trail lines, which I was told is nearly impossible. Besides, people that attempt to pass are very much frowned upon.
2) The trails NOT selected to be traveled that particular day are fully available for anyone not participating. Every Hotel and camp ground and online should have a list posted showing which trails the Safari will be using on which day.
3) On a positive note, most trails can have a "loop", whereas you go up one way and come back a different way and since the Safari groups leave Moab about 9am, so if we depart prior to the Safari groups, any of the trails can be ridden or traveled, so long we reach the trail before the Safari's do. I can't speak for everyone attending, but I personally don't want to sit in some line for hours waiting my turn to move until the next vehicle breaks down causing the wait to start over again.
The Jeep Safari runs from March 23-31st, but many people show up a week or earlier to get some trails in before the heavy crowds. This Jeep Safari has been going on for many, many years. Thousands of people attend every year and is by far the largest group of 4-Wheelers to gather in the world. Moab and the State of Utah depend on the revenue generated from this Jamboree for a large part of its tourism budget. They make lots of money, so keep in mind, should an altercation or disagreement arise between participants and non-participants, the participants will generally win and get their way. Participants that go on the trails were required to apply last year, because they are numbered as to how many can attend. Mainly because should a vehicle break down or some other reason, the long lines come to a stop that can last for well over an hour. Some of these trails last all day even though they are only several miles in length. When openings open up, people are selected by lottery, just to give you an idea of what to expect as far as crowds.
This trip will be super fun, but a little planning and education will make life for all much simpler. We must first realize that restaurants, stores, gas stations will probably all have lines, some may be long. Early risers will benefit the most by beating the crowds. Trails to be ridden will have to be predetermined. We won't be able to just take off and venture where ever we want unless we depart pretty early. Getting off the trails or venturing off into restricted areas will land you in jail with possible huge fines, so attention must be paid to borders, signs, rules and restricted areas.
Not having ever been to Moab as a trail adventurist, I thought making a few calls to investigate what to expect was well within what someone should do, so we can be better prepared and know more of what to expect. Disappointing surprises are never fun and can possibly be costly. For those of us having never experienced Moab during the jamboree, think of it as your first visit to Surgis, SD during the motorcycle rally, except these are 4x4 people. It will undoubtedly be a total blast, but a little pre-planning couldn't hurt, so it doesn't turn out to be like a trip to Disneyland on a holiday weekend where are you do is stand in line for everything. Now I know we will be in Moab from March 21-24, so we will only overlap the first weekend. But keep in mind, Safari people start showing up days or even weeks early to ride the trails, look up friends or make adjustments to their vehicles.
Finally, what makes me an authority on Moab? Believe me I'm not, which is why I decided to make some calls to find out plus I know many, many people where I live that have been attending the Jeep Safari for many years. Everything I have written simply comes from taking to others, both in person and on the phone, not from personal knowledge.
Some links to Moab and about the 2013 Jeep Safari Jamboree:
https://www.utah.com/moab/moab_jeep_safari.htm
https://www.rr4w.com/
https://www.discovermoab.com/calendar.htm
https://www.4x4training.com/Adventures/EasterSafari/EJSMain.html
