+8M*= g3vM(ljlu* It begins in Canyonlands and can be driven all the way through to Potash Road leading you back in the town of Moab. 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. Then, spend the rest of the day visiting the overlooks and hiking the short trails in the park. 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! This is a very popular area for mountain biking and scenic driving, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The Shafer Trail is named after the Shafer family, who were Mormon pioneer settlers. Want to report conditions for this trail? The Shafer Trail Road in Canyonlands is a great 44 trail. 97% of travelers recommend this experience. You have scenery, the interesting photo op presented at Tea Kettle Junction, and . So much fun!! The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. 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. Every now and then I would try to look out down into the canyon just to try to overcome my fears and experience the views. As we went thru the gate and headed doen the dirt road I told my girlfriend that this was'nt bad at all. USA ROAD TRIPS: Planning your next big adventure in the USA? Once you get below the rim, you will take Potash Road to Moab. I recommend renting a vehicle for this drive. Online Genealogy Records. We hope you find this guide helpful on your road trip. Depending on the source, you will see this road referred to by two different names. Would need to know where are the dirtiest parts of the shafter canyon road ? If you only have one day in Moab, visit Canyonlands in the morning, drive Shafer Canyon and Potash Road midday, and spend the afternoon in Arches National Park. Take it slow and enjoy the views! If I had to do Shafer Trail again i would save myself from the drenching sweat from the pure adrenaline rush and just follow Thelma and Louise's lead and go over the cliff early. Please stay on the trail so as not to disturb biological soil crust. This drive on Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road was the grand finale to our two days on the White Rim Road. You can do this in different ways, and there is no exact right way to do it. It requires extreme caution at the best of times for vehicles and mountain bikes, but especially so in inclement weather and at night. Credit: NPS Photo, Right image I looked over and saw that the driver's side of the road had given way to a very steep drop-off, and also noticed that the road was narrowing. this was at 2:30pm. Tammy Daybell's death was a homicide . Originally built to transport ore, you should not attempt to travel this road in severe conditions. I had to hang out of the window and guide him through the turn. 4 0 obj Thank you! Its a very cool drive!! The Shafer Canyon Road is what you will turn on after you pass the entrance station in Canyonlands National Park. This drive can be done in either direction. Just take it slow.Once down, you still need to be in 4 wheel drive as the road can get quite bumpy and there are still a lot of places that require it for navigation. What you should be aware of is that this trail and many other trails in the Moab area can become impassable during periods of rain. Backcountry driving conditions can change rapidly after rain or snow. You will know when you are no longer underneath the Dead Horse Point State Park when the Shafer Trail begins to go away from the Colorado River. Shafer Canyon Overlook is not actually on the Shafer Trail. Shafer Trail is an awesome drive. Turn right onto the gravel road. Try this 31.5-km point-to-point trail near Moab, Utah. Have fun driving Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road. Dont forget to check out the White Rim area while you are there. For more information on driving the Shafer Trail, check out the Scenic Drives section under Things to Do. 90% of travelers recommend this experience. Be prepared.it does jostle the neck around a bit! The road was pretty rough near the ponds. A high-clearance vehicle with 4WD is also recommended for Potash Road. A short, 0.9 mi (1.4 km) drive past the Island in the Sky visitor center leads to a breathtaking view of the Shafer Trail. You will also encounter a few smaller rock ledges. From here, it is a smooth, easy drive back to Moab. He also mentioned that we we would go by the place where Thelma and Louise go over the cliff in a car in the movie. %f:qQ;ri>{FBV5B2NWr)dfh=7`bF1[c"\n?_sW|k.\"?8?9rxEpOSaF\ yO-}q+Rk&:soR$D*pVk:{7PQk2__5NCxb@yGJp|Um3ia/f.1{?~q{lok{Ac+l7jl4g ArC+/t/; ?BprFtW![b1ia!T?&&-8[5r$F[BzvlD+1I`;y|fX @Lw-xV4aSt The best times to visit this trail are March through November. I started at the bottom to too and highly suggest that way over top to bottom. We were in a Nissan Frontier truck (4dr cab, 4-wheel drive) and at times my friend could not tell which way the trail went and we hoped we would not end up going over the sheer drop-offs. I've never been so glad to get to the bottom of something in my life. 83.0 Potash Road & Shafer Trail Road Junction Turning right onto Potash Road will take you back to Moab. One Day Canyonlands and Arches Itinerary. Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road are much wider and in much better condition than the White Rim Road. 7:L :}flFSn?ZCW:z9i&U+ l| Breathtaking views - well worth combining with Potash Rd. However, like Shafer Canyon Road, a high-clearance AWD SUV should be sufficient. Very good trail. You can either start by entering through Canyonlands National Park, or you can start by taking the Potash Road in Moab, Utah. The Shafer Trail is an incredible trail that leads down to the bottom of Canyonlands National Park. My friend and I had actually gone down this trail in June of 2008 (we were at Canyonlands again in June 2011). This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Uphill traffic has the right-of-way. Use berms and pull-outs to allow uphill traffic to pass safely. We drove 2,5h by GMC Terain. At Mile 8, you will arrive at the Gooseneck Overlook on the Shafer Trail. Standing on Dead Horse Point and looking down into the valley next to the Colorado River, we asked ourselves "I wonder how you get on that road down there?" Dont think the dogs cared to much for it. The Shafer Canyon Switchbacks are an amazing experience. I could've sworn to you that the drop-off was about a trillion feet down, so I said, "Okaaaaaaayyyyy, you might want to maybe hurry this up a little." Insane views!!!! Or is it a road that goes to Potash and then back to Canyonlands? We drove it terrifying but breathtaking if you like heights! Not at all technical but use Low 4 Wheel at least thru the switchbacks. John Shafer gradually made the road better and easier to access, and other trails in the area are named after the families who worked on or around those trails. View from Shafer Canyon Overlook. There are a lot of places to pull off at the bottom to take some really good pictures of the Colorado River and rock formations as well. F350 with dually top to bottom no problem, Full sized F350 with dually went from top to bottom. It's at times so narrow that only one car can pass at a time. She kept saying that it looked like the truck our Toyota Tundra off road package simply couldn't fit on the road and that she was sure we were going over the edge. Very cool off drive instead of doing the scenic drive. The entire drive, from Canyonlands National Park to Moab, is just under 40 miles. 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. For the full list, check out our Canyonlands Travel Guide. If you have the America the Beautiful Pass, the entrance fee for Canyonlands National Park is included. 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. Here is a photo taken from Dead Horse Point. Plenty of potholes and ruts and cobbles and small boulders on the dirt road. 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. If you are a photographer, consider visiting Mesa Arch at sunrise, to capture the glimmer of the first rays of sun under the arch. You also must have a high-clearance 4WD vehicle. Pretty sure we suffered with acute stress for a few days when trying to go to bed having flashbacks. Shafer Trail. This is the stretch of road starting at the Shafer Canyon switchbacks and ending just past the Potash evaporation ponds. At 22 feet long it would be difficult to find a place to turn around if needed. Beautiful drive in a stock Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport 4X4. This is another nice overlook. We plan to visit Canyonlands as part of our Utah adventure in mid to late May. Xre&mEEaE&AH_cEv Vdq0" It is rated as a moderate trail, and on a scale of 1 to 10, would probably be rated as a 2 or 3 in terms of difficulty. The 1st mile down from the rim was a bit white-knuckled due to the drop, but easily doable and well worth it. I preferred going down rather than up. However, the mines produced very little uranium and were soon abandoned. For the first 2.5 miles, you drive just below the rim. The trickiest part for us was near the upper end of the Potash evaporation pools. The steep, exposed sections of the Shafer Trail, Lathrop Canyon Road, Murphy's Hogback, Hardscrabble Hill, and the Mineral Bottom switchbacks make the White Rim loop a challenging ride, and require extreme caution for both vehicles and bikes during periods of inclement weather. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. 96% of travelers recommend this experience. The views are amazing, and we enjoyed exploring this less-visited trail in Moab. However, if you plan to include the White Rim Road, you must have a permit to drive the White Rim Road. Its not really my thing to be jostled around but the views made it worth it. 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. The final scene of the movie Thelma and Louise, when they drove off of the cliff, was not filmed in the Grand Canyon. What a great road to explore on. Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information. Guard rails? As you drive down Potash Road, you will pass multiple significant highlights. Worked in perfectly for us after a quick trip to Mesa Arch. It only took us 41/2 hours, and I never got out of two wheel drive. Canyonlands National Park Half-Day Tour from Canyonlands National Park Backcountry 4x4 Arches and Canyonlands 4X4 Adventure from Moab. This drive is a great way to add a little adventure to your visit to Canyonlands National Park. We kept hoping no one was coming up from the bottom because there was absolutely no way to pull over or back up. Here the road had several deeps ruts which required some tight maneuvering in our vehicle. Every muscle in my body was sore afterwards from clenching my muscles and I literally cried. These are genealogy links to Sweden online databases and indexes that may include birth records, marriage records, death records, biographies, cemeteries, censuses, histories, immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, obituaries, or probate records. It's a little on the scary side at times, but highly worth it for both the 4 wheeler (hubby) and shutterbug (me) alike. Pretty moderate drive, nothing technical. This is a must drive if you have a high clearance, 4 wheel drive vehicle. Death grip doesn't come close. The road from potash looks like a typical 4 wheel adventure and there are lots of great scenes and things to see wonderful rock formations etc. Turn right and in a few minutes, you will be in Moab. I can't describe the relief I felt once we made it to the bottom. We are an every day family prioritizing experiences and memories. Shafer Trail. You can see the first part of Shafer Canyon Road on top of the rim, just before the switchbacks. A few larger steps that required a slower crawl but really nothing that a decent ground clearance cant handle. 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. My husband insisted on the trail. The Shafer Trail road can be accessed by anyone in a high-clearance 4WD vehicle with a low range gear (4LO) (recommended). Shafer trail was cool. Going left will continue on the Shafer Trail, and going straight will put you onto the White Rim Road. John Shafer is credited for improving the trail and making access into the canyon easier. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. There are portions of the route where one wrong may be disastrous, and tricky sections requiring three-point turns. There is a vault toilet at the intersection of the White Rim Road and the Shafer Trail. Not for two-wheel-drive sedans, but rather 4WD or AWD, this narrow thread of road leads to the fabled land of moving rocks in the heart of Death Valley. View out towards Dead Horse Point State Park after the switchbacks. I had a death-grip on the interior bar/handle in the truck (also known as an "OH MY GAWD!!!" Some subscription websites listed below can be . Shafer Trail was originally used by Native Americans. Laurent, Before you go, here is a link to what the National Park Service defines as a high-clearance vehicle. Highly recommend 4x4 off road car. There are several viewpoints along this part of the road for jaw-dropping views. 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". A short distance past Corona Arch (0.5 miles), you will find a small parking area for a trail that will take you to another arch called Jeep Arch. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Julie Last updated: February 18, 2023 United States 10 Comments. Stayed at a B & B in Moab and the owner said we just had to take the shafer trail road to canyonlands park and that it was the only way to go and I might add there was no mention of sheer cliff walls and adrenaline rushes. Expanding upon the work of Sog Shafer, the Atomic Energy Commission widened Shafer Trail and extended it to the White Rim Road to accommodate trucks moving loads of uranium-bearing rock from the backcountry and down to Moab for processing. Said we needed 4wheel drive and high clearance. Can I drive my Dodge Caravan at Shafer Road. Very cool trail. Below you will see a Google Map of the Shafer Trail. 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. .=PAdK+1k.F0DKRk&*q,^5`uAquAu5Ahc"MJ.H^i_BdO>x($+GKAuLXXr3R*"!BO>vepCPC[H-eXLw_ s`ooq2gq ;p|2 rQnnQd#VbY,+aWpJ!z4@sm~KHPC%#lsWb,ee'9g?*Bt10`ChXf^*ZFI]e-zaX}'Kb^0` Cheers, Julie. We were definitely unprepared and did not know what we were getting into. Forgettaboutit. Red Wing is home of Red Wing Shoes, the Riedell Ice and Roller Skates and Red Wing Stoneware. We never felt unsafe or scared when driving the Shafer Trail. Potash road is fairly rough, limiting speed to 10 mph max. It may take longer depending on how frequently you stop for photos. This photo was taken at the top of Shafer Canyon Road, about one mile before starting down the Shafer Trail switchbacks. For more details on how to plan your time in Canyonlands, read our post One Perfect Day in Canyonlands National Park. We recommend booking Shafer Trail tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Judging from the subtle fall foliage along the banks of the Colorado, I would estimate this at late October or early November. Quite a few mountain bikes and quad runners were on the trail. How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left hand corner of the map to view the layers (points of interest and the driving route). Thanks for this AMAZING account that basically leaves nothing unclear! If you click the star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. Highly recommend the ride but would only use 4WD vehicles for the clearance and sometimes rocky road. We did a lot of breathing and reassuring to get up the canyon wall. Seems to me it is more condusive to mountainbiking than driving. Absolutely not enough adjectives to describe this trail!! My question is how far does it go? Loved the route and plan to do it again sometime!! endobj Required fields are marked *. In 1917, Sog Shafer widened the trail and used it to move cattle through the Island in the Sky area. Good to know. