Dont forget if you are going on White Rim Road, you need to purchase a permit at recreation.gov or at the Visitor Center. The views are stunning the whole drive, and it's a nice way to break up some of the sight seeing and hiking as well. It takes roughly 2 hours to do this drive. [Steve Swanke, RISKY] If youre in the Moab area and you are okay with some puckering at the beginning, its so worth it. Please stay on the trail so as not to disturb biological soil crust. Rivian only used 10 miles of range the entire way down! Stupid question. The final scene of the movie Thelma and Louise, when they drove off of the cliff, was not filmed in the Grand Canyon. Red Wing, MN Map & Directions - MapQuest Plenty of potholes and ruts and cobbles and small boulders on the dirt road. Red Wing is a city in Goodhue County, Minnesota, United States, on the Mississippi River. It's at times so narrow that only one car can pass at a time. However, the mines produced very little uranium and were soon abandoned. If you click the icons on the map, you can get more information about each point of interest. We took it with a FWD Kia SUV, and we had no problem whatsoever. Backcountry driving conditions can change rapidly after rain or snow. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Combining the White Rim Trail and this trail is a great option. and then start the descent down the switchbacks. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. How rough is the road? Moab Utah Off Road / 4x4 Trails: Shafer Trail - AllTrips If you have a 44 vehicle with a 4-low range and high clearance, you will be able to get down the road with ease. To get back to Moab, drive Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road described above. Drove this the first week of August after some rainy spells so I was worried about mud (I-70 was temporarily blocked with flash flooding when we came through the day before). We did a lot of breathing and reassuring to get up the canyon wall. John Shafer is credited for improving the trail and making access into the canyon easier. It's a little on the scary side at times, but highly worth it for both the 4 wheeler (hubby) and shutterbug (me) alike. Then you get to the fork in the road and see the sign for the visitor center and you make the mistake of assuming the road would be somewhat good. Total Distance: 39 miles Length of Time: 2 hours. If you still have time and energy left, this is another cool spot to add onto this drive. The scenery is absolutely beautiful. Thats the best view, from the drivers side. Epic trail!! Was not as scary as I thought it would be. This drive is a great way to add a little adventure to your visit to Canyonlands National Park. Average Time of Drive: 2 hours. Myself, growing up 4wheeling and driving the back woods, and wherever else I could go, I consider myself a good 4wheeling driver. Trail was amazing!! 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. endobj 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! Check theweather reportbefore starting your trip andcurrent road conditionsbefore heading out. Shafer Trail: 604 Reviews, 1,008 Photos, Map - Utah | AllTrails The petroglyphs are close to a popular rock climbing area. Damaged soils are prone to erosion and invasive species. Travel 38.3K subscribers Join Subscribe 2.7K 234K views 4 years ago CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK In this segment of. 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. Just past the Petroglyphs around mile 5.8, you will run into the parking lot for the Poison Spider Mesa off-road trail. 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 view from the bottom is deffiently different than from the top. What a great road to explore on. Sweden Online Genealogy Records FamilySearch Do you like the idea of venturing away from the crowds and driving through some truly dramatic landscapes? Its a very cool drive!! The Shafer Trail, WOW!!! The trail was later widened when prospectors began mining the area for uranium. After that is was a fairly easy, though rough, drive back to the paved portion on Potash road. Then all of a sudden, my husband (who is very very afraid of heights), clenched the steering wheel and gritted his teeth. Amazing views! After reading the reviews, I couldn't decide if this road was doable or not! 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. For more details on how to plan your time in Canyonlands, read our post One Perfect Day in Canyonlands National Park. Canyonlands National Park Half-Day Tour from Canyonlands National Park Backcountry 4x4 Arches and Canyonlands 4X4 Adventure from Moab. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Said we needed 4wheel drive and high clearance. It requires extreme caution at the best of times for vehicles and mountain bikes, but especially so in inclement weather and at night. Followed that up the next day with a hike to Delicate Arch, where the last 200 feet is on the edge of a cliff! https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/fees.htm, Bureau of Land Management: Moab Field Office. At this point, you will start to be directly beneath the Dead Horse Point State Park. This is known as a Gooseneck. So much fun to drive! My husband loves it. 