01 Why this one first
Fins & Things is the better first day because the trail teaches one skill at a time. You climb a smooth sandstone fin, crest it, drop down the far side, and do it again. There is almost no penalty for stopping, and several places to turn around if the group has had enough.
Hell's Revenge asks for the same skills at a higher price: tighter shelves, bigger drops, and obstacles where a bad line has consequences. Do Fins first, then decide whether the second trail fits the same trip.
02 What a fin actually feels like
The fins are parallel ridges of Navajo sandstone. A trail day is a repeating rhythm: drive up the back of a ridge, cross the crest, descend the front, cross a sandy wash, and start the next one. On dry rock, traction is high enough that most of the difficulty is visibility and commitment, not wheelspin.
That changes the moment the rock is wet or sandy. Wet sandstone loses grip fast, and loose sand on a slope is worse than it looks from the driver's seat. If a storm is nearby, save the trail for another day.
03 Ups, crests, and descents
On the climb, use 4LO and a steady throttle. Let the tires find the rock instead of stabbing the pedal; a spinning tire on sandstone can hop sideways. At the crest, slow down before the nose drops. The windshield shows sky and nothing else, so a passenger should walk ahead and confirm the far side is clear.
On the descent, stay in 4LO and let engine braking hold the speed. A light touch on the brake is fine; riding the brakes for a long slope heats them and makes the vehicle less predictable. If the truck starts to slide, straighten the wheels and ease off.
04 Off-camber and turnarounds
Some connecting sections are tilted enough that the body leans. Check that all four tires have rock under them, keep the steering smooth, and avoid stopping on the steepest part. A spotter outside the vehicle is worth more than a second opinion from the passenger seat.
Turning around is a legitimate move. Pick a wide, flat spot with room behind the vehicle, get out and look, and use a spotter. Backing down a fin you just climbed is harder than turning around before it.
05 Optional lines
A few short ledges and steeper fins sit beside the main route. They are optional by design. Walk them first, watch how a built rig approaches, and skip anything you cannot explain to yourself before the front tires leave the ground.
06 Pairing it with Hell's Revenge
Both trails start inside Sand Flats and share one vehicle pass. A common day is Fins in the morning, lunch in town, then Hell's Revenge in the afternoon with a spotter and a clear plan to take the bypasses. Six to eight hours including air-down, stops, and air-up is realistic.
If you only have one day and one driver, Fins & Things alone is a full, satisfying introduction. Adding Hell's Revenge doubles the consequences without doubling the scenery.
07 With passengers, kids, or a camera
There are good overlooks and safe flats for photos, but the crests are not the place to stop. Heat is the other issue: summer afternoons regularly pass 100°F, and a vehicle with no shade gets hot fast. Carry more water than you think you need, and keep kids away from unfenced edges.
08 Before you leave the gate
- 4LO engaged and checked before the trailhead
- Tires at 12–15 psi on stock vehicles; lower only with beadlocks and experience
- Full tank, at least two liters of water per person, and a hat
- Offline map and a plan someone at home knows
- A spotter willing to get out at crests and off-camber sections
Fins & Things is not a stunt trail. It is a place to build the habits that make the harder trails survivable.