If you drive into the park from the Shafer Trail, you can avoid the entrance station altogether. While we never bottomed out, one of us had to get out on several occasions to scout the road ahead for the best path. I do have to admit the trail going down was steep, and the switchbacks were tight, getting down over the mountain into the bottom. All the same, I did see some all wheel drive cars on the trail doing just fine. We were overcome with fear for the entire two hours it took (13 miles, sharp switchbacks, going 8/9 mph) and our mortality became real. I wouldnt do it again, nor recommend, but if youre a thrill seeker who likes living on the edge (literally) then youll love it! Shafer Trail 237 Reviews #7 of 46 things to do in Canyonlands National Park Outdoor Activities, Nature & Parks, Hiking Trails Canyonlands National Park, UT Save Canyonlands National Park Half-Day Tour from Moab 651 Book in advance from $189.39 per adult Check availability View full product details retired111 Gratis, Ohio 38 104 Never again! We have everything you need to know below. Today, the Shafer Trail is a challenging, unpaved backcountry road for recreational users seeking the experience of a lifetime Did it in a rented Ford Taurus with 5.1" of ground clearance, so it is doable in a 2 wheel drive sedan if you have some testicular fortitude, are a good driver who knows where your tires are/understands how to approach rocks without bottoming out, and of course do not care about wear and tear on the vehicle. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. We never would have made it out without the help of a plant worker!! 94% of travelers recommend this experience. The Shafer Trail in Moab, Utah is regarded as one of the most dangerous roads in America. It's rocky, but nothing technical-- just be sure to have high clearance for Potash and know if the road is wet or muddy at all from rain. At Mile 17, the road becomes Shafer Basin road. Guard rails? Note: If you do not turn left, you will begin the drive the White Rim Road. View from Shafer Canyon Overlook. Truth be told, I"d do both again knowing now what I didnt' know then when we started out. You can also learn more about the national parks (and get the full list) in our Guide to the US National Parks. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I suggest come clearance on your vehicle for some parts. Backcountry driving conditions can change rapidly after rain or snow. Now we started at the top. Shafer Canyon Road starts one mile north of the Canyonlands Visitor Center on Island in the Sky Road. Have you seen photos of the Shafer Canyon switchbacks and said to yourself, wow, Id really love to drive on that road? Stunning trip - adequate challenge for a dirt road beginner. If you are going down, you can take a peak ahead and see another vehicle coming and pull over in one of the many convenient pull-overs. The sheer cliffs are exciting but not unsafe. We never needed to put our vehicle in 4WD for these two roads. Shafer Trail is an awesome drive. Tip 3: Keep in mind that Canyonlands National Park is not as popular as Arches National Park. ATVs and UTVs are permitted on Potash Road but they are not allowed on National Park Service lands, so you cannot drive one of these vehicles on Shafer Canyon Road. Copyright All Rights Reserved. It was filmed right here, next to the Colorado River, just outside of Dead Horse Point State Park. for the Shafer Switchbacks? Welcome to CS Ginger! Die Route wird grundstzlich als moderat eingestuft und kann zumeist in 8 Std 44 Min bewltigt werden. You can also get updated conditions and advice by speaking to a park ranger in the visitor center. Thanks for this AMAZING account that basically leaves nothing unclear! As you follow the Shafer Basin Road past the Potash Ponds, the road will join up with Forest Road 142, which is the Shafer Trail. Geologically, this is the layer of rock that sits right below . Below is a link for the full details on how to drive the White Rim Road in one day. The Shafer Trail Road is a great trail for all skill levels and families. Thats the best view, from the drivers side. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. The trail was later widened when prospectors began mining the area for uranium. Seriously, we're talking about 180 degree switchbacks hanging off the ledge of the canyon, complete with hairpin turns, starting from probably a mile high. We attempted it a few hours after it had rained and ended up driving through over a foot of water and some deep mud!! We got into the bottom and the road was like a hi-way, wide, gravel road. Travel 38.3K subscribers Join Subscribe 2.7K 234K views 4 years ago CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK In this segment of. Get an early start, arriving in Canyonlands at or just after sunrise. ATVs, OHVs, or UTVs are not permitted inside the park. ! Total Distance: 39 miles Length of Time: 2 hours. Originally built to transport ore, you should not attempt to travel this road in severe conditions. From here the Shafer Canyon Road, also known as the Shafer Trail, begins to climb gradually, offering exceptional views over the entire valley. Awesome! Buckle up! I am a 50+ female from the flatlands!We drove down from the top in a 4WD Toyota Forerunner. Boaks was injured in a minor road traffic crash while getting off a bus. However, if you plan to include the White Rim Road, you must have a permit to drive the White Rim Road. Shafer Trail, Canyonlands National Park: Address, Phone Number, Shafer Trail Reviews: 4.5/5. My truck is a 2001 Dodge 2500 4whell drive. The Shafer Trail is safe but can become unsafe if driven during times of inclement weather. After watching the videos she said no way. What changed her mind was when we saw the trail from the Shafer Canyon overlook in Canyonlands. