Things to do nearSlickrock Bike Trail

The Slickrock Bike Trail has shaped modern mountain biking more than almost any other route on earth. Opened in 1969 as a motorcycle trail, it was adopted by early mountain bikers in the 1980s and quickly became a pilgrimage site as the sport grew. The sandstone formation, part of the Entrada and Navajo layers laid down roughly 180 million years ago, weathers into a surface so coarse it functions like sandpaper under a tire, enabling traction angles that feel implausible until you experience them firsthand.

The 10.5-mile main loop winds across open slickrock domes, through tight gullies, and along exposed ridgelines with sheer drop-offs into the canyon below. Route-finding relies on painted white dots rather than a worn path, which keeps the experience engaging and slightly humbling even for seasoned riders. Elevation changes are constant and steep, and the cumulative climbing adds up to roughly 1,800 feet over the loop. The nearby Hells Revenge Safari Route offers a complementary perspective on the same sandstone landscape for those who want to explore further.

Moab's broader trail network means the area around Sand Flats Road rewards multiple days of riding. Trails like those accessed from the Navette-Porcupine Rim Trailhead extend the adventure into the canyon country beyond. For anyone serious about mountain biking, the Slickrock Bike Trail remains an essential and irreplaceable destination.