Slickrock and Sand Flats
Slickrock is in Sand Flats Recreation Area, managed jointly by Grand County and the BLM. Sandy connectors between the sandstone sections can stay soft after the rock dries.
Every zone is rideable right now.
11 of 11 networks rideable across 9 riding zones
Rideable means PRIME or DUSTY. These estimates use weather, soil, and terrain data. Check each network for details and closures.
Conditions modeled 13:50 UTC, Sep 20
Dots are trail locations. Numbered groups zoom to nearby networks.
Map geometry © OpenStreetMap contributors · Elevation contours: NASA SRTM via OpenTopoData
Ordered by current verdict, with matching verdicts listed alphabetically. Official closures take priority.
11 of 11 networks shown
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A Moab ride can cross slickrock, sand, and clay, each drying at a different speed. Higher mesas also get different weather from the valley floor. Fruita and Grand Junction, about 100 miles east in Colorado, are separate destinations.
Across the 11 networks Loam tracks here, elevation spans 1,889 feet and canopy runs from 0 to 10 percent. These measurements describe representative network points, not the full elevation range of every trail. Compare the individual forecasts and check local reports before choosing a ride.
The useful unit here is the riding zone. Each one has its own exposure, elevation, and weather response.
Slickrock is in Sand Flats Recreation Area, managed jointly by Grand County and the BLM. Sandy connectors between the sandstone sections can stay soft after the rock dries.
Bar M and Moab Brand Trails share a BLM trailhead off Highway 191. Beginner loops near the parking area lead to narrower, rockier trails farther out. Expect open terrain with little shade.
Klondike Bluffs is on BLM land near the Arches National Park boundary. Trails cross slickrock with fossil dinosaur tracks. A connector leads toward Klonzo, which has no separate Loam network page.
Moab Bike Park, also called Anonymous Park, has dirt jumps and a pump track near Mill Creek Parkway. Check it as a bike park rather than using nearby desert trail conditions.
Amasa Back and Captain Ahab climb from Kane Creek Boulevard onto slickrock and talus above the Colorado River. The climb is exposed.
Magnificent 7 is off Utah 313 on BLM land, with access roads shared by several connected trail systems.
Navajo Rocks is off Utah 313 before Dead Horse Point. A connector leads south toward Horsethief and Magnificent 7.
Dead Horse Point State Park's Intrepid Trail System follows the mesa rim above the Colorado River. Its elevation can bring colder weather than the valley floor.
Fruita and Grand Junction are about 100 miles from Moab in Colorado. 18 Road has flowing desert singletrack north of Fruita; Lunch Loops has technical rock gardens near Grand Junction.
Planning patterns, not opening dates. Live conditions and official access decide the day.
Watch for spring rain, snowmelt, and overnight freezing. Higher mesas can stay wet after lower trails dry.
Heat and afternoon monsoon storms are the main concerns. Rain can leave sandy approaches and clay pockets soft after the rock dries.
Cooler temperatures often make for comfortable riding. Check for rain and wet-trail notices after storms.
Snow and overnight freezing affect the higher mesas. Ice can linger on shaded trails and slickrock.
Check the BLM Moab Field Office, Utah State Parks, and Sand Flats Recreation Area for closures and wet-trail advisories. Follow those notices even when Loam estimates rideable conditions.
Official field report: Grand County Trail Conditions
Trail work around Moab is done by COPMOBA (Grand Valley Trails Chapter) and Grand County Trail Mix. Support your local builders.
11 of 11 networks around Moab currently have a PRIME or DUSTY verdict, meaning rideable conditions. Check the network page for details and closure notices.
Rideable options around Moab include Bar M (PRIME, firm, rideable conditions), Captain Ahab/Amasa Back (PRIME, firm, rideable conditions) and Dead Horse Point State Park (PRIME, firm, rideable conditions).
Open the network page for the current condition estimate and recent rain. Check land manager notices before riding.
Slickrock can dry before sandy connectors and clay pockets. Check the whole route, follow wet-trail advisories, and wait if the ground is soft.
Loam does not currently cover Porcupine Rim or the Upper and Lower Porcupine singletrack. Check Sand Flats, a shuttle operator, or Grand County's trail report for the full descent. Conditions at Slickrock do not describe the whole route.
Spring and fall generally offer cooler riding than summer. Check for spring rain, summer heat and storms, and winter snow or ice on higher trails.
No. Follow closures and advisories from the BLM, Utah State Parks, and Sand Flats Recreation Area.
Loam covers 11 networks on this page, including nearby Colorado destinations. The named trails are examples, not a complete list.
Loam updates condition estimates hourly. Each network page shows when its estimate was last updated.
Loam uses recent rain, soil, slope, slope direction, tree cover, and current weather to estimate how wet the ground is. These are estimates, not rider reports. Official closures take priority. See how the model works.