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. Details. 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. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Have fun driving Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road. x][~p/{Ni7/}d;b-A,%dRHf=,Gj~b5U;}A?6b~5D;4pC~y8}7?/O>9=zK={I>Ok+z.;==Ph: Click here to learn more. So much fun!! Travel 38.3K subscribers Join Subscribe 2.7K 234K views 4 years ago CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK In this segment of. I think he mentioned it would take 2 hours from Moab up Shafer trail and back. We plan to visit Canyonlands as part of our Utah adventure in mid to late May. Water in places. The views are amazing, and we enjoyed exploring this less-visited trail in Moab. Tammy Daybell's death was a homicide . Was not as scary as I thought it would be. Not at all technical but use Low 4 Wheel at least thru the switchbacks. ARCHES NATIONAL PARK: While in Arches National Park, things to do include the Devils Garden Trail and a visit to Delicate Arch. But this adventure wouldn't be complete without ascending Shafer Trail to the top of the Island in the Sky. ARCHES AND CANYONLANDS: If you have limited time, learn how to visit Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in one day and do this drive!. My truck is a 2001 Dodge 2500 4whell drive. Now we started at the top. . You have scenery, the interesting photo op presented at Tea Kettle Junction, and . I had to hang out of the window and guide him through the turn. <>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> This is a must drive if you have a high clearance, 4 wheel drive vehicle. Great views!!! The majority of people who drive on the Shafer Trail would not rate the Shafer Trial as scary. White Rim Trail 4x4 Off-Road Tips and Guide - Off-Roading Pro This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Thats the best view, from the drivers side. We used Canyonlands Jeep Rentals and had an awesome experience. Seatbelts are required on all roads. Shafer Road Utah - most dangerous road in USA - YouTube Dont forget if you are going on White Rim Road, you need to purchase a permit at recreation.gov or at the Visitor Center. Few obstacles. I personally do not think a 4WD is necessary, but high clearance is definitely a must to avoid damaging your vehicle. For the rest of the ride down. 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. How to Drive the White Rim Road: Map, Photos & Driving Tips Cheers, Julie. Want to report conditions for this trail? 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. I am a 50+ female from the flatlands!We drove down from the top in a 4WD Toyota Forerunner. Insane views!!!! Drove a stock Subaru Forester from Shafer down through Potash no problem on a sunny day. We drove 2,5h by GMC Terain. You dont need a highly modified rock crawler of any sort to drive it. 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. Get the full details on how to do this in our One Day Canyonlands and Arches Itinerary. 17 miles of this road is unpaved. 1 0 obj White Rim Road - National Park Service But be careful not to go after any rain!! 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. Awesome and not as scary as I thought it would be! We never felt unsafe or scared when driving the Shafer Trail. My husband insisted on the trail. 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. The view from the flat area was awesome and a great stop after doing 1/2 of the trail. Never again!! - Review of Shafer Trail, Canyonlands - Tripadvisor Then all of a sudden, my husband (who is very very afraid of heights), clenched the steering wheel and gritted his teeth. This is a popular trail for mountain biking, off-road driving, and scenic driving, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Trail was amazing!! 90% of travelers recommend this experience. The Shafer Trail is named after the Shafer family, who were Mormon pioneer settlers. Driving Utah's most dangerous roads: What you need to know - KSLNewsRadio In the corner of the 279 is a parking spot, you can hike to the Corona Arch Trailhead!! The petroglyphs are close to a popular rock climbing area. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. Stupid question. Shafer Trail in Canyonlands National Park (& Potash Road) +8M*= g3vM(ljlu* Do your research well!! Rivian only used 10 miles of range the entire way down! Hi, I am returning to Canyonlands in September 2018. The scenery is absolutely beautiful. Seatbelts are required on all roads. Tip 2: If there is rain in the forecast or if it has rained recently, make sure you call the visitor center to ensure the road has not closed. If you have a high-clearance SUV you should be fine for this drive, just as long as it is not wet or snow-covered. there is plenty of room in those switchbacks to pass another fellow 4wheel. It is also quite wide, at least compared to the White Rim Road. Most AWD SUVs will do just fine on this road, as long as it is not wet or snow-covered. more, #7 of 46 things to do in Canyonlands National Park. Followed that up the next day with a hike to Delicate Arch, where the last 200 feet is on the edge of a cliff! Dont think the dogs cared to much for it. ATVs, OHVs, or UTVs are not permitted inside the park. 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. The Shafer Trail Road in Canyonlands is a great 44 trail. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. Please stay on the trail so as not to disturb biological soil crust. It is best to touch base with the Visitor Center to ensure there is nothing you should be aware of before starting your trip. 