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Flat Pass Trail
The Flat Pass Trail is an advanced technical ride with
some similarities to the Porcupine Rim Trail. Ridden
south-to-north, there's an initial 1000 feet climb over 4 miles, then 1500 feet of descent
over 6 miles.
Matt Flygare and Mike Engberson pause to look over the
sandstone cliffs
of Flat Pass. The most sheer cliffs of the Moab area are formed of Wingate
Sandstone. Photos and ride review October 20, 2000 by Bruce Argyle.
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| Flat Pass can be ridden as a 10-mile point-to-point with a shuttle, or a 19-mile
loop (with the return on paved road). The 10-mile version is strenuous; the 19-mile loop
is a killer.
Matt (nearest the camera), Dominic
Bria, and Mike climb a section of rock. The guys roll up a ledge of Kayenta
sandstone underlying the domes and fins of multi-colored Navajo Sandstone.
Entrada sandstone is on the skyline. |
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Most riders ride point-to-point, starting at the summit
cattleguard at Flat Pass. From there, it's a quick downhill to a fork in the road, where
you'll turn right. (Trail intersections have signs.) A quick dip through a rather deep
creek, and you're climbing up the rocky ledges.
Mike works his way a series of rock ledges. October 20, 2000. |
For about two miles near the top of the climb, the rock is
rough, with enough advanced technical ledges to practice your stunts. Five miles into the
ride, on the descending side of the mountain, the trail smooths out a little.
Chad tackles a
technical ledge.
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Once you begin the descent, you'll encounter a few
branching roads. Just follow the sign that says "Flat Pass." If you're ever in
doubt, go left. View toward the cliffs
showing a typical trail section. For most of the ride, you'll share the
trail with motorcycles and 4 wheelers. |
The trail drops down into the canyon along Mill Creek.
Once you reach the creek, it's a gradual descent through a beautiful deep sandstone
canyon. This section has spots with deep sand, but every inch is rideable. You'll dip
through the creek three times, then turn to climb up over the ridge to the northern
trailhead.
Bruce cruises along the final section of trail near Mill
Creek.
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Getting there: To ride the trail point-to-point, leave a
shuttle car at the northern trailhead. To get there, travel south from Moab's Center
Street 4 miles. Watch for a gas/convenience store at a "T" intersection on your
left. Turn left (east) here. A couple of blocks later, this road becomes Spanish Trail
Road. Continue until it becomes Canyonlands (for about 100 yards). At the next
intersection, turn right (east) on Westwater. Follow Westwater up to the top of the hill,
where you'll see a trail sign on the right and a parking area on the left. It's two miles
from the highway to the trailhead. |
| To get to the southern trailhead, drive back to
US-191 and go south about 4 miles (you're now 8 miles south of Moab). Watch for a road on
your left for Ken's Lake and La Sal Loop Road. Drive 0.5 miles, then turn right. Keep left
at the next two intersections, following the signs for Ken's Lake. When the paved road
veers left, keep straight (see the road going up the hill?). For point-to-point, drive on
up to the hilltop, and park on the left in front of the cattleguard. For a loop, don't
climb the hill. Instead, turn right into the camping area at the bottom of the wash and
park there. |
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