Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. The first highlighted stop is the roadside petroglyphs. Do I Need a Permit to Drive Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road? The times that my eyes weren't closed tight, I would just stare at the mountain wall next to the truck. Do you need to book in advance to visit Shafer Trail? One Perfect Day in Canyonlands National Park. Was not as scary as I thought it would be. I can't describe the relief I felt once we made it to the bottom. 4 0 obj Have you seen photos of the Shafer Canyon switchbacks and said to yourself, wow, Id really love to drive on that road? Murphy Trailhead scheduled to close March 21-23 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 It's narrow but nothing too crazy. Here is the Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road driving route in detail. 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. Cheers, Julie, Hello, Laurent from France here. I recommend visiting the Shafer Canyon Overlook before starting your drive. The overlook is pretty cool. The Shafer Trail in Moab, Utah is regarded as one of the most dangerous roads in America. Very good trail. For this drive, we had a Jeep Rubicon that we rented from Jeep Canyonlands Rentals in Moab. Both the permit and the high-clearance 4WD vehicle are enforced by the national park service. 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. At 22 feet long it would be difficult to find a place to turn around if needed. Answered all of my questions. Death grip doesn't come close. Since I was oblivious to the true nature of the drop-off, I thought it was cool, and made him stop so I could take some pictures. Breathtaking views - well worth combining with Potash Rd. Cattle trail which can be used by sport vehicles. We kept hoping no one was coming up from the bottom because there was absolutely no way to pull over or back up. 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. At Mile 17, the road becomes Shafer Basin road. You do need to pay attention when driving the trail because there is two-way traffic, and at times, you may need to pull over at a pull-out to let other vehicles pass. Driving the Shafer Trail is something that youll never forget, however, it is important to do it safely. Do make sure you check on the road conditions. You will circle under Shafer Canyon Overlook (wave to the people taking your photos!) Planning on driving Shafer Road summer 2019. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. 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. When authorities recovered his body, they found the remains of other hikers who had suffered the same fate. The views are amazing, and we enjoyed exploring this less-visited trail in Moab. Die Route wird grundstzlich als moderat eingestuft und kann zumeist in 8 Std 44 Min bewltigt werden. It takes roughly 2 hours to do this drive. We loved this off-road experience. They are steep, and it is recommended to travel them in 4 low. Explore different ways to experience this place. 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. The trail had recently opened and still had snow in some locations which made for some scary hair pin turns. qKHWHql2AH5iADn:jK ^T%Q]OhS'QoOIT]N f1HK{:AN Generally considered a moderately challenging route. <> Shafer Canyon Road starts one mile north of the Canyonlands Visitor Center on Island in the Sky Road. It was filmed right here, next to the Colorado River, just outside of Dead Horse Point State Park. I had to hang out of the window and guide him through the turn. She was already getting a death grip on what ever she could grab. We got into the bottom and the road was like a hi-way, wide, gravel road. Get the full details on how to do this in our One Day Canyonlands and Arches Itinerary. Or is it a road that goes to Potash and then back to Canyonlands? Shafer Trail. Worked in perfectly for us after a quick trip to Mesa Arch. My husband loves it. 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. Very cool trail. You can see the first part of Shafer Canyon Road on top of the rim, just before the switchbacks. The road gets its name because it traverses the top of White Rim Sandstone. Once you pass the Potash Ponds, you will shortly meet back up with the UT-279 that will take you back towards Moab. The Shafer family were pioneers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 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. After Canyonlands was established as a National Park in 1964, the Shafer Trail transitioned from a ranching and mining road to a route used primarily for recreation. However, we were really interested in driving Potash Road back to Moab. 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. The trickiest part for us was near the upper end of the Potash evaporation pools. However, like Shafer Canyon Road, a high-clearance AWD SUV should be sufficient. Seriously, we're talking about 180 degree switchbacks hanging off the ledge of the canyon, complete with hairpin turns, starting from probably a mile high. Here it is. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. We are planning to visit in late June and drive Shafer to Potash. The White Rim Trail and the Shafer Trail follow the same trail down the Shafer Switchbacks. 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. 