Slickrock Trail
Encyclopedia
The Slickrock Trail, located near Moab
, Utah
(USA
), is a popular mountain biking
destination with worldwide fame. This 13 miles (20.9 km) loop takes intrepid riders over a landscape of "petrified" sand dunes and the eroded
remnants of ancient sea beds. The Slickrock Trail is one of the more difficult rides in the Moab area, both technically and cardiovascularly
, and is not suitable for novice riders.
Part of the Sand Flats Recreation Area, the Slickrock Trail was originally laid out in 1969 for use by motocross
motorcycle
s, and the area is still open to such recreation today. 4X4
and off-road enthusiasts will find a challenge on the nearby Hell's Revenge Trail, which intersects the Slickrock Trail in several places.
The so-called "slickrock" sandstone
, which forms the majority of the trail's surface, is not slick at all, but has a surface much like sandpaper
. The rubber tires of a mountain bike
or off-road motorcycle will grip readily to its surface on all but the steepest hills. The sandpaper texture is notorious for inflicting severe abrasion injuries. The name "slickrock" was given by early settlers of the area because their horses' metal shoes had difficulty gaining traction on the rock's sloping surfaces. The same is true today for cyclists who use shoes with metal cleats while riding the Slickrock Trail. Slickrock also becomes very slick when wet.
In geological
terms, the Slickrock Trail is not part of the actual "slickrock" formation. Rather, most of the outcrop that forms the trail is Navajo Sandstone
. More commonly, the term "slickrock" has come to mean any expanse of sandstone with a surface level enough for walking or riding.
The Slickrock Trail consists of three main sections, an out-and-back lead-in (also known as a lollipop stick or a cherry stem), a 6.8 miles (10.9 km) loop, and an optional 2.3 miles (3.7 km) "practice loop". The lead-in, loop, and practice loop are clearly marked by white dashed lines to prevent riders from straying from the trail, becoming lost, or disturbing the fragile cryptobiotic soil
through which the trail passes.
A minimal fee is required to enter the Sand Flats Recreation Area. Pit-toilets are available at the trailhead, but there is no drinking water available within the area.
Moab, Utah
Moab is a city in Grand County, in eastern Utah, in the western United States. The population was 4,779 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat and largest city in Grand County. Moab hosts a large number of tourists every year, mostly visitors to the nearby Arches and Canyonlands National Parks...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
(USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
), is a popular mountain biking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
destination with worldwide fame. This 13 miles (20.9 km) loop takes intrepid riders over a landscape of "petrified" sand dunes and the eroded
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
remnants of ancient sea beds. The Slickrock Trail is one of the more difficult rides in the Moab area, both technically and cardiovascularly
Circulatory system
The circulatory system is an organ system that passes nutrients , gases, hormones, blood cells, etc...
, and is not suitable for novice riders.
Part of the Sand Flats Recreation Area, the Slickrock Trail was originally laid out in 1969 for use by motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
s, and the area is still open to such recreation today. 4X4
Four Wheel Drive
The Four Wheel Drive Auto Company, more often known as Four Wheel Drive or just FWD, was founded in 1909 in Clintonville, Wisconsin, as the Badger Four-Wheel Drive Auto Company by Otto Zachow and William Besserdich.-History:...
and off-road enthusiasts will find a challenge on the nearby Hell's Revenge Trail, which intersects the Slickrock Trail in several places.
The so-called "slickrock" sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
, which forms the majority of the trail's surface, is not slick at all, but has a surface much like sandpaper
Sandpaper
Sandpaper, also known as glasspaper, is a heavy paper with abrasive material attached to its surface.Sandpaper is part of the "coated abrasives" family of abrasive products. It is used to remove small amounts of material from surfaces, either to make them smoother , to remove a layer of material...
. The rubber tires of a mountain bike
Mountain bike
A mountain bike or mountain bicycle is a bicycle created for off-road cycling. This activity includes traversing of rocks and washouts, and steep declines,...
or off-road motorcycle will grip readily to its surface on all but the steepest hills. The sandpaper texture is notorious for inflicting severe abrasion injuries. The name "slickrock" was given by early settlers of the area because their horses' metal shoes had difficulty gaining traction on the rock's sloping surfaces. The same is true today for cyclists who use shoes with metal cleats while riding the Slickrock Trail. Slickrock also becomes very slick when wet.
In geological
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
terms, the Slickrock Trail is not part of the actual "slickrock" formation. Rather, most of the outcrop that forms the trail is Navajo Sandstone
Navajo Sandstone
Navajo Sandstone is a geologic formation in the Glen Canyon Group that is spread across the U.S. states of northern Arizona, northwest Colorado, and Utah; as part of the Colorado Plateau province of the United States...
. More commonly, the term "slickrock" has come to mean any expanse of sandstone with a surface level enough for walking or riding.
The Slickrock Trail consists of three main sections, an out-and-back lead-in (also known as a lollipop stick or a cherry stem), a 6.8 miles (10.9 km) loop, and an optional 2.3 miles (3.7 km) "practice loop". The lead-in, loop, and practice loop are clearly marked by white dashed lines to prevent riders from straying from the trail, becoming lost, or disturbing the fragile cryptobiotic soil
Cryptobiotic soil
A Cryptobiotic soil is a biological soil crust composed of living cyanobacteria, green algae, brown algae, fungi, lichens, and/or mosses. Commonly found in arid regions around the world, cryptobiotic soils go by many names, including cryptogamic, microbiotic, or microphytic soils or crusts...
through which the trail passes.
A minimal fee is required to enter the Sand Flats Recreation Area. Pit-toilets are available at the trailhead, but there is no drinking water available within the area.
External links
- Sand Flats Recreation Area. Visitor guide and guide to bike trails.
- Slickrock Trail on UtahMountainBiking.com. Description, map, and GPS coordinates.
- Rim Tours. Mountain Bike Tour Operator in Moab.