Sand Flats Recreation Area

The Sand Flats Recreation Area near Moab, Utah is a nationally significant public lands treasure at the heart of the Colorado Plateau. A high plain of slickrock domes, bowls and fins, it rises in the east to meet the colorful mesas and nearly 13,000 foot peaks of the La Sal Mountains. Bordering the area on the north and south are the canyons of the Grandstaff and Mill Creek Canyon Wilderness Study Areas. Further north lies the deep gorge of the Colorado River and Arches National Park. Sand Flats' famous Slickrock and Porcupine Rim bike trails and almost 30 miles of jeep trails are world-renowned for their combination of challenge and awesome scenery. Over 250,000 visitors enjoy this 9,000-acre recreation area annually. Sand Flats is popular for camping and has 140 first come, first serve campsites and six group campsites. The six group campsites are the only sites that can be reserved; all other camping is first-come, first-serve. National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands passes and Utah State Parks passes are not valid for entry, with the exception of the Federal Recreational Lands Access Pass. The Sand Flats Recreation Area is managed through a unique partnership between Grand County and the Bureau of Land Management, developed in 1995 through the collaborative efforts of Americorps, the Bureau of Land Management, Grand County and the Moab community. Its mission is to protect the natural features of the area from adverse recreational impacts while providing access to sustainable and enjoyable recreational opportunities.