Designated route network (desert) · Southeast Utah (Grand County)
Moab area ATV riding & Sand Flats
BLM Moab Field Office designated routes, Sand Flats Recreation Area and the Moab motorized travel map.
Quick answer
Moab is mostly a designated-route area with strict rules. Sand Flats is the best-documented piece.
Sources disagree two or more sources give different figures; both are shownNot verified not published on the pages we read, or only in a secondary source
Key facts
| Location & counties | Grand County; BLM Moab Field Office lands around Moab. Motorized travel is limited to designated routes. ATVs (quads) are not allowed in Arches or Canyonlands National Parks. [1, 2] |
|---|---|
| Managing agency | BLM Moab Field Office; Grand County and BLM jointly manage Sand Flats Recreation Area. [3, 4] |
| Total miles | Moab Field Office route mileage is not summarized on the pages we read. Sand Flats: almost 30 miles of 4x4 trails in a 9,000-acre area (2023 guide). [3]Not verified |
| Loops & main segments | Fins & Things 4x4 Trail is one-way counterclockwise; the first section south of Sand Flats Road is day-use only and "not recommended for ATVs" (ATV riders pick it up 3.7 miles in). Hell's Revenge: guide marks "Trail not recommended for ATVs". The Slickrock Bike Trail is closed to all four-wheeled vehicles. [3] |
| Trailheads & access towns | Moab; Sand Flats Road entrance station. Sand Flats camping: 140 campsites in nine campgrounds, designated sites only, first-come first-served, 14 days in 30. [3] |
| Elevation | Not published on the pages we read. [3]Not verified |
| Season | Not published on the pages we read. [3]Not verified |
| Width limits | Not published on the pages we read. [3]Not verified |
| Vehicle restrictions | Designated roads and trails only; no open play areas inside Sand Flats; off-route travel is a Class A misdemeanor. Speed limits 25 mph on the Sand Flats road, 15 mph on trails, 5 mph in campgrounds. Street-legal ATVs may not drive on roads posted over 50 mph (for example Hwy 191 past Arches). [3, 2, 1] |
| Permits & registration | Utah OHV rules apply (see Utah rules). Tourism page says a non-resident permit costs $30 for a year; the Utah agency page says $35 for 12 months and lists the 2026 street-legal change, so we use the agency figure. Sand Flats user fee required; fee amount not verified. [1, 5, 3]Sources disagree |
| Fuel & lodging towns | Moab is the service town; Sand Flats campgrounds bring their own water. Individual stations not verified. [3]Not verified |
| Difficulty | The guide warns that trails like Hell's Revenge, Fins & Things and Porcupine Rim are not suitable places to learn; excellent driving skills are required. [3] |
Highlights
- Slickrock and red-rock desert; ride rented machines or hire a guide. [1]
Hazards
- Trails not recommended for ATVs at Sand Flats; follow the guide's warnings. [3]
- Report violations to Grand County (435-259-8115). [2]
Maps and official pages
- BLM Moab motorized travel map 2023 (PDF)
- BLM Moab designated motorcycle/ATV routes (PDF)
- Sand Flats visitor guide (2023, PDF)
- Grand County OHV information
Always download the current MVUM or agency map; the Utah OHV maps page lists statewide map sources. Utah rules summary: Utah OHV rules. We did not build a route map: we have no sourced trail coordinates.
Machines and loads
Narrow, light machines suit designated desert routes; many Sand Flats trails are not recommended for ATVs at all.
| Class in our database | Models | Front rack rating (lb) | Rear rack rating (lb) | Towing rating (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry (<500cc) | 9 | 66-90 lb | 133-180 lb | 802-1350 lb |
| Mid (500-649cc) | 15 | 75-121 lb | 100-242 lb | 661-1830 lb |
| Mid-large (650-899cc) | 14 | 88-120 lb | 176-240 lb | 848-1830 lb |
| Big bore (900cc+) | 10 | 120-200 lb | 240-300 lb | 1500-1830 lb |
| 2-up touring | 23 | 44-121 lb | 77-242 lb | 772-1830 lb |
Ranges across the models in our database for each class; blank cells in a source are skipped, and some front ratings are not published. Your own machine's rating is on its model page and in the owner's manual and is the number that counts.
See the model database and how to choose. Our database lists overall width where we could find it (see the Width column; blank means unknown). A quad of 50 in or less fits the 50-inch trails. Check your owner's manual against the width limits above, and remember that wide tires, spacers and cargo count toward width.
Gear for this trip
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- Desert and sand loadout
- Overnight ATV camp loadout
- Trailside recovery and repairs
- Utah dispersed camping rules
- Recovery checklist, camping checklist, safety checklist
- Recovery gear roundup, satellite messengers & GPS
What we could not verify
- Per-route ATV mileage.
- Fees.
- Elevation, season, width limits.
Sources
- Discover Moab (Grand County tourism): ATV & UTV riding
- Grand County: Off-Highway Vehicle information
- Sand Flats Recreation Area visitor guide (Grand County/BLM, 2023 edition; PDF)
- BLM Moab Field Office: motorized travel map 2023 (PDF)
- Utah Outdoor Recreation: Non-resident OHV permits
Last verified Oct 27, 2026 (America/Denver). Structured data: trails.json, trails.csv.
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