Handlebars
March 26th, 2008, 11:38
This is THE classic Moab slickrock trail. Soon after starting the trail you disappear into a bewildering landscape of domes and fins unlike anywhere else on earth. Much of the time you are driving up, down and sideways at gut wrenching angles made possible by the incredible traction provided by the sandstone trail surface. The trail is generally easy to follow because there are black tire marks from all of the traffic on this very popular route, there are also painted flames marking the way.
You will need to pay a small fee to access this trail as it is part of the Sand Flats Recreation Area (http://www.grandcountyutah.net/sandflats.htm). Your funds go to maintaining the trails and camping areas. Be aware that the land where Lion's Back and Dump Bump are located has been sold and is slated for development, closing those obstacles forever. Look for posts marking the way out of the trail after Tipover Challenge as this travels around the private land and may change in the future.
Here is a map of the trail with the waypoints from Charles Wells' Guide to Moab, UT Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails, Second Edition (http://www.funtreks.com/index.php?page=book_3) labeled as 32##. The .gpx file also includes the waypoints and a track.
http://www.fototime.com/DD61EFF1F50C984/orig.gif
Some photos from Hell's Revenge. I apologize for showing Toyotas on a Cherokee forum but this was during that week of spectacular rainstorms in October of '06 that I don't expect to see again for a long time. Also take note that a Cherokee is leading the group.
http://www.fototime.com/68E4FE31FEBB690/orig.jpg
Up, down, left, right. You had better keep your eye on where you are going here!
http://www.fototime.com/5FC5270B7DBFF9C/orig.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/363E41E688D6443/orig.jpg
Lake forming at the Colorado River Overlook/Hell's Gate parking area
http://www.fototime.com/5BEC8EA4DFBCB32/orig.jpg
View across the river to Arches National Park
http://www.fototime.com/50A0D9E36CBD14C/orig.jpg
Click on this photo for a video of a really nice pass up Hell's Gate:
http://www.fototime.com/21BBD403A516E74/orig.jpg (http://www.fototime.com/CD4723533183350/conv.wmv)
The Black Hole featured many cascades today!
http://www.fototime.com/15CA80978D3AA83/orig.jpg
The Car Wash is the easiest of 3 hot tubs on this trail
http://www.fototime.com/CEAD56A09D4AA66/orig.jpg
Lots of nice slickrock climbs, usually there isn't a waterfall sharing the trail with you.
http://www.fototime.com/FABD7B3F5449104/orig.jpg
The correct way to do Tipover Challenge:
http://www.fototime.com/0B8FD731570F965/orig.jpg
This is the wrong way to do Tipover Challenge:
http://www.fototime.com/A455617A92625B7/orig.jpg
You will need to pay a small fee to access this trail as it is part of the Sand Flats Recreation Area (http://www.grandcountyutah.net/sandflats.htm). Your funds go to maintaining the trails and camping areas. Be aware that the land where Lion's Back and Dump Bump are located has been sold and is slated for development, closing those obstacles forever. Look for posts marking the way out of the trail after Tipover Challenge as this travels around the private land and may change in the future.
Here is a map of the trail with the waypoints from Charles Wells' Guide to Moab, UT Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails, Second Edition (http://www.funtreks.com/index.php?page=book_3) labeled as 32##. The .gpx file also includes the waypoints and a track.
http://www.fototime.com/DD61EFF1F50C984/orig.gif
Some photos from Hell's Revenge. I apologize for showing Toyotas on a Cherokee forum but this was during that week of spectacular rainstorms in October of '06 that I don't expect to see again for a long time. Also take note that a Cherokee is leading the group.
http://www.fototime.com/68E4FE31FEBB690/orig.jpg
Up, down, left, right. You had better keep your eye on where you are going here!
http://www.fototime.com/5FC5270B7DBFF9C/orig.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/363E41E688D6443/orig.jpg
Lake forming at the Colorado River Overlook/Hell's Gate parking area
http://www.fototime.com/5BEC8EA4DFBCB32/orig.jpg
View across the river to Arches National Park
http://www.fototime.com/50A0D9E36CBD14C/orig.jpg
Click on this photo for a video of a really nice pass up Hell's Gate:
http://www.fototime.com/21BBD403A516E74/orig.jpg (http://www.fototime.com/CD4723533183350/conv.wmv)
The Black Hole featured many cascades today!
http://www.fototime.com/15CA80978D3AA83/orig.jpg
The Car Wash is the easiest of 3 hot tubs on this trail
http://www.fototime.com/CEAD56A09D4AA66/orig.jpg
Lots of nice slickrock climbs, usually there isn't a waterfall sharing the trail with you.
http://www.fototime.com/FABD7B3F5449104/orig.jpg
The correct way to do Tipover Challenge:
http://www.fototime.com/0B8FD731570F965/orig.jpg
This is the wrong way to do Tipover Challenge:
http://www.fototime.com/A455617A92625B7/orig.jpg