Behind the Trails at Kairos Wilderness Resort with Jared Spencer
Kairos Wilderness Resort has become a destination for hard enduro, trials, hare scrambles and recreational off-road riding, but dirt bikes were not part of the original plan. In Episode 7 of the On the Pegs Podcast, host Steph Vetterly sits down with Kairos co-owner Jared Spencer to discuss how the property evolved, what goes into maintaining its trail system, and the work behind hosting major motorcycle events.
Spencer has been involved with Kairos since he and his partners purchased the property in late 2016. After developing the campground and lodging, he began building trails for ATVs and side-by-sides. When dirt bike riders started asking for singletrack, another side of Kairos began to take shape.
Spencer eventually became a rider himself. As his skills improved, so did his understanding of what the more than 1,500-acre property could offer. Terrain he once considered impossible gradually became the foundation for technical trails and hard enduro sections. Today, Kairos includes an estimated 65 to 75 miles of singletrack ranging from beginner-friendly routes to demanding rocks, creeks and extended hill climbs.
Building Trails and Races
Many of Kairos’ trails are built by hand using chainsaws, picks, shovels and loppers. Spencer spends weekends clearing new routes, maintaining existing trails and scouting where the network can expand next.
His progression as a rider continues to influence that process. Areas he avoided years ago now look like opportunities, including Virgin Valley, a new section used during the 2026 River Monster Hard Enduro.
Kairos began hosting motorcycle races after a local hare scramble promoter approached Spencer in 2018. That experience eventually led him into race promotion and hard enduro, where course design requires balancing very different skill levels.
Elite riders want technical terrain that pushes their limits, while developing Pros and amateur racers still need a realistic opportunity to progress. For the 2026 River Monster, Spencer shifted from a long single-lap format to an approximately eight-and-a-half-mile multi-lap course, adding traffic and lapped riders as another challenge for the leaders.
Safety and the Future of Kairos
Difficulty is only one consideration when Spencer designs a course. Emergency access also plays a major role.
Much of the race route remains relatively close to wider trails that can accommodate side-by-sides and emergency crews. During events, Spencer stays centrally located with a radio so he can quickly direct EMT personnel through a property he knows better than anyone else.
Beyond hard enduro, Kairos has hosted hare scrambles, dual-sport rides, local trials events and rounds of the AMA NATC National Mototrials Championship. Riders and instructors including Graham Jarvis, Rich Larsen and Chris Birch have also held clinics at the property.
Despite everything already developed, Spencer estimates that only about half of Kairos is currently being utilized.
His long-term goal is simple: continue building trails, hosting quality events and introducing more people to off-road motorcycling.
Listen to Episode 7 of the On the Pegs Podcast for the full conversation with Jared Spencer and a behind-the-scenes look at the work that has helped turn Kairos Wilderness Resort into an off-road destination.
Learn More about Kairos Wilderness Resort:
Read about previous events held here:
The first USHE River Monster
2026 NATC National Trials