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. Another way you can combine the two trails is by going into Canyonland National Park and starting from inside the park. 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. Drove in reverse from Canyonlands to Potash Rd, nothing technical. An incredible ride, not for the faint of heart - Review of Shafer Trail 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. Our family travels throughout the United States in our RV visiting beaches, national parks and everything in between. 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. Shafer Trail - Canyonlands - Utah - Full - YouTube The road turns away from the river once you pass what is called Thelma & Louise Point. Make sure to check Twitter if you want to check if any of the parks have closed because of too many people. Online Genealogy Records. go slow but why would you want to go fast anyway!? Cattle trail which can be used by sport vehicles. Killer drive!!!! *8]YKE$e?6[c`dq;dDUt+). I preferred going down rather than up. This was a nice way to end the day after doing 3 hikes at Canyonlands. Julie Last updated: February 18, 2023 United States 10 Comments. Incident Tally by Month - Grand County, Utah Trailhead: Find the trailhead off Potash Road\Highway 279, about 16.5 miles from its junction with Highway 191. We drove it terrifying but breathtaking if you like heights! As the Shafer Trail starts to distance itself from the Colorado River, you will pass by the Potash Ponds. Uphill traffic has the right-of-way. Use berms and pull-outs to allow uphill traffic to pass safely. From here the Shafer Canyon Road, also known as the Shafer Trail, begins to climb gradually, offering exceptional views over the entire valley. This includes street-legal OHVs. All the same, I did see some all wheel drive cars on the trail doing just fine. All 3 of us were very scared. 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. After that is was a fairly easy, though rough, drive back to the paved portion on Potash road. They split shortly after getting to the bottom of the Shafer Switchbacks. 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. The first highlighted stop is the roadside petroglyphs. Damaged soils are prone to erosion and invasive species. 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. Pretty moderate drive, nothing technical. Day use permits are available up to 24 hours before your trip. Shafer Trail is a dirt road that starts with several switchbacks down into the canyon Canyonlands National Park Fees The entry fee covers you for a full 7 consecutive days visiting Canyonlands park. You will also encounter a few smaller rock ledges. The Potash Road will eventually turn into a dirt road that is the Shafer Trail. The view from the bottom is deffiently different than from the top. Death Road is a lethal journey in the Bolivian Yungas region . Shafer Trail Road To White Rim Road, Canyonlands National Park. % 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. 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. 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. We were definitely unprepared and did not know what we were getting into. things to do in Canyonlands National Park. . Do you need to book in advance to visit Shafer Trail? No, you do not need a permit to drive these roads. Things get complicated after about 1-2 miles on the dirt road, when the steep hairpin bends start climbing the western side of the canyon all the way to the top. Canyonlands National Park is on the right side of the photo. Incredible views of Shafer Canyon from up top. Planning on driving Shafer Road summer 2019. The Corona Arch is a great hike and is highly recommended. Tip 1: If you start the Shafer Trail from Potash Road, you do not have to wait for traffic to get into the Canyonlands National Park. You can either start by entering through Canyonlands National Park, or you can start by taking the Potash Road in Moab, Utah. Just past the evaporation ponds your tires will hit paved road. View of the Shafer Canyon Switchbacks from Shafer Trail Viewpoint. It was a little scary, I'm not going to lie. 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. Combining the White Rim Trail and this trail is a great option. Some people like to start the trail at Potash Road because you can avoid the entrance fee station going into Canyonlands National Park. Sheep herders run sheep along the canyon, c. 1966. The trail was later widened when prospectors began mining the area for uranium. You can also learn more about the national parks (and get the full list) in our Guide to the US National Parks. If you want the best expansive views of the surrounding canyon lands, many people say the Dead Horse State Park has better views because it is higher above the river. Thank you. How to Drive Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road | Moab, Utah The view makes the whole ride worth it, both from the bottom and the top. Hello Markus. 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. Ranger Paul Downey was the Incident Commander. Shafer Canyon Overlook is not actually on the Shafer Trail. So we took off headed for the visitor center noticing the beautiful river and at the same time trying to figure how we were going to get out of the canyon since there didn't seem to be anyway out and we were looking at sheer cliff walls. Shafer trail was cool. The "trail" is not wide, actually you shouldn't take a big truck on there. I don't like heights to begin with but never dreamed it would be this terrifying. The trail is open even in the winter months, making it a fun year-round trail. 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. 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