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Its a very cool drive!! Most AWD SUVs will do just fine on this road, as long as it is not wet or snow-covered. I'd recommend it for at least the semi-experienced 4 wheeler and probably between the months of April-October if you don't want to deal with winter weather/slick conditions. and then start the descent down the switchbacks. Took us 1h45 from Canyonlands back to Moab with a couple of stops for pictures. Here you can see dinosaur tracks and more petroglyphs. But be careful not to go after any rain!! It is also a good idea to check the weather before starting. Few obstacles. However, the mines produced very little uranium and were soon abandoned. Forgettaboutit. For the first 2.5 miles, you drive just below the rim. fun route! You will travel this road for about 2.5 miles until you start into the Shafer Switchbacks. 17 miles of this road is unpaved. Even though you just did it, it is still somehow unbelievable that you just drove down that seemingly unsurmountable canyon wall. You will run into the Potash Road and the White Rim Road intersection at mile 5.2 if you set your odometer once you leave the pavement if starting in Canyonlands National Park. Both the permit and the high-clearance 4WD vehicle are enforced by the national park service. If you click the star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Visit our park website for more information on road conditions and safe driving. I would not want to drive my own vehicle on this road and put this kind of wear and tear on it. Racetrack Road, Death Valley National Park. I don't think I've ever been so scared in my life. Were good . This route starts in Canyonlands and ends in Moab. With one day, you can drive Shafer Canyon Road, How to Drive the White Rim Road: Map, Photos & Driving Tips, White Rim Road: Detailed Guide & Planning Checklist, How to Drive the White Rim Road in One Day, Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in one day, Hiking the Gooseberry Trail in Canyonlands National Park, Best Things to do in Island in the Sky: Canyonlands National Park. Very good trail. Theres one question I have: Which date did you take the pictures? You can either start by entering through Canyonlands National Park, or you can start by taking the Potash Road in Moab, Utah. If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you will love driving Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road. Underpinning the description with photos at frequent intervals of the drive provides a clear insight into road conditions, which is always very helpful at least I am of the sort who want to see the road surface before venturing out. +8M*= g3vM(ljlu* Fantastic and fun and completely doable. The trail had recently opened and still had snow in some locations which made for some scary hair pin turns. The hike to Corona Arch is 2.5 miles round trip and gets great reviews. Cars driving uphill have the right of way. Nearby you can also hike through Little Wild Horse slot canyon. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. The most difficult is the Shafer Trail and Mineral Bottom Road switchbacks, Murphy Hogback, Hardscrabble Hill, and the Lathrop Canyon Road - an optional spur road. Or driving the whole road up to Moab ? In the corner of the 279 is a parking spot, you can hike to the Corona Arch Trailhead!! When we did this, the weather was very dry, so as far as the dirtiest parts, the entire route from Shafer Canyon Road through Potash Road was about the same. If you do the whole trail, which means you travel the Potash Road to Shafer Trail into the Canyonlands National Park or vis versa, you will see great Indian petroglyphs, Jug Arch, and the Poison Mesa Spider area. If you see an approaching car, pull over and allow them to pass. Drive the Shafer Trail -Canyonlands Island in the Sky to Moab- The West is Big! It's a trail, not a road and has no guardrails. So much fun!! Started off at Canyonlands and went down into the valley and out Potash Road to Moab. At this point, you will start to be directly beneath the Dead Horse Point State Park. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. We recommend booking Shafer Trail tours ahead of time to secure your spot. I would NOT do this in a car. 4x4 should be required for non experienced drivers. Many backcountry roads in the Moab area used for recreation today were improved by the Atomic Energy Commission. I've stood over Niagara Falls, right on the edge, done the Gondolla up and down Jasper Mountain, heights hadn't been a problem before this "ride". There are several viewpoints along this part of the road for jaw-dropping views. At Mile 8, you will arrive at the Gooseneck Overlook on the Shafer Trail. Pass the Xanax and close your eyes. The view back up Shafer Canyon and the rim of the Island in the Sky mesa. The best times to visit this trail are March through November. For more information, please see, No conditions reported in the past 7 days. Damaged soils are prone to erosion and invasive species. It may take longer depending on how frequently you stop for photos. Very few "shoulder" areas if 2 cars are trying to pass each other. Once we made it to the bottom of the canyon alive we totally enjoyed the trail. We have 4X4 truck camper, 12'6" tall,22ft long, 15,000lbs. For more information on driving the Shafer Trail, check out the Scenic Drives section under Things to Do. Here is the Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road driving route in detail. These petroglyphs are about 5 miles down the Potash Road. Seatbelts are required on all roads. I recommend a trip to Dead Horse State Park and you will be able to see Potash road from the Colorado River to the evaporation