The Slickrock Trail is one of the most famous mountain bike rides in the world and the route that put Moab on the map for two-wheeled travel. It is 10.5 miles of technical riding over bare Navajo sandstone — the "slickrock" is actually extraordinarily grippy under rubber tyres, allowing riders to ascend angles that would be impossible on any other surface.
This is not a beginner trail. The route involves steep ascents and descents, exposure on narrow ridges, and navigation across unmarked rock using painted dots. Beginners should do the 2-mile practice loop first to get a sense of the terrain. Experienced riders should allow three to five hours for the full loop. Start early in the day in summer — the exposed rock surface bakes in the midday sun and there is almost no shade.
The trailhead is about three miles east of downtown Moab on Sand Flats Road (there is a small entry fee for the Sand Flats Recreation Area). The views from the high points — down into the Colorado River canyon and across the La Sal Mountains — are worth the effort even for non-riders.