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. Absolutely not enough adjectives to describe this trail!! Quite a few side by sides & dirtbikes but pretty low volume of other vehicles. This road runs along the Colorado River. I don't think I've ever been so scared in my life. The Shafer Trail, WOW!!! An incredible ride, not for the faint of heart - Review of Shafer Trail Perfect control. This is because RZRs are not allowed to enter national parks. Canyonlands National Park charges a fee to enter. Today, the Shafer Trail is a challenging, unpavedbackcountry road for recreational users seeking the experience of a lifetime. Travel 38.3K subscribers Join Subscribe 2.7K 234K views 4 years ago CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK In this segment of. The road is actually much wider than I expected. Save a lunch break for Thelma & Louise Point. In Moab, there are numerous companies that will rent 4WD vehicles. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. This section is a little more challenging as there are some small rock ledges you will drop down. In this photo, you can see Potash Road as it runs along the Colorado River. 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. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Length 19.6 miElevation gain 3,106 ftRoute type Point to point. Overtime, the use of Shafer transitioned from ranching to recreation. Red Wing, MN Map & Directions - MapQuest The Shafer Trail Viewpoint, located a little farther down the road, is spectacular, too. Tammy Daybell's death was a homicide . Once past the Shafer Canyon switchbacks, the road levels out. 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. Shafer Canyon Road is a well-maintained gravel road. The most thrilling part of the drive. Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. So, we drove back down the switchbacks and took Potash Road to Moab. Thats the best view, from the drivers side. From here, you can see Shafer Canyon Road, the White Rim Road, Potash Road, and Dead Horse Point State Park. 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. We drove on thru, and up by the potash lakes, and then the road was paved on itno Moab. This is a very popular area for mountain biking and scenic driving, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. What was actually a 1/2 day ride might as well have been an eternity because that is what it felt like. The best times to visit this trail are March through November. In the corner of the 279 is a parking spot, you can hike to the Corona Arch Trailhead!! Your email address will not be published. This is not an overly challenging trail, but it is a fun trail. Nearby you can also hike through Little Wild Horse slot canyon. What a great summary of the route. Great views!!! Just put it in 4WD and low and let it go! Youre welcome. Total Distance: 39 miles Length of Time: 2 hours. The Shafer Trail in Canyonlands was named for the Shafer family. This small roadside pullout is paved with enough space to accommodate a handful of cars. We drove the backway from Potash Road. Not at all technical but use Low 4 Wheel at least thru the switchbacks. You can also get updated conditions and advice by speaking to a park ranger in the visitor center. 96% of travelers recommend this experience. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. 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. 3 0 obj 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. 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. We went top to bottom. Beautiful drive in a stock Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport 4X4. The Moab Giants is right on the corner of the intersection of US-191 and UT-313. All the same, I did see some all wheel drive cars on the trail doing just fine. For sections of this road, the surface is a rough, worn slickrock and when you drive over it, your entire vehicle will vibrate and rattle like crazy. Most definitely. Then take the Potash Road and Shafer trail into Canyonlands National Park later in the day. This is one of the fun Moab off road trails. It is also quite wide, at least compared to the White Rim Road. Said we needed 4wheel drive and high clearance. We went out of service so sorry in advance for the trip length! The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Forgettaboutit. The switchbacks are a total of only about 1 mile long. Truth be told, I"d do both again knowing now what I didnt' know then when we started out. Turn right and in a few minutes, you will be in Moab. Hello Markus. Details. A little technical in some places but they just find in a Subaru. We took the Shafer trail from Canyonlands all the way back to Moab. 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. The park ranger warned of mud and ledges on Potash. We checked in at the visitors center, and the gentlemen told us it was a 9hour drive one way. However, it does intersect with the White Rim Road, and the White Rim Road does require a permit. this was at 2:30pm. Just past the Petroglyphs around mile 5.8, you will run into the parking lot for the Poison Spider Mesa off-road trail. Enjoy the views. Little did I imagine we'd end up on this trail in a Dodge Ram!!! The view back up Shafer Canyon and the rim of the Island in the Sky mesa. 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. 