Fins & Things
Fins & Things is a loop ride off the Sand Flats Road about a mile past Slickrock. Terrain is varied, with rolling fins of Navajo sandstone and rough doubletrack on Kayenta sandstone. The "& Things" includes a bit of sand. Like Slickrock, this is a trail for conditioned, skilled riders with intermediate to advanced technical skills. The loop is 10.5 miles, but there are multiple "bailout" routes that take you back to the Sand Flats Road for a shorter ride. Absolute elevation change is only 400 feet, but the up-and-down riding will clock over 1000 total climbing -- and it feels like more than that.
Fins & Things is primarily a 4x4 trail (as are many of the "bike trails" in Moab). But it's a ride worth doing, especially the north side. There's a fair amount of Jeep traffic on the southern side of the loop. The north side offers a bit more solitude. I recommend riding clockwise, so you cover the best slickrock while you're still fresh. The north side of the loop is more fun, and longer, than the south end. If you need to skip something to save time, ride the north end slickrock, then bail onto Sand Flats Road. This ride requires good sand skills, because many descents drop abruptly into sand pits, and the open trail has patches of sand.

Parking N 38° 34.945 W 109° 109 30.587
Go east (away from Moab)
0.2   L (N) off road
N 38° 34.937 W 109° 30.376
0.75 Keep L (R=shortcut)
1.0   L up wall (straight=continuing trail)
1.8   Keep L (R=shortcut back)
N 38° 35.302 W 109° 30.496
2.5   L (R=Porcupine)
4.2   L (R=Sand Flats Rd)
5.8    R (L=Porcupine 4x4)
N 38° 35.048 W 109° 28.176
6.5    R (straight = road)7.0 R on Sand Flats Rd
7.5    At mile marker 3, L off road
N 38° 34.897 W 109° 28.982
Follow signs through camp area
9.8    Back of Campground E
N 38° 34.806 W 109° 29.969
9.9    Left at campground exit
10.5  Back at parking
Getting there: Head uphill on the Sand Flats Road. (Left off Moab's main drag onto 300 South. Go east on 300 South until the road ends, then turn right. Take the second left, heading east uphill.) Drive to the entry gate and pay your fee. From the entry gate drive 1.4 miles (go past Slickrock). Look for "Trailer Parking" near a tiny camping area on your right. Park here. The trail starts about 100 yards east, further up the Sand Flats Road, on the left side. You'll finish at the back of the larger campground you can see on the right side of the road.

Copyright 2006 Mad Scientist Software Inc. The layout of a trail may change without notice. Use this guide at your own risk.