Fins N Things, Moab, Utah: Slickrock 4x4 Trail Guide

The Run

Fins N Things is Moab in concentrate. It's a loop of Navajo sandstone "fins" — long, rounded spines of slickrock that you climb up one side and roll down the other, over and over. The whole trail is basically a series of stomach-drop crests and steep descents stitched together by the grippiest rock on Earth.

It lives in the Sand Flats Recreation Area, the same playground that holds Hell's Revenge next door. Fins N Things is shorter and a notch friendlier than Hell's Revenge, which makes it a favorite for drivers stepping up their slickrock game — but don't mistake friendlier for easy. The climbs are steep enough to pucker, the descents are steeper, and there are optional obstacles that'll test anyone.

Difficulty & What You Need

This is a Hard trail and it deserves the rating. The exposure is real — you're driving over and along the edges of rock formations with drop-offs, and a bad line has consequences.

• Tires. 33s minimum to do it comfortably; 35s and up open the trail up. Run a sticky, aggressive tread — slickrock rewards rubber that bites.
• Lockers. A rear locker is close to mandatory for the steep climbs. Front and rear lockers make the hard lines a lot more manageable.
• Clearance and gearing. Good ground clearance and low gearing let you crawl the steep faces under control instead of bouncing them.
• Air down. This is the single biggest thing. Drop into the high teens to low 20s psi — many run around 18 — to put more rubber on the rock and find grip. Aired-up tires skate; aired-down tires stick. Carry a compressor for the drive home.
• A spotter. On the steep crests and ledges, get out and look, then use a spotter. You cannot see the trail over the hood on a lot of these climbs.

Steep grades mean you respect your approach and departure angles, and you keep your speed honest. Let the truck crawl. Momentum is for sand, not slickrock.

Best Season

Spring and fall, full stop. March through May and September through November give you cool rock and bearable air. Summer in Moab is dangerous heat — the slickrock turns into a skillet and so does your cab. Winter can bring ice and snow to shaded sections, which turns grippy rock treacherous. Aim for the shoulder seasons and you'll have a far better day.

Getting There & Access

The trail is in the Sand Flats Recreation Area, reached via Sand Flats Road east of downtown Moab. The area is co-managed by Grand County and the BLM, and there's a day-use / entrance fee plus paid camping at the developed sites. The fee and camping situation can change, and the area uses a staffed entrance station.

Verify current fees, hours, and any closures with the Sand Flats Recreation Area before you go. Permits and rules around this area do get updated, so check the managing agency rather than trusting old info.

Ride It Right

Slickrock looks bulletproof. The living soil and plants in the sandy pockets between the fins are not. Stay on the rock and on the marked route — those dotted painted lines are there for a reason. One tire track through cryptobiotic soil scars the desert for decades. Don't widen the trail, don't cut switchbacks, pack out every scrap, and keep your fluids off the rock. Moab stays open because wheelers police themselves here.

Why It Earns Its Name

Fins N Things is named for exactly what it is — a roller-coaster ride across the fins, with the "things" being every steep, weird, grin-inducing obstacle in between. Cresting a fin and feeling the nose drop into the next descent never gets old. It's pure Moab slickrock joy with just enough bite to keep you sharp. Air down, lock up, and let the rock do the work.