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. This photo was taken at the top of Shafer Canyon Road, about one mile before starting down the Shafer Trail switchbacks. Shafer Trail, Canyonlands National Park: Address, Phone Number, Shafer Trail Reviews: 4.5/5. We are here to show you that traveling as a family is not as hard as you might think. At one point the right rear wheel was airborne! While we never bottomed out, one of us had to get out on several occasions to scout the road ahead for the best path. Would need to know where are the dirtiest parts of the shafter canyon road ? There is one low overhang that could be a problem as well as one tight turn. Our family travels throughout the United States in our RV visiting beaches, national parks and everything in between. Seems to me it is more condusive to mountainbiking than driving. If you chose to make the short add on to Goosenecks overlook off the White Rim Road, you WILL need a permit which is easy to get at the visitors center. Never again!! - Review of Shafer Trail, Canyonlands - Tripadvisor White Rim Trail 4x4 Off-Road Tips and Guide - Off-Roading Pro The Shafer Trail is safe but can become unsafe if driven during times of inclement weather. View of the Shafer Canyon Switchbacks from Shafer Trail Viewpoint. Highly recommend the ride but would only use 4WD vehicles for the clearance and sometimes rocky road. Ranger Paul Downey was the Incident Commander. Shafer Trail. Judging from the subtle fall foliage along the banks of the Colorado, I would estimate this at late October or early November. 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. Shafer Trail Road To White Rim Road, Canyonlands National Park. A few larger steps that required a slower crawl but really nothing that a decent ground clearance cant handle. Once on the White Rim Road, you can go as far as Gooseberry campground or Monument Basin. Check out this 18.3-mile point-to-point trail near Moab, Utah. Make sure to check Twitter if you want to check if any of the parks have closed because of too many people. 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. Be prepared.it does jostle the neck around a bit! 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. See all 4 Shafer Trail tours on Tripadvisor, Base Camp Adventure Lodge, King on the front porch, View all hotels near Shafer Trail on Tripadvisor, Things to Do in Canyonlands National Park, Canyonlands National Park Pet Friendly Campgrounds, Hotels near Island In The Sky Visitor Center, Hotels near Salt Lake City Intl Airport (SLC), Motels near Salt Lake City Intl Airport (SLC), All things to do in Canyonlands National Park, Geologic Formations in Canyonlands National Park, National Parks in Canyonlands National Park, Biking Trails in Canyonlands National Park, Hiking Trails in Canyonlands National Park, Bodies of Water in Canyonlands National Park, Scenic Drives in Canyonlands National Park, Historic Sites in Canyonlands National Park, Historic Walking Areas in Canyonlands National Park, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Canyonlands National Park, Visitor Centers in Canyonlands National Park, Grand View Point Overlook: Tickets & Tours, Dead Horse Point State Park: Tickets & Tours, Island In The Sky Visitor Center: Tickets & Tours, Arsenal Football Club Emirates Stadium Tour, Small-Group Bayou Airboat Ride with Transport from New Orleans, Scenic 17-Mile Drive Tour - Self Drive Audio Guide from Monterey & Carmel. During the busy months, you can easily wait for an hour or more just to get into Canyonlands National Park or Arches National Park. I suggest come clearance on your vehicle for some parts. It was a little scary, I'm not going to lie. This is another nice overlook. 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. However, the mines produced very little uranium and were soon abandoned. No timelapse - No CutsShafer Trail Road-Shafer Canyon Road is a 18 miles dangerous dirt track located near Moab, in eastern Utah, in the western United State. I do have to admit the trail going down was steep, and the switchbacks were tight, getting down over the mountain into the bottom. Shafer Trail - Canyonlands - Utah - Full - YouTube Try this 31.5-km point-to-point trail near Moab, Utah. After watching the videos she said no way. What changed her mind was when we saw the trail from the Shafer Canyon overlook in Canyonlands. This was a super fun trail with amazing views. You dont need a highly modified rock crawler of any sort to drive it. I recommend renting a vehicle for this drive. This drive is a great way to add a little adventure to your visit to Canyonlands National Park. Today, hundred of visitors every year experience the thrill of a lifetime driving down the sandstone cliff to the basin below. John Shafer is credited for improving the trail and making access into the canyon easier. The 2022 edition of Maple Weekend runs March 19 and 20 and March 26 and 27. If you are a photographer, consider visiting Mesa Arch at sunrise, to capture the glimmer of the first rays of sun under the arch. Shafer Trail, 1.007 Fotos - Utah | AllTrails You do not nearly scrape the wall or totter on the edge of oblivion. Thank you! The Shafer Trail may take several months to repair and will remain closed until repairs are done. 