In 1969, a motorcycle trail was established on barren, weathered Navajo Sandstone less than two miles northeast of Moab. Occasionally, motorcycle riders and hikers used the trail during the 1970s but in the early 1980s, it was discovered by mountain bikers. Since then, it has developed into a leading destination that attracts thousands of mountain bike riders each year.
With increased recreational use, accidents, injuries, and rescues have become very common. The Grand County Search and Rescue (GCSAR) group is often the busiest SAR agency in Utah, locating and extricating injured or lost bikers, hikers, rafters, and others, from dangerous situations throughout southeast Utah. Because of its popularity, the Slickrock Trail is often the most frequent response location. Fortunately, its trailhead is less than two miles from downtown Moab. The terrain is very open, and the trail is well marked. Unfortunately, for rapid response and victim extrication, it presents some of the most rugged terrain in the Four Corners region.
The Slickrock Trail is crisscrossed by the rugged and very popular Hell’s Revenge Jeep trail. The trail was established in 1980 by Moab’s Red Rock Four Wheelers. Hell’s Revenge follows old jeep and seismographic trails and provides viable options for travel by emergency responders using small four- and six-wheeled vehicles. Both trails connect to the Grand County road system just two miles from Moab.
