Campground of the Week: May 16-23 - Sand Flats Recreation Area

This is the view up to the La Sal Mountains from the Sand Flats Recreation Area Campground. I just checked the weather report for Moab this week: clear skies, highs in the mid to upper 80's. Still great temperatures for mountain biking, off-roading, hiking, climbing, you name it. This time of year is ideal in the southeastern corner of Utah. This week's featured campground is Sand Flats Recreation Area, home to quite possibly the most famous mountain bike trail in the world, the Slickrock Trail.

Sand Flats Recreation Area
Combine expansive views toward the snow covered La Sal Mountains with front-door access to some of the most unusual and picturesque off-road terrain in the southwest and you'll have Sand Flats, one of the best campgrounds in the Bureau of Land Management system. Sand Flats is a lively crossroads of recreation and camping and helps make Moab the outdoor adventure epicenter it is. It is the trailhead for two legendary mountain bike trails, Slickrock and Porcupine Rim. Equally popular are the off-road jeep trails that leave from Sand flats and the many side roads around Moab.

Sand Flats is actually a complex of many small campground loops each with a dozen or so campsites. The layout finds a nice balance between campground amenities and preserving the natural setting. Well-distributed sites work in and out of the alcoves and fins of small, protruding red rock outcrops. The sites facing east enjoy gorgeous views of the red rock landscape and snowcapped La Sal Mountains.

Campsites, facilities: Campgrounds are broken down into nine seperate loops (A through H and Juniper) with a total of 124 campsites. There are two group sites: Radio Tower for up to 20 people and E-1 for up to 16 people. Picnic tables and fire grills are provided. Loops A-H have open-air vault pit toilets. There is no drinking water. Garbage disposal is available at the Slickrock Trailhead parking lot. Leashed pets are permitted.

Reservations, fees: Reservations are not accepted for individual sites. Group sites can be reserved by calling 435/259-2100. There is a $10 reservation fee for group sites with a minimum charge of $50 per night. The fee is $10 per individual site for up to 5 people (includes day use fee), and a $2 fee for additional people or vehicles. There is day-use fee for Sand Flats of $5 per vehicle or $2 when entering on bicycle, good for three days. Pay camping fees at the entrance station. The campground is open year round.

Directions: From the intersection of Main and Center Street in Moab, drive east on Center Street to 400 East and turn right. Drive four blocks east on 400 East and turn left onto Mill Creek Drive. Continue straight on Mill Creek Drive as it becomes Sand Flats Road. The entrance to Sand Flats Recreation Area is 3.7 miles from downtown Moab.
GPS Coordinates: N 38 34.567' W 109 31.184

Contact: BLM Moab Field Office, 435/259-2100, www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/moab/recreation/campgrounds/sand_flat_recreation.html.