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. The National Park Service recommends that you drive a high-clearance 4WD vehicle on Shafer Canyon Road. Sweden Online Genealogy Records FamilySearch How to Drive the White Rim Road: Map, Photos & Driving Tips We recommend booking Shafer Trail tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Not really technical but if you want to continue via Potash Road, you'll need high clearance. Once you get past the ponds, it is a paved road to Moab. Dont forget to check out the White Rim area while you are there. I refuse to do it again and I got nervous just watching the other vehicles that were on the trail. f6t,mHpS3Ej}j&;T )0n Ive got a full stock Nissan Titan XD with BFG KO2s and it was a pretty easy trail. If you drive into the park from the Shafer Trail, you can avoid the entrance station altogether. Loved the route and plan to do it again sometime!! I think the 8 hr time is based on hiking, not driving. After you turn left onto the Shafer Trail (AKA Potash Road), you will descend and shortly cross a small river bed. My truck is a 2001 Dodge 2500 4whell drive. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. Check our our USA Road Trip Guide for travel ideas and sample itineraries. There are a few areas driving up narrow cliffs and hillsides. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Damaged soils are prone to erosion and invasive species. Even though you just did it, it is still somehow unbelievable that you just drove down that seemingly unsurmountable canyon wall. some areas require 4x4 but we saw cars on the road. Shafer Road Utah - most dangerous road in USA - YouTube Shafer Trail (Canyonlands National Park) - Tripadvisor In fact I told my wife there doesn't look like there is a road out of here. I knew something was up when we ran into a couple that had just come through the canyon part of the drive in a smaller 4 wheel drive. Credit: NPS Photo, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. I will be there in May 2021! Cars driving uphill have the right of way. We drove from Moab to Potash Trail and then picked up Shafer Trail near the evaporation ponds 2.25 hrs to complete then 45 min drive back to Moab!! Fantastic and fun and completely doable. As you drive down Potash Road, you will pass multiple significant highlights. Insane views!!!! These petroglyphs are about 5 miles down the Potash Road. Too down in an AWD Chevy Equinox and had no issues. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. I came across this trail when doing research on the national parks for our trip to Moab. 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. The Shafer Trail difficulty rating is moderate because there are some steep switchbacks. Respect For Canyonlands National Park - Wing-It Worldwide Shafer Trail Closed The unpaved Shafer Trail road at Island in the Sky is closed due to winter conditions. Do your research well!! This was a nice way to end the day after doing 3 hikes at Canyonlands. Erkunde diese 31,5-Kilometer lange Strecke in der Nhe von Moab, Utah. Now, you are below the rim but the views are still pretty awesome. After Canyonlands was established in 1964, ranchers were granted a ten-year extension of ranching in the park. Uphill traffic has the right-of-way. Use berms and pull-outs to allow uphill traffic to pass safely. Youre welcome! 99% of travelers recommend this experience. On day 2, we finished the loop, ending with the drive up the Shafer Canyon switchbacks. It is hopeful that repairs at Upheaval Bottom, Taylor Canyon and Lathrop Canyon can be completed within the next week. Da sich der Weg bestens zum Mountainbiken und Fahren mit Aussicht eignet, bist du selten allein unterwegs und wirst whrend deines Ausflugs auch auf andere Abenteurer treffen. Its a very cool drive!! 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. So much fun to drive! Take your time here and scan the road for oncoming cars. Part of the trail had flooded and washed away!! Myself, growing up 4wheeling and driving the back woods, and wherever else I could go, I consider myself a good 4wheeling driver. I personally do not think a 4WD is necessary, but high clearance is definitely a must to avoid damaging your vehicle. I would not attempt it as it is quite a dangerous road and quite challenging especially with a caravan I would only attempt it with a good 4 wheel drive, and it would be a challenge even for a 4WD especially in bad weather at night etc. We never needed to put our vehicle in 4WD for these two roads. I think that the Shafer Canyon switchbacks look a lot more dangerous from the viewpoints than when you are actually driving on them. It requires extreme caution at the best of times for vehicles and mountain bikes, but especially so in inclement weather and at night. Two way traffic on about a 20-foot wide track? 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. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. If you plan to do this drive during this time, get updated road conditions on the National Park Service website or at the visitor center. Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road are two dirt roads that connect Canyonlands National Park with Moab. Drove a stock Subaru Forester from Shafer down through Potash no problem on a sunny day. ATVs, OHVs, or UTVs are not permitted inside the park. and then start the descent down the switchbacks. All I could imagine was going box over hood all the way to the bottom when our truck slid on the icy surface of these "switchbacks" over the edge.