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. There are many places to pull over and allow oncoming traffic to pass. Now, you are below the rim but the views are still pretty awesome. We hope you find this guide helpful on your road trip. We loved this off-road experience. 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. This is not an overly challenging trail, but it is a fun trail. You also must have a high-clearance 4WD vehicle. The unpaved backcountry road winds 1,500 feet (457 m) down colorful sandstone walls, over roughly 5.2 mi (8.4 km) before joining the White Rim Trail. Now we started at the top. Later when we were too committed to turn back that would be about 6 switchbacks later we flashed back on her face and understood what was up and regretted we didn't inquire about the road ahead of us when we had the chance. Most Dangerous National Parks in the U.S. | Fatal Accident Statistics We took this adventure on Thanksgiving week of 2009, This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Just under 10 miles down Potash Road, you will find parking for the popular Bowtie Arch and Corona Arch. % 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. At Mile 17, the road becomes Shafer Basin road. A gem of day is ahead !!! ]J [,;9CoOUJRJbTiI4wYv*s8D4@K ]Sz%X7R7N-FHjkZ)}qX&iJqt"\"r:,_/XNgn^aQ\3xUTA4X6}e:9'~+R?&yMz)cGjh4-^&8JWy) ;pZTa`=Jpx*]e3/de@5'*\2BQa-ak'fI%XX tUP$lYL1/+Z^[JLUXg`*_$lT At 22 feet long it would be difficult to find a place to turn around if needed. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Amazing views. It is the county seat of Goodhue County. Xre&mEEaE&AH_cEv Vdq0" The entire drive, from Canyonlands National Park to Moab, is just under 40 miles. Saw a mule deer and her two babies. Beautiful drive! In the corner of the 279 is a parking spot, you can hike to the Corona Arch Trailhead!! Looks like some of the rock overhangs are lowwill we have enough clearance? We also happened to be lucky enough to drive by a film crew from Paramount Pictures wrapping up for the day on the highway back to Moab (we speculated they were there to film Mission Impossible IV, but only time will tell I guess).All in all, a really great drive, great views, and a little bit of an adrenaline rush at times. Awesome! Very cool off drive instead of doing the scenic drive. Unbelievable and amazing views if the Colorado! We have a jeep and 3 dogs. 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. You can drive all the way to Moab!! The most thrilling part of the drive. About half way down there was an orange cone marking where some of the path had fallen away, which we thought was absurd because the whole trail seemed very hazardous to us. We plan to visit Canyonlands as part of our Utah adventure in mid to late May. If you are in Moab, Utah, you will go north on Hwy US-191 N (N Main Street), and shortly after you cross the Colorado River, you will turn left onto UT-279 S. This road is also called Potash Road. ARCHES AND CANYONLANDS: If you have limited time, learn how to visit Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in one day and do this drive!. Planning on driving Shafer Road summer 2019. The Shafer Trail difficulty rating is moderate because there are some steep switchbacks. All stock. The park ranger warned of mud and ledges on Potash. 4x4 should be required for non experienced drivers. For this drive, we had a Jeep Rubicon that we rented from Jeep Canyonlands Rentals in Moab. I would NOT do this in a car. I think interstate driving in some cities is much scarier than this.After you get through the switchbacks, the road levels out, relatively and turns into Potash. Or Dead Horse State Park? They split shortly after getting to the bottom of the Shafer Switchbacks. By the time we realized it there was no turning back (literally). Theres one question I have: Which date did you take the pictures? Just put it in 4WD and low and let it go! Cheers, Julie. 96% of travelers recommend this experience. 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. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. 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. I started at the bottom to too and highly suggest that way over top to bottom. You can start or end at two different locations depending on where you want to end on the Shafer Trail. We never needed to put our vehicle in 4WD for these two roads. The scariest thing Ive ever done! go slow but why would you want to go fast anyway!? 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. The one he had been experiencing for the past however many miles on our way down the canyon on Shafer Trail. