Have you ever wondered what is the best dirt bike trail in the world? I'm sure you will get lots of opinions but let me tell you, it is the Slick Rock Trail in Moab, Ut. Just image a trail with the best views, the coolest obstacles, butte puckering challenges that aren't really too difficult and located in town. The trail is only 12 miles long, which is kind of long for a single trail but you will want to do it over and over again.
This spot is located near the beginning of the trail just after what I would consider the toughest part of the trail and where the trail first crosses Hell's Revenge ORV trail. The trail mostly alternates between slick rock in the high sections and sand on the lower parts.
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This was the first time I had ever seen slick rock and thought it was very interesting. Shrimp Rock is the highest rock in the area and can be seen all along the trail. For scale notice the two bikers to the right of the rock, little white specs.
The Slick Rock Bike Trail is located above Moab on the top of on of the canyon walls. Though the trail is almost only used by bicycles now it is a great trail if you go when the area is not crowded, aka very early in the morning. This is one of the many views you will see of the Colorado River far below in the canyon. One side trail will take you right to the edge. Slick Rock trail is considered one of the premier mountain bike trails in the world though it started out as a dirt bike trail.
Image a desert with huge sand dunes. Now image that one day the sand dunes became solid rock and you were allowed to ride your dirt bike on it. Though geologically a more complicated that than, it is basically what happened. Riding slickrock trail is like riding on huge frozen sand dunes, 100 feet up then a rollercoaster down.
Moab Utah Guide Books, Includes Maps and Direction for this Trail
Slickrock as far as you can see. It is amazing how large this area is. The sandstone domes seam to go one forever. This view looks into Grandstaff Canyon, once know as Negro Bill Canyon. If you ever get the time to hike up this canyon it will lead to Morning Glory Arch, one of the largest in the world.
The trail swaps back and forth from top of the rock to the bottom. Notice I said rock and not rocks. The entire surface is one solid piece of sandstone.
Is slick rock slippery? No, you get unlimited traction, you can climb seaming impossible grades. As long as your motorcycle has the power you can get up it.
Why is Moab so popular now? It is because of people like Dick Wilson who first saw the value of cool trails like the Slick Rock Trail which he helped to form in 1969. You can read more about the history of the Slick Rock Trail on this article by Moab Sun News.
map provide by https://www.grandcountyutah.net/