If you see an approaching car, pull over and allow them to pass. The Shafer Trail is an incredible trail that leads down to the bottom of Canyonlands National Park. Remember, unlike in the past, high-clearance, 4WD vehicles with low gear settings (4LO) are highly recommended to traverse this route. You will drive down Potash Road until it turns into Forest Road 142, which is the Shafer Trail. We have 4X4 truck camper, 12'6" tall,22ft long, 15,000lbs. Just make sure you give yourself at least an hour and a half of daylight, to get back onto paved road before sunset. You will drive down Potash Road until it turns into Forest Road 142, which is the Shafer Trail. It is one thing to watch cars travel the switchbacks from the Shafer Canyon Overlook. Boaks was injured in a minor road traffic crash while getting off a bus. Service animalsthat have been individually trained to perform specific task(s) for the benefit of an individual with a disability are allowed in the park. +8M*= g3vM(ljlu* Quite a few side by sides & dirtbikes but pretty low volume of other vehicles. Uphill traffic has the right-of-way. Use berms and pull-outs to allow uphill traffic to pass safely. The switchback is the easiest part of the road as it is in very good condition, the rest of the road is trickier but nothing impassable. Here the road had several deeps ruts which required some tight maneuvering in our vehicle. Insane!!!!! Winding "road of death" in Canyonlands National Parkthe Shafer Trail. UTAH ITINERARY: In our Utah National Parks Road Trip Guide, we cover multiple ways to road trip through the national parks in Utah. Each year, hundreds of visitors experience the thrill of driving down the winding sandstone cliff to the basin below. The switchbacks are no joke but once those are behind you its pretty smooth sailing. I refuse to do it again and I got nervous just watching the other vehicles that were on the trail. 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. Forgettaboutit. Its not really my thing to be jostled around but the views made it worth it. At Mile 17, the road becomes Shafer Basin road. Personal vehicle: $30 Motorcycle: $25 Cyclist/Pedestrian: $15 The Shafer in Moab is a great way to spend your time in the Canyonland National Park, and we hope you find our guide informative and helpful. Highly recommend 4x4 off road car. 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. 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. Judging from the subtle fall foliage along the banks of the Colorado, I would estimate this at late October or early November. The Corona Arch is a great hike and is highly recommended. Another way you can combine the two trails is by going into Canyonland National Park and starting from inside the park. This was the sentence that came out of my mouth as my husband, an experienced 4-wheeler, made the tight, narrow hairpin turn that caused me to see the sheer drop now on my side of the truck. Can I drive my Dodge Caravan at Shafer Road. 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. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Good eyewe did this in early November, around November 9 or 10 I believe. The switchbacks are a total of only about 1 mile long. For this drive, we had a Jeep Rubicon that we rented from Jeep Canyonlands Rentals in Moab. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Rivian only used 10 miles of range the entire way down! We have everything you need to know below. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. This is not an overly challenging trail, but it is a fun 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?" Do I Need a Permit to Drive Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road? The Shafer Canyon Switchbacks are an amazing experience. However, the mines produced very little uranium and were soon abandoned. 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. 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. We are here to show you that traveling as a family is not as hard as you might think. I would not want to drive my own vehicle on this road and put this kind of wear and tear on it. If you click the star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. This drive can be done in either direction. During the winter months, Shafer Canyon Road can close due to snowfall. Read our article about the 15 Best National Parks, where we narrow down the long list into 15 must-see parks. Many other trails at Island in the Sky also bear names for the families who worked them. This is another nice overlook. Once at the bottom, the tough part starts. Want to report conditions for this trail? Distance: Approximately 18.2 miles. In this photo, you can see Potash Road as it runs along the Colorado River. All stock. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The most thrilling part of the drive. Visit our park website for more information on road conditions and safe driving. The view of Potash Road from Dead Horse Point State Park. I hope you have a great trip to Moab and Utah. They are steep, and it is recommended to travel them in 4 low. 