Sand Flats Road

Sand Flats Road is an accessible, beginner-friendly dirt route that serves as the primary connection between Moab and the scenic Manti-La Sal National Forest, making it perfect for offroaders seeking stunning canyon views without technical difficulty. Spanning approximately 18.7 miles, this unpaved corridor climbs from an elevation of 4,627 feet up to 7,867 feet, accumulating over 3,635 feet of elevation gain along the way. The route is suitable for stock four-wheel-drive vehicles, SxSs, dirt bikes, and high-clearance passenger cars, though washboarded surfaces and narrow stretches require careful driving. This major thoroughfare provides direct access to the world-famous Slickrock Bike Trail and legendary 4x4 trails such as Hell's Revenge and Fins and Things. As the road winds higher, the terrain transitions from dramatic sandstone domes into pinyon-juniper woodlands and eventually into the cooler pine forests of the La Sal Mountains. With a technical rating of 1, the main road presents no major obstacles, but high-altitude sections may be impassable due to snow in the winter or heavy mud in the spring. Numerous campgrounds, hiking trailheads, and scenic vistas are scattered along the route, offering ample opportunities for multi-day recreation. Travelers entering the Sand Flats Recreation Area from the Moab side must pay a day-use fee at the entrance station, while those starting from the east via the La Sal Mountain Loop Road can access the route in reverse.