Hell’s Revenge — Moab’s Slickrock Icon
- Jens Brown
- Oct 20
- 4 min read
A Morning in Moab
Day 5 of the Utah Backcountry Discovery Route started quietly in Moab. The town was calm, the air cool, and the first light of sunrise turned the cliffs above Main Street into deep red silhouettes.
After days of remote travel, the morning had a rhythm — fuel up, check gear, grab coffee, and roll out. Just a few blocks east of town, pavement gave way to sandstone at the entrance to Sand Flats Recreation Area, home to one of the most famous trails in the off-road world: Hell’s Revenge.
Before we even hit the trail, the landscape changed — slickrock domes, orange fins, and open sky. It was one of those rare spots where the wild and the town meet in a single frame.
🎥 You can watch the full Day 5 episode here:
The Start of Hell’s Revenge
The trail didn’t ease us in. The first sandstone fin rose straight from the staging area — steep, smooth, and intimidating from below.
But once the tires touched rock, the grip was immediate. The traction on slickrock is unreal — coarse like sandpaper, enough to crawl up angles that would seem impossible on dirt.
This was the first real taste of Hell’s Revenge, and it lived up to its name.
Slickrock is ancient sand turned to stone, a frozen landscape shaped by time. Early travelers called it “slick” because horseshoes and wagon wheels would slide across it. Modern tires, though, stick like glue. It’s the perfect example of how geology and machinery interact — one evolving to challenge, the other to conquer.
Across the Domes and Ridges
Once we reached the top, the trail unfolded like a rollercoaster. Up one fin, down the next. The movement felt constant, like driving over the spine of a giant wave.
Hell’s Revenge has a reputation — and it’s earned. The famous names came quickly: Hell’s Gate, Mickey’s Hot Tub, The Escalator, Tip Over Challenge. These are the obstacles people talk about in every Moab story, the places where skill, nerve, and traction all come together.
Our rigs were loaded for the full BDR — roof tents, recovery gear, fuel, water. A few were top-heavy, so we skipped the big obstacles this time and stayed on the main line. Even without the extreme climbs, the trail demanded focus. Every ledge, every descent, every lean had to be managed carefully.
From the driver’s seat, it was pure concentration — slow throttle, steady hands, and the occasional reminder that gravity doesn’t take breaks.
Views That Defined Moab
At the summits, the views stretched across the Colorado River and the La Sal Mountains. From above, Hell’s Revenge looked like a labyrinth etched into stone — twin tire tracks weaving across waves of sandstone. It’s a place that doesn’t seem real until you’re in it.
The scale of Moab never failed to surprise us. Even after days of canyons, mesas, and desert plateaus, this landscape felt alive — as if every ridge was shifting just slightly under the weight of time.
The Exit: A Surprise Finish
The exit was longer and tougher than the map suggested — narrow, off-camber sections with sharp descents and hidden ledges. What looked simple on paper turned into a patient, technical crawl.
Each rig moved carefully, one by one, the line winding through the last of the slickrock before finally leveling out near the trailhead. It was slower than we expected, but the kind of slow that’s earned — the kind where every tire placement matters.
By the time we hit the final stretch, everyone had that same quiet satisfaction. It was a good drive — the kind that leaves you both exhausted and grateful.
It was tempting to stay — to explore the side trails, overlooks, and obstacles we’d skipped. But the BDR doesn’t wait. There were still miles to cover, and the route east would take us into new terrain.
Hell’s Revenge is one of those places that stays with you. It’s not just the technical driving — it’s the sense of history under your tires, the views over the canyon, and the realization that this kind of terrain exists just minutes from town.
We’ll be back. Next time, with more time to spare.
Trail Resources
📍 Sand Flats Recreation Area – sandflats.org
📍 Utah Backcountry Discovery Route – Official Site
About the Utah BDR Series
This post is part of Hardline HQ’s multi-day journey across the Utah Backcountry Discovery Route — from the mesas of Monument Valley to the alpine passes of the La Sals and Book Cliffs.
Each article captures the story behind the drive, but the full experience lives on video.👉 Watch the entire Utah BDR series on YouTube: Hardline HQ Channel
Comments