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. GOBLIN VALLEY: Goblin Valley is a small state park packed with unique rock formations thats a fun place to explore, especially for kids. Fantastic and fun and completely doable. https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/fees.htm, Bureau of Land Management: Moab Field Office. It was a little scary, I'm not going to lie. Once you pass the Potash Ponds, you will shortly meet back up with the UT-279 that will take you back towards Moab. Stupid question. Be prepared.it does jostle the neck around a bit! As you drive down Potash Road, you will pass multiple significant highlights. Cheers, Julie, Hello, Laurent from France here. Many backcountry roads in the Moab area used for recreation today were improved by the Atomic Energy Commission. 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. In 1916 the Shafer family used the trail as a cattle trail to move cows from the summer and winter pastures. The Road was so Steep, My Wife Jumped out of the Truck! Ive got a full stock Nissan Titan XD with BFG KO2s and it was a pretty easy trail. Shortly after you pass the entrance fee station for Canyonlands National Park, you will see the trailhead for the Shafer Trail and the White Rim Trail on your left. When authorities recovered his body, they found the remains of other hikers who had suffered the same fate. We did a lot of breathing and reassuring to get up the canyon wall. This section is a little more challenging as there are some small rock ledges you will drop down. Utah-279 ends at Highway 191. Part of the trail had flooded and washed away!! Do you like the idea of venturing away from the crowds and driving through some truly dramatic landscapes? We descended the trail in our Yukon XL. Today, hundred of visitors every year experience the thrill of a lifetime driving down the sandstone cliff to the basin below. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. This drive on Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road was the grand finale to our two days on the White Rim Road. Cars driving uphill have the right of way. Laurent, Before you go, here is a link to what the National Park Service defines as a high-clearance vehicle. Enjoy the views. You do not nearly scrape the wall or totter on the edge of oblivion. g[M.w.V6{*q|3'W35f rwrQfdrtk>e"M3EhsQ~6\2kP=w\ 2ADnH9 qkE?yNp0g=6 t&di) '*X(bsGY20E3O 7&pc6+81;ui{K{_5h}8}\s $M`(V{K3\VNKvzsb21dZ\sKUm_ The views of the Colorado River are spectacular and the paved roads through the Canyon are very nice with canyon walls rising on one side and the river on the other.The views and thrill of adventure are definitely worth it. 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. The Shafer Trail Road in Canyonlands is a great 44 trail. It only took us 41/2 hours, and I never got out of two wheel drive. 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. 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. So my girlfriend and I decided to get going and check this drive out. USA ROAD TRIPS: Planning your next big adventure in the USA? It took us about 2 1/2 to 3 hours to do the whole thing with my husband's stock 2002 Ford Ranger, "Bessie II" (or "Elizabeth the Second" as I call her), who did a very good job when put into low 4X4. It is a must!! 2 0 obj Or Dead Horse State Park? After we got to the top I asked her if we knew what we were headed to would she have done it and she had to admit she would and so would I. Definetly one of the cheapest adreneline rushes you'll ever have.bring some depends and you'll be fine. John Shafer is credited for improving the trail and making access into the canyon easier. Click here to learn more. It's a little on the scary side at times, but highly worth it for both the 4 wheeler (hubby) and shutterbug (me) alike. In order to drive the Potash Road and Shafer Trail, you need to have a high clearance 44 vehicle, and it is recommended that it has 4 low. Your choices are basically to run smack into the rock face or go over the edge with little room for error. Myself, growing up 4wheeling and driving the back woods, and wherever else I could go, I consider myself a good 4wheeling driver. Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. 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. Amazing views! Directions Starting in Canyonlands National 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. 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 We can laugh about it now but I dont think I would ever do that again. Cattle trail which can be used by sport vehicles. No, You do not need a Shafer Trail permit to drive on the road. Today, the Shafer Trail is a challenging, unpaved backcountry road for recreational users seeking the experience of a lifetime Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. 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. For more information, please see, No conditions reported in the past 7 days. After Canyonlands was established in 1964, ranchers were granted a ten-year extension of ranching in the park. 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. 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.
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