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. After Canyonlands was established in 1964, ranchers were granted a ten-year extension of ranching in the park. I had thought it would be fun to have a little adventure and we both said "how bad can it be??". It's a trail, not a road and has no guardrails. The majority of people who drive on the Shafer Trail would not rate the Shafer Trial as scary. Explore different ways to experience this place. Again, if it were my vehicle, true 4WD with 4 low to save your brakes. stream It takes roughly 2 hours to do this drive. There is a vault toilet at this point if someone needs to use the restroom. I do have to admit the trail going down was steep, and the switchbacks were tight, getting down over the mountain into the bottom. Average Time of Drive: 2 hours. Top ways to experience Shafer Trail and nearby attractions LIKELY TO SELL OUT* Canyonlands National Park Half-Day Tour from Moab 463 Recommended Adventure Tours from $189.39 per adult Canyonlands National Park Backcountry 4x4 Adventure from Moab 286 Recommended Adventure Tours from $180.52 per adult Arches and Canyonlands 4X4 Adventure from Moab 59 Try this 19.6-mile point-to-point trail near Moab, Utah. Travel 38.3K subscribers Join Subscribe 2.7K 234K views 4 years ago CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK In this segment of. Potash Road weaves down through a canyon and then runs right along the Colorado River. Incredible views of Shafer Canyon from up top. Well this is like that except you dont know its going to be ok when you feel like any plethora of rocks could slide onto you, out from under you, or somehow end up off the narrow ledge/road, and it lasts an hour!!! 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. Hi, I am returning to Canyonlands in September 2018. Or, do you want to get a unique perspective of Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park that most visitors dont even know is possible? BEST OF CANYONLANDS: Top experiences in Canyonlands includes visiting the Island in the Sky district, driving the White Rim Road, hiking in the Needles district, and hiking the Syncline Loop. bar) and I had pretty much felt that my life was going to end that day. The view from the bottom is deffiently different than from the top. more Needles District Road Closures All Needles district 4x4 roads and Elephant Hill Access Road are closed and impassable due to severe weather. Once you get to the intersection, you can go down White Rim Road until you want to return. This was a nice way to end the day after doing 3 hikes at Canyonlands. This is where you can see the Colorado River making a 180-degree turn in the canyon. Saw some bighorn sheep as we crossed through private property. ARCHES NATIONAL PARK: While in Arches National Park, things to do include the Devils Garden Trail and a visit to Delicate Arch. Seatbelts are required on all roads. It is a great overlook that lets you see the Shafer Switchbacks that you will drive down when you do decide to go on the Shafer Trail. Island in the Sky: White Rim Road The 100-mile four-wheel drive White Rim Road loops around and below the Island in the Sky mesa top and provides expansive views of the surrounding area. Starting in 1916, John Sog Shafer, used this trail to move cattle from summer pastures on the mesa top to winter ground on the White Rim sandstone, several rock layers down into the canyon. You can also purchase a park-specific annual pass. How Can I Add on the White Rim Road to this Drive? If you click the icons on the map, you can get more information about each point of interest. When authorities recovered his body, they found the remains of other hikers who had suffered the same fate. UTAH ITINERARY: In our Utah National Parks Road Trip Guide, we cover multiple ways to road trip through the national parks in Utah. Hardly anyone on the road until the end when reaching Moab. Epic trail!! Overall, it was a must do!! Check theweather report before starting your trip andcurrent road conditions before heading out. for the Shafer Switchbacks? FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. While driving this unpaved road remains difficult to this day, with the right gear and technology, it's possible to safely traverse the Shafer Trail. It is hopeful that repairs at Upheaval Bottom, Taylor Canyon and Lathrop Canyon can be completed within the next week. Here is a photo looking up at the point. 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. Cars driving uphill have the right of way. . The Potash Road will eventually turn into a dirt road that is the Shafer Trail. I suppose this would be a great trail for those who have nerves of steel and love adventure but this is just a bit too much, in my opinion. Shafer Trail (Canyonlands National Park) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. The Shafer Trail at the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park is an iconic road that descends 1,500 feet (457 m) through a colorful, massive sandstone cliff. The ranger recommended to not do it in AWD if there was recently any rain. In 1916 the Shafer family used the trail as a cattle trail to move cows from the summer and winter pastures. If you have any questions about this drive, or if you want to share your experience, you can do so in the comment section below.
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