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Sand Flats / Moab Slick Rock Bike Trail
Sand Flats contains a maze of sandstone
domes and fins. These beautiful desert formations are well known and
heavily used by mountain bikers. Kokopelli's Bike Trail, Porcupine Rim
Bike Trail, and the Slickrock Bike Trail start here.
Moab Slickrock Bike Trail crosses a scenic
and rugged expanse of rolling Navajo Sandstone. The pale orange sandstone
is believed to represent ancient sand dunes deposited along a shallow
inland sea. Crossbedding and dip visible in the sandstone may have been
caused by prevailing northwesterly winds. The tall, often snowcapped,
LaSal Mountains provide a spectacular background and a striking contrast
with the sandstone terrain.
Bike Trail
The bike trail is ideal for use by mountain
bikes and motorcycles designed for off-road use. The sandstone provides
excellent traction for bikes. The trail is not suitable for three-wheel
and four-wheel ATVs as it crosses steep slopes and traverses several
narrow sections above drop-offs. White dashes painted on the sandstone
mark the route along the trail. Yellow paint and black diamonds are used
to indicate caution and intersection areas.
For relatively inexperienced riders, there
is a practice loop 2.3 miles long that starts near the top of the first
hill about 0.2 mile from the parking area. While characterized as the
practice loop, it is a scenic and challenging ride in its own right.
For more experienced riders, the main trail
has many steep hills and more sections of rough rock. It requires more
advanced riding skills and endurance. There are tough spots that,
depending upon your skill and strength, may require walking your bike. The
main loop trail, including the side trail to Panorama View Point, is 10.3
miles long and takes most people about 5 hours to ride.
Scenic Overlooks
Two overlooks are marked near the edge of
the Negro Bill Canyon system. One of these, Echo Point, has rightly earned
its name--try it! Abyss View Point affords a breathtaking view into a box
canyon. Farther along, the trail skirts the edge of the main canyon of the
Colorado River. Across the River is Arches National Park.
Low-Impact Riding
Weathering has produced pockets of sand
that support "slickrock gardens" of juniper trees, cactus,
grasses, and cryptogamic soil. Please help to maintain the scenic beauty
of the area by riding around these gardens! Cryptogamic soil can be
identified by its black crusty-looking appearance. It is a delicate
complex of soil, algae, mosses, bacteria, and lichen that retains water
and nutrients, helps prevent erosion, and provides a stable base for
higher plants to take root. Once disturbed, cryptogamic soil requires many
years to recover.
Shrimp Rock
Shrimp Rock is named for a pool of water at
its base which contains tadpole, fairy, and clam shrimp. The small
creatures at first glance look like tiny minnows, but more careful
observation reveals their true identity. When the pool dries up, the
shrimp eggs become dormant until water again fills the pond and the eggs
hatch, thus continuing the life cycle. Please do not ride through or bathe
in the potholes along the trail.
Precautions
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Do not ride alone.
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Use only motorcycles and mountain bikes
equipped for rough-country travel.
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Check your bike, especially your brakes,
before starting.
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If you are inexperienced on slickrock,
try the practice loop before attempting the main trail.
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Carry drinking water and food; take
precautions to avoid heat exhaustion.
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Wear a helmet.
To reach the trailhead, drive 2.3 miles
east on Sand Flats Road from Millcreek Drive. There is a fee to enter the
Sand Flats Recreation Area.
For further information, contact BLM Moab
Office, 82 East Dogwood, Moab, Utah 84532, (435) 259-6111.
Information Provided By The Utah
BLM
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