Sand Flats Recreation Area II | Saturday & Sunday, December 27-28, 2025
Well, this is it- my final Trip Report of 2025! For this final weekend of the year I returned to the landscape surrounding Moab so I could spend my time hiking and exploring Grandstaff Canyon. While I vaguely recall hiking the popular trail from the mouth of Grandstaff Canyon to Morning Glory Bridge way back in 2010 with my friend Jackson when the canyon was known by a more racially insensitive name, for some reason I do not have any photos or even a Trip Report from that day, which is very unusual for me, so I planned to re-hike that trail early on Sunday morning to refresh my memory and take a few photos along the way. Since I would be doing that on Sunday I figured that it would be interesting to spend Saturday exploring other parts of Grandstaff Canyon so I could get a better overview of the area, and that’s what I set out to do when I left home bright and early on Saturday morning and made my way over to the Sand Flats Recreation Area.
My first destination on Saturday morning was to search for an old cattle trail that follows a small side canyon into Grandstaff Canyon, which found me following a short segment of the Fins and Things Trail at dawn.
It wasn’t long until I reached an overlook of Grandstaff Canyon and found the beginning of the trail down into the canyon. Unfortunately, it was cloudy and overcast this morning and would stay that way for almost the entire day.
Hiking down the short side canyon into Grandstaff Canyon.
Soon I was following the ledges above Grandstaff Canyon and could hear and see the creek flowing down below.
The trail followed a ledge above the canyon for most of the way which made the hiking easy.
As soon as I reached the bottom of the canyon I continued downstream a short distance until I encountered a well-used trail coming up the canyon, then I turned around and headed back up. I could have easily continued down to Morning Glory Bridge, but I was saving that for Sunday morning.
When I returned to the top I followed the Morning Glory Bridge Trail to see if I could get a view of the arch from above.
I followed these fins into the Medieval Chamber, but was stopped by a drop that would have required some climbing skills to get back up, so I hiked back up and around the fins to see if I could find a different viewpoint.
I found a lot of nice views from the rim of Grandstaff Canyon, but it was tough finding a place where I could see the entire Morning Glory Bridge.
Finally, I found this spot that offered me a view from above the bridge.
After grabbing a late breakfast in town and resting my legs for a little while, I returned to the Sand Flats Recreation Area so I could hike the Above Abyss Trail, which is an optional loop off of the popular Slickrock Bike Trail that roughly follows the western rim of Abyss Canyon- a fork of the main Grandstaff Canyon.
I found myself following a segment of the Hell’s Revenge Trail at the beginning of the hike.
When I reached the overlook at the head of Abyss Canyon I switched over to the Slickrock Trail.
Then I left the main trail and followed the little white dots of the Above Abyss Trail.
There were some nice views over the Grandstaff Canyon Wilderness Study Area, although it was still very cloudy out.
Shrimp Rock came into view as I neared the end of the Above Abyss Loop, and there was even some blue sky showing off to the west.
I made one final stop at the Icebox Canyon Overlook before following the Slickrock Trail back to the trailhead.
Surprisingly, when I was about a mile short of reaching the trailhead the sun actually came out and lit up the surrounding sea of slickrock! I took advantage of the conditions as best as I could…
After returning to the trailhead I drove over to an overlook where I could watch the sunset over the fins. The La Sal Mountains were still hidden behind the clouds.
There was some great color in the sky after the sun dropped below the horizon. It was a great way to finish off the day!
After the light was gone I returned to town for dinner and then spent the rest of the evening reading at my campsite in Sand Flats. Then on Sunday morning I got another early start and began hiking up Grandstaff Canyon when there was just barely enough light to see without having to use my headlamp.
I made it to Morning Glory Bridge shortly after sunrise and enjoyed the spot by myself for quite a while.
After taking in the views below the arch for a while I left before anyone else arrived and continued up the canyon a short distance.
Grandstaff Canyon View
I continued up the canyon to the point I had come down the previous morning and then turned around.
It was a lovely morning in Grandstaff Canyon.
I followed what looked like an old road up into Abyss Canyon and Echo Canyon on the way back.
Abyss Canyon Pool
Abyss Canyon Alcove
I always love a nice set of streaks on the canyon walls.
I started to encounter quite a few more people in lower Grandstaff Canyon as I neared the trailhead and was glad to be on my way out.
I imagine your get weary of your subscribers raving about your images, but I just have to heap a few more accolades on your shoulders. Your photos, rain and shine and in between, dredge up memories of the quiet, the thunder, and the aroma of freshly washed juniper. I especially appreciated views from above the formerly insensitively named canyon, as I’ve always wanted to have that perspective.
Thank you Judy! I’m glad you enjoy looking at my photos!