Sand Flats Recreation Area is a 9,000-acre slickrock paradise. Popular mountain biking trails such as the Slickrock and Porcupine Rim trails begin here, and 9 campgrounds with a total of 120 sites are spread among rolling sandstone hills.
Sand Flats juts up against the La Sal Mountains to the east, Mill Creek Wilderness Study Area to the south, the town of Moab to the west, and Negro Bill Canyon Wilderness Study Area to the north. But the impressive vistas atop Sand Flats span all the way to Arches National Park.
Campsites are first-come-first-served, so get there early during the busy months in spring and fall. Bring your own water (available at Lions Park near the intersection of Hwy 191 and UT 138 or at Gearheads Outdoor Store in Moab), and pack out all trash. A dumpster is available at the Slickrock trailhead.
From the visitor center in Moab, Utah, drive east on Center Street for about a half mile. Turn right onto 400 E, and head south for a half mile until you get to Mill Creek Drive. Turn left and follow signs to Sand Flats. Stay straight at the three way stop, and continue past the recycling center. In 1.5 miles, you reach the Sand Flats Recreation Area entrance station.
Many of the hikes and destinations featured on the Colorado Plateau Explorer are located in remote areas or near rural communities with limited healthcare resources. Counties in southern Utah have closed campgrounds, RV parks, hotels, and Airbnbs in an effort to avoid straining local healthcare systems. We hope you'll use the Colorado Plateau Explorer to plan your trip for the future. These magnificent lands will be here waiting for you then.
Aspen stands are shady respites in the summer and confetti storms of gold leaves in the fall, but they are losing ground in Utah's high county. We're working with the Forest Service, ranchers, and other groups to make sure aspen have the chance to take root. More on our aspen restoration work ›
Speak up for forest restoration at a moment's notice. We send out timely emails notifying you of opportunities to submit comments, sign petitions, and take other actions on behalf of our public lands.
Want to make a difference on the ground? We have several volunteer trips each year in Utah's Fishlake, Dixie, and Manti-La Sal national forests.
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