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. *8]YKE$e?6[c`dq;dDUt+). Get an early start, arriving in Canyonlands at or just after sunrise. Went back to Moab via Potash Rd. However, if you plan to include the White Rim Road, you must have a permit to drive the White Rim Road. Length 19.6 miElevation gain 3,106 ftRoute type Point to point. Left image The Shafer Trail is named after the Shafer family, who were Mormon pioneer settlers. You can also purchase a park-specific annual pass. The view back up Shafer Canyon and the rim of the Island in the Sky mesa. 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. We never felt unsafe or scared when driving the Shafer Trail. We took the Shafer trail from Canyonlands all the way back to Moab. Is there a risk driving from the park to Thelmas & louise and back to the park ? I have had a job that involved dangerous situations but this experience scared me to death more than my job ever did. Ive got a full stock Nissan Titan XD with BFG KO2s and it was a pretty easy trail. Going left will continue on the Shafer Trail, and going straight will put you onto the White Rim Road. Enjoy!!e. You can see the first part of Shafer Canyon Road on top of the rim, just before the switchbacks. Not at all technical but use Low 4 Wheel at least thru the switchbacks. The road gets its name because it traverses the top of White Rim Sandstone. qKHWHql2AH5iADn:jK ^T%Q]OhS'QoOIT]N f1HK{:AN His death in hospital two years later was the result of complications from the head injuries sustained. White Rim Trail 4x4 Off-Road Tips and Guide - Off-Roading Pro The ranger recommended to not do it in AWD if there was recently any rain. Tip 4: Even though Canyonlands National Park is not as popular as Arches National Park, it will still get busy. Shafer Canyon Road starts near the visitor center of Canyonlands National Park. For more information on driving the Shafer Trail, check out the Scenic Drives section under Things to Do. Experience the Shafer Trail - National Park Service Then it started raining which made things even scarier. We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location. 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. Canyonlands National Park Day Use Backcountry Permits - Recreation.gov 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. Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road are two dirt roads that connect Canyonlands National Park with Moab. Online Genealogy Records. 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 Shafer Trail is an incredible trail that leads down to the bottom of Canyonlands National Park. Thank you! The view makes the whole ride worth it, both from the bottom and the top. 94% of travelers recommend this experience. Directions Starting in Canyonlands National Park Thanks for this AMAZING account that basically leaves nothing unclear! Hi, I am returning to Canyonlands in September 2018. USA ROAD TRIPS: Planning your next big adventure in the USA? Quite a few mountain bikes and quad runners were on the trail. Go from the bottom up. Buckle up! The Shafer Trail in Canyonlands was named for the Shafer family. Am I Crazy?? SHAFER TRAIL in a CAR?| Canyonlands National Park | Shafer 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. Absolutely not enough adjectives to describe this trail!! During the busy months, you can easily wait for an hour or more just to get into Canyonlands National Park or Arches National Park. 4/28/2023. You can take a RZR on part of the Shafer Trail, but you cannot take it on the entirety of the trail. After that continue to Moab. Each year, hundreds of visitors experience the thrill of driving down the winding sandstone cliff to the basin below. Turn right onto the gravel road. I will be there in May 2021! I preferred going down rather than up. You can also join a guided tour. You have to have a permit to travel on White Rim Road. You can obtain this permit online or at the visitor center. Winding "road of death" in Canyonlands National Parkthe Shafer Trail. At one point she did jump out of the truck and was convinced it would be easier to walk out..once she was on solid ground she did much better, but I did mention to her I thought the road would be better traveled on a donkey or llama. Here the road had several deeps ruts which required some tight maneuvering in our vehicle. Yes, it is a bit steep at the top on the switchbacks. Good to know. The Moab Giants is right on the corner of the intersection of US-191 and UT-313. Shafer Trail is an awesome drive. After Canyonlands was established in 1964, ranchers were granted a ten-year extension of ranching in the park. Not really technical but if you want to continue via Potash Road, you'll need high clearance. What a great summary of the route. A road that humbles the wildest of egos. This drive can be done in either direction. 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. %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
