slickrock
Smooth canyon stone
Slickrock is bare, smooth rock, especially the sandstone formations found across the American Southwest.
Despite the name, slickrock isn't slippery—early explorers found it treacherous for horses, but modern hikers and mountain bikers prize its grippy surface.
We spent the afternoon hiking across miles of slickrock in Moab.
Old Testament eastern territory
- CanyonlandsProtected Utah desert terrain
- desertTo leave behind completely
- canyonDeep river-cut gorge
- mesaFlat-topped steep-sided elevation
butte · plateau · high desert · dry wash · petroglyphs · scrambling · exposure · ledge
Cemented grain sediment
- erosionGradual wearing away
- sedimentaryFormed from deposited material
- strataParallel geological layers
- cross-beddingAngled layers within strata
deposition · plateau · aeolian · iron oxide · weathering · mineralization · formation · outcrop
Without roughness or difficulty
- polishedSmooth, refined, accomplished
- grippyHaving strong traction
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- tractionAdhesive friction enabling movement
weathered · sun-baked · undulating · curved · bare · exposed · reddish · orange
Moab
Old Testament eastern territory
- CanyonlandsProtected Utah desert terrain
- desertTo leave behind completely
- canyonDeep river-cut gorge
mesa · butte · plateau · high desert · dry wash · petroglyphs · scrambling · exposure · ledge · fins
sandstone
Cemented grain sediment
- erosionGradual wearing away
- sedimentaryFormed from deposited material
- strataParallel geological layers
cross-bedding · deposition · plateau · aeolian · iron oxide · weathering · mineralization · formation · outcrop · Jurassic
smooth
Without roughness or difficulty
- polishedSmooth, refined, accomplished
- grippyHaving strong traction
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
traction · weathered · sun-baked · undulating · curved · bare · exposed · reddish · orange · banded
mountain biking
Off-road cycling activity
off-road · traction · tire grip · rubber · loop · switchback · steep · climbing · descending · adventure
- Red Rock Countryred sand, hoodoos, arches, slot canyons, mesas
- sandstone landformsarch, butte, canyon wall, cliff, fin
- Utah DesertMoab, Canyonlands, hoodoos, mesas, buttes
- Utah Canyonlandsslot canyons, hoodoos, sandstone cliffs, Grand Staircase, mesas
- Four CornersFour Corners, Colorado Plateau, Monument Valley, Canyonlands, Navajo Nation
- rock archesnatural arch, natural bridge, sandstone arch, sea arch, span
slickrockforest floor
Ground beneath trees
woodland trail · alpine meadow · loam · jungle terrain · swampland
slickrockice
Water's solid form
black ice · mud · slippery surface · loose sand · wet clay
rock, rocket, rocky, sleek, slick, rocks, rocking, bedrock, rocked