Once you pass the Potash Ponds, you will shortly meet back up with the UT-279 that will take you back towards Moab. Just past the Petroglyphs around mile 5.8, you will run into the parking lot for the Poison Spider Mesa off-road trail. some areas require 4x4 but we saw cars on the road. At one point the right rear wheel was airborne! Now we started at the top. This drive is a great way to add a little adventure to your visit to Canyonlands National Park. Once we made it to the bottom of the canyon alive we totally enjoyed the trail. 4 WD with 4 lo is recommended due to steep descent into canyon. Took the trail down into the canyon and on to White Rim Rd to Musselman Arch where we returned to Potash Rd for the 32 mile return trip to Moab. The first highlighted stop is the roadside petroglyphs. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. At 13.3 miles down Potash Road to your right, you will see the Jug Handle Arch. ATVs, OHVs, or UTVs are not permitted inside the park. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Copyright All Rights Reserved. Overall, it was a must do!! This route starts in Canyonlands and ends in Moab. I was just at Canyonlands again in June 2011 and took some photos from an overlook of Shafer Trail and I still get weak-kneed when I think about riding down the canyon. Die Route wird grundstzlich als moderat eingestuft und kann zumeist in 8 Std 44 Min bewltigt werden. We checked in at the visitors center, and the gentlemen told us it was a 9hour drive one way. Damaged soils are prone to erosion and invasive species. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. 7:L :}flFSn?ZCW:z9i&U+ l| Our family travels throughout the United States in our RV visiting beaches, national parks and everything in between. It is one thing to watch cars travel the switchbacks from the Shafer Canyon Overlook. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The Shafer Trail Road in Canyonlands is a great 44 trail. Will be there next sep. with a classic SUV (Ford escape or similar). We descended the trail in our Yukon XL. Tip 3: Keep in mind that Canyonlands National Park is not as popular as Arches National Park. Then take the Potash Road and Shafer trail into Canyonlands National Park later in the day. The views from Canyonlands are wonderful but if you take the Shafer, you are so much closer to the canyons and can really get the perspective. Good to know. Pass the Xanax and close your eyes. Length 19.6 miElevation gain 3,106 ftRoute type Point to point. Drive the Shafer Trail -Canyonlands Island in the Sky to Moab- The West is Big! This is because RZRs are not allowed to enter national parks. Once the mining came to an end and tourism picked up, the road was further widened and maintained, and then became known as Shafer Canyon Road. I had thought it would be fun to have a little adventure and we both said "how bad can it be??". I don't like heights to begin with but never dreamed it would be this terrifying. 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. Its a very cool drive!! Explore different ways to experience this place. Laurent, Before you go, here is a link to what the National Park Service defines as a high-clearance vehicle. If you are a photographer, consider visiting Mesa Arch at sunrise, to capture the glimmer of the first rays of sun under the arch. At Mile 17, the road becomes Shafer Basin road. Very cool trail. Murphy Trailhead scheduled to close March 21-23 I had a death-grip on the interior bar/handle in the truck (also known as an "OH MY GAWD!!!" Shafer trail was cool. We recommend booking Shafer Trail tours ahead of time to secure your spot. We drove 2,5h by GMC Terain. 96% of travelers recommend this experience. For this drive, we had a Jeep Rubicon that we rented from Jeep Canyonlands Rentals in Moab. If you have the America the Beautiful Pass, the entrance fee for Canyonlands National Park is included. Please stay on the trail so as not to disturb biological soil crust. Shafer Canyon Road starts near the visitor center of Canyonlands National Park. From here the Shafer Canyon Road, also known as the Shafer Trail, begins to climb gradually, offering exceptional views over the entire valley. Moderate 4.7 (604) Canyonlands National Park. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Personal vehicle: $30 Motorcycle: $25 Cyclist/Pedestrian: $15 Here it is. 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?" Check our our USA Road Trip Guide for travel ideas and sample itineraries. Do your research well!! The hike to Corona Arch is 2.5 miles round trip and gets great reviews. 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). It only took us 41/2 hours, and I never got out of two wheel drive. The Road was so Steep, My Wife Jumped out of the Truck! Pets may be transported inside vehicles only. For the rest of the ride down. VISIT THE US NATIONAL PARKS: Looking for your next big adventure? There is a vault toilet at this point if someone needs to use the restroom. 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. Thats the best view, from the drivers side. Just make sure you give yourself at least an hour and a half of daylight, to get back onto paved road before sunset. The Cannon Valley Trail has its eastern terminus in Red Wing. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. We plan to visit Canyonlands as part of our Utah adventure in mid to late May. This is known as a Gooseneck. The first part of the drive, as you weave your way down the Shafer Canyon switchbacks, is the most hair-raising and thrilling part of the drive. The only people who will find the trail scary are those who are afraid of heights. 