Planning Your Trip

Suggested Activities

Sand Flats maintains 40 miles of trails throughout its' 9,000 acres, trails shared by both motorized and non-motorized users. The information below is provided to help you plan your trip to Sand Flats.


1-2 Hours

Drive/Hike- Drive 7 miles (including 6 miles on an improved dirt road) on the Sand Flats Road from the entrance station to the Porcupine Rim Trailhead and then back and/or hike some or all of the Slickrock Bike Trail Practice Loop (2 miles) for stunning views of petrified sand dunes, canyons, mesas and the La Sal Mountains. Or hike the Pinyon Interpretive trail or the Juniper hiking trail. 


If you are an experienced mountain biker try out the Slickrock Bike Trail Practice Loop. If you are into off-road motorcycling you can ride the entire Slickrock Bike Trail.  If you would like to do some Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) riding but want a professional guide there are many companies that will take you on a tour of “Moab’s 4×4 Daily”- the Hell’s Revenge Trail, for one of a kind scenery and terrain. Shorter trips take about 2 hours.


½ -1 Day

Hike the Slickrock Bike Trail Practice Loop and the Main Trail out to the Abyss and back (4 miles round trip) and / or hike the Porcupine Rim Trail to the rim viewpoint for spectacular views into Castle Valley (6 miles round trip, 900 foot elevation gain). Or hike both the Pinyon Interpretive trail and the Juniper hiking trail. 

If you are an intermediate mountain biker try a section of the newRaptor route. If you are an experienced mountain biker, ride the Porcupine Rim Trail, or the one that started it all, the Slickrock Bike Trail. Accomplished riders of all types, motorcycle, ATV, and 4×4 will find the Fins and Things and Hell’s Revenge routes both scenic and challenging.


Some Quick Facts

  • The Moab Slickrock Bike Trail was the 1st designated National Recreation Trail in Utah.
  • Sand Flats is managed as a self-funding site in partnership between Grand County and the Moab Bureau of Land Management.
  • The Slickrock Bike Trail, legendary for mountain biking, was originally created as a motorcycle trail in 1969.
  • Sand Flats Recreation Area is pet friendly with dogs permitted on all trails and routes. However, please note dogs do need to be under verbal or physical restraint and dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet at trailheads and in campgrounds. 

Camping

140 campsites, in nine campgrounds are offered on a first-come first-serve basis. Amenities include picnic tables, metal fire rings and nearby vault toilets. Campers need to bring drinking water. Reservations can be made for six, 16 person group campsites by going to Group Site Reservations .


Surrounding Area

Bordering the area on the north and south are the canyons of the Grandstaff and Mill Creek Wilderness Study Areas. Further north is the deep gorge of the Colorado River and Arches National Park.


Visitation

Approximately 250,000 visitors enjoy the Sand Flats Recreation Area annually.

 

For more information on planning your trip please visit the Moab Area Travel Council website Discovermoab.com