Hell's Revenge and Fins & Things share a gate, a fee, and the same Navajo sandstone. They ask for different things: one rewards commitment, the other rewards rhythm. These notes cover the obstacles, the tire pressure, the permits, and the bail-outs — so the first trip is a decision, not a surprise.
Both start inside Sand Flats. Both end with red dust in the floor mats.
The famous one. Steep climbs, off-camber shelves, V-notches, and the Hell's Gate slot. Every hard line has a bypass, but the main route is not a place to learn what your truck can do.
Rolling sandstone fins, short climbs, and long views. The pace is steady rather than technical, which makes it the better first trail for a new 4x4 driver or a rented Jeep with low-range.
| At a glance | Hell's Revenge | Fins & Things |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 6.5 miles | 9.3 miles |
| Time | 2.5–4 hours | 3–4 hours |
| Difficulty | 6/10, hard | 4/10, moderate |
| Vehicle | 4LO, AT tires, recovery points | High-clearance 4x4, 4LO advised |
| Best for | Groups with a spotter and a built rig | First slickrock day, rented Jeeps |
| Fee | One Sand Flats vehicle pass covers both trails | |
Difficulty uses the local 1–10 scale; clubs sometimes differ by a point. Times assume steady driving and a few photo stops.
Why 18–20 PSI on stock tires, how to air down, and what to bring for a first Sand Flats day.
Vehicle passes, the self-serve envelope box, spring and fall windows, and summer heat.
The route that teaches the rock without putting you in a slot canyon on day one.
The usual mistake is trying to squeeze both trails around a late start. From Moab, allow 15 minutes to the entrance, 20–30 minutes to air down and pay, and then a full morning or afternoon per trail. A relaxed version looks like this:
An independent guide to two trails, written from public route notes, Sand Flats and Grand County rules, and the kind of mistakes that show up in every first-trip report. No guiding, no rentals, no affiliate gear links. The ads on the homepage pay for hosting and have no say in the route advice.
A stock high-clearance 4x4 with a real 4LO can complete the main trail if you take every bypass. It is not a first off-road trip, and all-season highway tires are a bad idea.
No. Both trails start inside Sand Flats Recreation Area, so one private-vehicle pass covers both for the length of the pass — currently a 7-day pass for $10.
Yes, if you start early and keep Hell's Revenge for the afternoon. Six to eight hours including air-down, lunch, and stops is realistic.
Postpone. Wet Navajo sandstone loses grip quickly, and thunderstorms bring flash-flood risk in the washes.