Event Recap: The 8th Annual AETHER Rally in Pioneertown

Community has been a cornerstone of the AETHER Apparel brand since its inception. And that’s why each year, we host a myriad of annual meetups and events, with the largest being the AETHER Rally in Pioneertown — a weekend-long celebration of all things adventure and off-roading. Now that we’ve just wrapped up the latest iteration of the event and returned from the desert, we’re taking a look back at the recent 8th Annual Pioneertown Rally.

Friday

It was an overcast morning when dozens of cars, motorcycles, trucks, adventure vans, buggies, and other vehicles lined up outside AETHER’s flagship store in Los Angeles. On the heels of a light breakfast, some coffee, and a bit of schmoozing, ignitions were started, kickstands went up, and everyone embarked on their journey to the desert, taking the scenic — and twisty — route to Joshua Tree.

After negotiating a bit of traffic, the group escaped the city and the overclouded weather, making their way onto the Angeles Crest Highway where they were greeted by blue skies and plenty of sun. Next, everyone traveled through the Angeles National Forest, followed by the San Gabriel Mountains, and then the Rim of the World Highway, before stopping so people could stretch their legs and grab some lunch in Big Bear. After getting a bite to eat, the group was back on the road, continuing the route before ultimately dropping down into Joshua Tree and then finally arriving in Pioneertown.

Upon rolling in to the Pioneertown Motel and checking into the event, guests were welcomed with gift bags and wristbands. Elementalist was also there to greet guests with a questionnaire that helped them select a strain of cannabis based on their mood. evolvetogether was also kind enough to dish out a selection of its premium grooming and beauty products. From there, it was off to locate their cabin, or car or moto camping spots. Setting up camp was about as quick and painless as it gets due to Snow Peak providing AETHER with a few dozen of its Amenity Dome tents, along with an assortment of its folding camp tables and chairs.

After getting setup and settled in, attendees got to unwind with some cocktails and cold drinks courtesy of event partners Madre Mezcal, Skyduster Beer, and Wolves Whiskey. De La Calle and magic cactus were also on hand to serve up their respective non-alcoholic beverages. As the sun set, guests enjoyed a dinner of pizza freshly-prepared and baked by award-winning chef Mario Vollera using portable outdoor ovens from Gozney.

Not long after, Countrypolitan musician Will Worden and his band took to the Rally Stage to give an intimate live performance. The first night culminated in stargazing led by the Los Angeles Astronomical Society — an awe-inspiring experience thanks to the desert’s ultra-clear night skies. Once everyone was done taking in the planets and stars, the group splintered, with some opting to keep the party going around the campfire or next door at The Red Dog Saloon, and others retiring to their tents for the night in order to rest up for the following day.

Saturday

With Pioneertown’s petting zoo being within earshot of camp, guests woke up Saturday morning to the sound of roosters crowing, not long before Ceci's Gastronomia began serving up a light breakfast plus coffee and fresh juice. After getting their fill, everyone headed back to their cabin or tent to gear up and prepare for the day’s various group rides and drives. Less than an hour later, Pioneertown Rally goers were lined up in the predesignated pre-ride meeting spots, and then it was off to start a few hours of thrills behind the wheel or bars.

The Rides & Drives

The 8th Pioneertown Rally gave attendees the option of embarking on one of four different rides or drives, including both on-road and off-road trips.

Desert Blacktop Run
Welcoming both cars and motorcycles piloted by drivers and riders of all skill levels, the Desert Blacktop Run took rally goers on a 200-mile loop in and around Joshua Tree, going as far south as Mecca via a series of winding roads. The section running from Yucca Valley to Keys View to Pinto Wye was undoubtedly the highlight of the more-than-five-hour roundtrip. Despite at times being separated by vast distances, keeping in contact during the group rides and drives was a breeze thanks to Rocky Talkie providing rally goers with some of their rugged backcountry radios.

Desert To Mountain Run
Reserved exclusively for experienced riders piloting off-road-capable motorcycles, the Desert To Mountain Run was comprised of 18-mile excursion that kicked things off in Joshua Tree and then lead through a wide variety of different trails and terrain types, from rocky sections to vast swaths of deep sand. Seeing riders climb over 4,000 feet in elevation, this technical route eventually culminated in Big Bear.

4x4 Off-Road Drive Powered By RIVIAN
Backed by our buddies — and official partners — at Rivian, the 4x4 Off-Road Drive saw participants travel approximately 40 miles east of Pioneertown, negotiating a plethora of terrain types, from sand to dirt to rock, and passing through a massive dry Mojave lake bed. After a stop at the Rivian Charging Outpost in Joshua Tree, the procession of vehicles made their way to the off-road playground that is Coyote Lake for a bit of tire-spinning, getting sideways, kicking up dust, and general off-road hooning.

The Carrera Mojave - Vintage Drive
The Carrera Mojave took drivers on an on-roads, analog, automotive adventure that lasted nearly eight hours. A journey that included a surprisingly friendly interaction with a CHP officer, a key stuck in a 2002’s door’s lock, a rock-busted radiator, and a brief impromptu trip to an O'Reilly Auto Parts, the ride left, driving under sunny conditions, though before the day was up, they’d travel through numerous landscapes and climates as they ultimately climbed nearly 7,000 feet in elevation — from fog and storm clouds to a sandstorm and sunny but crisp air.

After arriving back at camp, Rivian invited attendees to dunk themselves in a roving cold plunge tank that the EV brand had built into the bed of a custom-fabricated R1T — a unique one-off truck prepared specially for this year’s Pioneertown Rally. Most of the groups also returned back to camp with a few hours left to get some seat time aboard one of the Varg electric dirtbikes brought out by Stark Future, which could be ridden on an extensive network of trails a literal stone’s throw from the event grounds — no doubt a major highlight of the weekend for anyone that got to pilot one of the ridiculously squirrelly E-MXers.

Next, everyone was rewarded with an absolutely stellar final night dinner courtesy of the culinary magicians over at Ceci's Gastronomia, who served up a mouth-watering combination of slow-roasted porschetta di Ariccia, chicken rosticciana, fresh-grilled Italian sausages, roasted veggies and potatoes, and bread and focacia Genovese. After a fantastic meal, everyone headed over to the Red Dog Saloon for an afterparty hosted by Madre Mezcal where bartenders filled cups, DJs spun plates, and the party kept going late into the night — or early the following morning to be more accurate.

Sunday

Possibly a little worse for the wear, rally-goers woke up on Sunday morning and moseyed from the campgrounds over to the motel for a light breakfast and coffee, once again prepared by the always-delicious Ceci’s. After breaking down camp and packing up, attendees said their goodbyes and then hopped in or on their vehicles to make their way back to civilization. And with that, another successful rally goes in the books.

We’d like to thank the record-setting 300+ attendees that joined us for this year’s rally, and we can’t wait to see everybody at the 9th annual AETHER Rally in Pioneertown.

See you in the desert May 15-17, 2026!