Epic Idaho Trails! Riding the Yamaha RMAX 1000 in Lava Hot Springs

My machine for the day was the venerable Yamaha Wolverine RMAX 1000 R-Spec, a side-by-side that feels perfectly engineered for the very terrain I was about to tackle. As I left the valley floor and began to climb, the adventure kicked into high gear. The RMAX 1000 handled the steep grades and technical, rocky sections with a confidence that inspired my own. It felt truly built for this kind of landscape. With every hundred feet of elevation gained, the views became more spectacular, revealing wide-open valleys, winding through dense pine forests, and offering non-stop excitement. It was one of those perfect rides where you completely lose track of time.

An adventure like this is often made better by the local experts who know the land and love to share it. Our guide for the day was Dawson Vorwaller, the owner of Lava Outdoor Fun Rentals. His passion for the outdoors is infectious. “There’s a lot of fulfillment in helping people have fun,” Dawson explained. “Getting to send people, especially from less mountainous areas, up to a peak for the first time… it’s a great experience and we love helping people have that.”

His operation, located at the Portneuf Campground, is a one-stop shop for outdoor fun. Visitors can camp in one of 82 sites, stay in a cabin or glamping tent, fish or float the river, and then head straight to the trails. When it came to building his rental fleet, the choice was clear. “My wife and I are pretty avid dirt bikers, and it’s hard to beat a Yamaha dirt bike,” Dawson said. “So, when we decided we wanted to start this rental business, the first place we called was Yamaha. They’ve been super reliable and the performance is phenomenal.”

The trail system around Lava Hot Springs offers something for everyone. According to Dawson, the trails are mostly intermediate, but there’s plenty of variety. “We’ve got quite a few family-friendly, beginner-type trails, and then we’ve got some pretty gnarly, expert-level rock climbing. A good variety around here.”

After a full day of exploring, I returned to camp with a layer of dust and a permanent smile. The experience was a perfect trifecta: a phenomenal machine in the Yamaha Wolverine RMAX 1000, a stunning and diverse trail system in Lava Hot Springs, and a fantastic local outfitter in Lava Outdoor Fun Rentals. If you're looking to plan your own Idaho adventure, this is a combination that is guaranteed not to disappoint.

Plan Your Trip: To book your own adventure with Dawson and his team, visit them online at LavaOutdoorFunRentals.com or find them on social media. To discover other premier rental locations, check out the Destination Yamaha website.