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. This is a must drive if you have a high clearance, 4 wheel drive vehicle. Many backcountry roads in the Moab area used for recreation today were improved by the Atomic Energy Commission. I think he mentioned it would take 2 hours from Moab up Shafer trail and back. Do I Need a Permit to Drive Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road? Many backcountry roads in the Moab area used for recreation today were improved by the Atomic Energy Commission. https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/fees.htm, Bureau of Land Management: Moab Field Office. ZDxOTT(/njO"F@QN/>E- avk;/s>v_85=hS/nG&! Death grip doesn't come close. We went out of service so sorry in advance for the trip length! Today, the Shafer Trail is a challenging, unpaved backcountry road for recreational users seeking the experience of a lifetime We drove the Shafer Trail in a jeep we rented from Moab Adventure Center and had an amazing time. Make sure to check Twitter if you want to check if any of the parks have closed because of too many people. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. The view from the flat area was awesome and a great stop after doing 1/2 of the trail. Once you get below the rim, you will take Potash Road to Moab. There is a vault toilet at the intersection of the White Rim Road and the Shafer Trail. JUST DO IT! A road that humbles the wildest of egos. The population was 16,459 at the 2010 census. The view from the bottom is deffiently different than from the top. things to do in Canyonlands National Park. An Analysis of Deaths in U.S. National Parks Posted October 20, 2022 in Safety On Sunday, October 4th, 2020, a 25-year-old-man fell to his death at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Arizona. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. When you do this, you will get to start at the Shafer Switchbacks, which are our favorite, but this can be risky because we have had to wait at the entrance station for a bit to get into the park. 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. Tip 4: Even though Canyonlands National Park is not as popular as Arches National Park, it will still get busy. After you turn left onto the Shafer Trail (AKA Potash Road), you will descend and shortly cross a small river bed. It looks like you'd need a 4 wheel drive vehicle but it's. Just under 10 miles down Potash Road, you will find parking for the popular Bowtie Arch and Corona Arch. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. John Shafer is credited for improving the trail and making access into the canyon easier. Dont forget if you are going on White Rim Road, you need to purchase a permit at recreation.gov or at the Visitor Center. We recommend if you do it to start at the top and go down but it would be best to check at the Canyonland Visitor center with one of the rangers and get their input. Drove a stock Subaru Forester from Shafer down through Potash no problem on a sunny day. There are a few important things to know when driving the Shafer Road in Moab, aside from the obvious of needing a four-wheel drive vehicle. If you are starting the Shafer Trail from Canyonlands National Park, you will travel N on US-191 N (N Main St) and then turn left onto UT-313. Once you reach Utah-279, the road is paved and feels delightfully smooth. There are a few areas driving up narrow cliffs and hillsides. After observing multiple vehicles going up and down the steep part (and no one plummeting to their death), she said ok, lets do it. We drove a 2021 Nissan Rogue AWD. Forgettaboutit. Be prepared.it does jostle the neck around a bit! Seatbelts are required on all roads. We had to wait about an hour to get into Canyonlands one day. Here you can see dinosaur tracks and more petroglyphs. Ive got a full stock Nissan Titan XD with BFG KO2s and it was a pretty easy trail. fun route! Not at all technical but use Low 4 Wheel at least thru the switchbacks. It is a popular photo spot for many because the Shafer Switchbacks are unique and make for a fun picture. On this route, you will drive the legendary Shafer Canyon switchbacks, pass below Dead Horse Point, get a close-up view of the Colorado River, and see a famous movie filming location, Thelma and Louise point. How Can I Add this on to My Visit to Canyonlands? All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. Ranger Paul Downey was the Incident Commander. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Originally built to transport ore, you should not attempt to travel this road in severe conditions. 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? From here, you can see Shafer Canyon Road, the White Rim Road, Potash Road, and Dead Horse Point State Park. The Shafer Trail in Moab, Utah is regarded as one of the most dangerous roads in America. After a few miles or so, suddenly, the very narrow hairpin turn that dropped into what I was sure was at least a 15% grade, caused me to see exactly what I had been missing. 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. Day use permits are available up to 24 hours before your trip. It requires extreme caution at the best of times for vehicles and mountain bikes, but especially so in inclement weather and at night. Visit our park website for more information on road conditions and safe driving. Heres how to do it. In fact I told my wife there doesn't look like there is a road out of here.

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