pools from 2000 ft up. In talking with my husband he said he wouldn't do it and we were driving a full size Yukon Denali. Shafer Canyon Road as it runs just under the rim. Shafer Trail 237 Reviews #7 of 46 things to do in Canyonlands National Park Outdoor Activities, Nature & Parks, Hiking Trails Canyonlands National Park, UT Save Canyonlands National Park Half-Day Tour from Moab 653 Book in advance from $189.39 per adult Check availability View full product details xodar Pace, Florida 58 87 Our Jeep. Saw some bighorn sheep as we crossed through private property. With one day, you can drive Shafer Canyon Road, a portion of the White Rim Road, and then return to Moab via Potash Road. It is also quite wide, at least compared to the White Rim Road. Going left will continue on the Shafer Trail, and going straight will put you onto the White Rim Road. Definitely do not do without 4WD if it is wet/muddy though. Many other trails at Island in the Sky also bear names for the families who worked them. I was looking at a map and it called that road ORV trail, which made me nervous thinking it was only for side by sides. You will drive down Potash Road until it turns into Forest Road 142, which is the Shafer Trail. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Tripadvisor gives a Travelers Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor. Have fun driving Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road. Dont forget to check out the White Rim area while you are there. During inclement weather, the road can become impassable. A road that humbles the wildest of egos. Most definitely. You will pass below Dead Horse Point. The intersection is very easy to see. We were definitely unprepared and did not know what we were getting into. this was at 2:30pm. We wanted to do some 4-wheeling and were told about this trail at the visitor's center so we decided to give it a try. Here is a photo looking up at the point. Save a lunch break for Thelma & Louise Point. I personally do not think a 4WD is necessary, but high clearance is definitely a must to avoid damaging your vehicle. Photos (1,008) Directions. Next was to convince my wife. Canyonlands can especially get busy once Arches closes. The switchbacks are a total of only about 1 mile long. Its not really my thing to be jostled around but the views made it worth it. If theres only 2 of you and the passenger wants to video, my suggestion would be to sit behind the driver for the first 1/2. Followed that up the next day with a hike to Delicate Arch, where the last 200 feet is on the edge of a cliff! The White Rim Road was constructed in the 1950's by the Atomic Energy Commission to gain access to the uranium deposits in this area. We are an every day family prioritizing experiences and memories. For this drive, we had a Jeep Rubicon that we rented from Jeep Canyonlands Rentals in Moab. Enjoy the views. Turn right onto the gravel road. Beautiful drive in a stock Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport 4X4. Below you will see a Google Map of the Shafer Trail. 97% of travelers recommend this experience. My friend and I had actually gone down this trail in June of 2008 (we were at Canyonlands again in June 2011). Posion Spider, Golden Spike, and Gold Bar Rim OHV Trail, Cliffhanger Jeep Trail to Pothole Trail (Pothole Arch), Jackson to Amasa Back and Cliffhanger Trail, Long Canyon, Gold Bar Rim and Mag 7 MTB Loop. As you follow that trail, it will enter into the Canyonlands National Park, and you will end in the Island of the Sky District in Canyonlands, just a short distance inside the park from the entrance station. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Take the first left after passing the Island in the Sky entrance station. If you arent comfortable driving on the Shafer Trail, you can take a Moab Jeep tour which will take you on the nearby White Rim Road. There are portions of the route where one wrong may be disastrous, and tricky sections requiring three-point turns. Learn more about the White Rim Road in these three posts: Before you go, check road conditions on the National Park Service website. The road down the side of the canyon was plenty wide enough and there are multiple areas to pull aside along the way down, even with the switchbacks. Insane!!!!! Shafer Canyon Road is a well-maintained gravel road. You have to have a permit to travel on White Rim Road. It felt like we were in an Escher paining because you could not see the road ahead and it looked like we were driving into the canyon wall and would get stuck and just then the switchback would appear and we could see our way up and this went on for what seemed like 2 hours but I'm sure it took only half that time. I asked my wife why she was looking over the edge if she was so scared why not just close your eyes but she said she wanted to face her fear. Was not as scary as I thought it would be. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Went back to Moab via Potash Rd. Tony Boeckel: 1892 1924 31 years American baseball player car San Diego, California Cris Bolado: 1969 2017 47 years Filipino basketball player motorcycle Phnom Penh . The first highlighted stop is the roadside petroglyphs. If you take your RZR down Potash Road, you can go on the trail until you arrive at a very clearly marked sign that says you are entering the Canyonlands National Park and OHVs are not allowed. I recommend visiting the Shafer Canyon Overlook before starting your drive. The scenery is absolutely beautiful. Very cool trail. Get the full details on how to do this in our One Day Canyonlands and Arches Itinerary. Just make sure you give yourself at least an hour and a half of daylight, to get back onto paved road before sunset.
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