The trail crosses barren sandstone throughout, interrupted periodically with patches of sand. You'll climb and descend perplexingly steep hills, skirt ledges and drop-offs, and creep over rippled crossbeds cemented in the lithified dunes. The trailhead is midway at 4,650 feet. Because of the trail's undulating nature, elevation gain is close to 2,000 feet. Midsummer is deathly hot unless you head out at the crack of dawn because midday temperatures typically exceed 100 degrees.
Winter can be enjoyable when the trail is dry.
Be aware of changing weather. Afternoon can bring intense thunderstorms, and when wet, Slickrock lives up to its name. There is no drinking water along the trail. The trailhead parking area has an outhouse. There are outhouses but no water taps.