Loved the route and plan to do it again sometime!! 90% of travelers recommend this experience. Breathtaking views - well worth combining with Potash Rd. ARCHES NATIONAL PARK: While in Arches National Park, things to do include the Devils Garden Trail and a visit to Delicate Arch. Many other trails at Island in the Sky also bear names for the families who worked them. Now, you are below the rim but the views are still pretty awesome. Overtime, the use of Shafer transitioned from ranching to recreation. I was looking at a map and it called that road ORV trail, which made me nervous thinking it was only for side by sides. This drive on Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road was the grand finale to our two days on the White Rim Road. You will circle under Shafer Canyon Overlook (wave to the people taking your photos!) This is a Jeep/4x4 trail t. It is best to touch base with the Visitor Center to ensure there is nothing you should be aware of before starting your trip. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. Our Jeep. Shafer Road Utah - most dangerous road in USA Andy Renard 3.19K subscribers 50 4.6K views 4 years ago Shafer Canyon Road in Canyonlands, Utah, USA. The Shafer Trail Canyon overlook is also known as the Shafer Trail Viewpoint. This is one of the most spectacular, scenic. I personally do not think a 4WD is necessary, but high clearance is definitely a must to avoid damaging your vehicle. Laurent, Before you go, here is a link to what the National Park Service defines as a high-clearance vehicle. This is a rough road that eventually gives way to pavement. 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. 3 0 obj So my girlfriend and I decided to get going and check this drive out. .=PAdK+1k.F0DKRk&*q,^5`uAquAu5Ahc"MJ.H^i_BdO>x($+GKAuLXXr3R*"!BO>vepCPC[H-eXLw_ s`ooq2gq ;p|2 rQnnQd#VbY,+aWpJ!z4@sm~KHPC%#lsWb,ee'9g?*Bt10`ChXf^*ZFI]e-zaX}'Kb^0` It requires extreme caution at the best of times for vehicles and mountain bikes, but especially so in inclement weather and at night. 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. I have had a job that involved dangerous situations but this experience scared me to death more than my job ever did. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. 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. An incredible ride, not for the faint of heart - Review of Shafer Trail Potash Road and Shafer Trail: Road Trip from Moab to Canyonlands 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. All the same, I did see some all wheel drive cars on the trail doing just fine. We never felt unsafe or scared when driving the Shafer Trail. Thank you! I had a death-grip on the interior bar/handle in the truck (also known as an "OH MY GAWD!!!" Or driving the whole road up to Moab ? The UT-313 will take you 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. I could've sworn to you that the drop-off was about a trillion feet down, so I said, "Okaaaaaaayyyyy, you might want to maybe hurry this up a little." Fantastic and fun and completely doable. Answered all of my questions. 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. things to do in Canyonlands National Park. 4 0 obj John Shafer is credited for improving the trail and making access into the canyon easier. Credit: NPS Photo, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. The view back up Shafer Canyon and the rim of the Island in the Sky mesa. As we went thru the gate and headed doen the dirt road I told my girlfriend that this was'nt bad at all. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Seems to me it is more condusive to mountainbiking than driving. Try this 31.5-km point-to-point trail near Moab, Utah. beautiful accessible 4x4 Rd, just need 6+" of clearance. Click here to learn more. and then start the descent down the switchbacks. Another way you can combine the two trails is by going into Canyonland National Park and starting from inside the park. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. Most AWD SUVs will do just fine on this road, as long as it is not wet or snow-covered. Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road: Driving Route, For more details on how to plan your time in Canyonlands, read our post. We cringed to see a number of passenger type vehicles traveling on it and observed lots of paint scrapes on Rocky sections. I personally would not, but it all depends on you of course. To do this, you must have a permit for the White Rim Road. Planning on driving Shafer Road summer 2019. This section is a little more challenging as there are some small rock ledges you will drop down. Do you need to book in advance to visit Shafer Trail? Shafer Canyon Overlook is not actually on the Shafer Trail. I do have to admit the trail going down was steep, and the switchbacks were tight, getting down over the mountain into the bottom. . VISIT THE US NATIONAL PARKS: Looking for your next big adventure? During inclement weather, the road can become impassable. 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. From here, you look out over the Shafer Canyon switchbacks and Dead Horse Point State Park. The population was 16,459 at the 2010 census. 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. Then take the Potash Road and Shafer trail into Canyonlands National Park later in the day. Plenty of potholes and ruts and cobbles and small boulders on the dirt road. My friend and I had actually gone down this trail in June of 2008 (we were at Canyonlands again in June 2011). Shafer trail was cool. Erkunde diese 31,5-Kilometer lange Strecke in der Nhe von Moab, Utah. This is a very scenic area and a great section to stop and take pictures. 4 WD with 4 lo is recommended due to steep descent into canyon. The trail had recently opened and still had snow in some locations which made for some scary hair pin turns. 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? Both the permit and the high-clearance 4WD vehicle are enforced by the national park service. Quite a few mountain bikes and quad runners were on the trail. Directions Starting in Canyonlands National Park Thank you for the recommendation to go up hill (from Potash Rd to Canyon Land NP visitor center). One Day Canyonlands and Arches Itinerary. Read our article about the 15 Best National Parks, where we narrow down the long list into 15 must-see parks. From here, it is a smooth, easy drive back to Moab. [Steve Swanke, RISKY] The tasks performed by the animal must be directly related to the persons disability. Canyonlands National Park Half-Day Tour from Canyonlands National Park Backcountry 4x4 Arches and Canyonlands 4X4 Adventure from Moab. We did a lot of breathing and reassuring to get up the canyon wall. You can drive all the way to Moab!! At this point, you will start to be directly beneath the Dead Horse Point State Park. For this drive, we had a Jeep Rubicon that we rented from Jeep Canyonlands Rentals in Moab. At Mile 8, you will arrive at the Gooseneck Overlook on the Shafer Trail. I looked over and saw that the driver's side of the road had given way to a very steep drop-off, and also noticed that the road was narrowing. My wife was so scared she kept asking me to stop because she thought she wanted to get out of the truck. 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. You will also encounter a few smaller rock ledges. The arch is easily seen from the road, but if you are not paying attention, you will miss it. You will drive down Potash Road until it turns into Forest Road 142, which is the Shafer Trail. The park ranger warned of mud and ledges on Potash. Average Time of Drive: 2 hours. Turn left onto Potash Road. Want to report conditions for this trail? Try this 19.6-mile point-to-point trail near Moab, Utah. I would not want to drive my own vehicle on this road and put this kind of wear and tear on it. Very cool off drive instead of doing the scenic drive. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. The trickiest part for us was near the upper end of the Potash evaporation pools. 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 sheer cliffs are exciting but not unsafe. 96% of travelers recommend this experience. 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. Went in 2020 and this has become a near death story telling experience we share with friends lol. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Credit: NPS Photo, Right image The final scene of the movie Thelma and Louise, when they drove off of the cliff, was not filmed in the Grand Canyon. Total Distance: 39 miles Length of Time: 2 hours. I heartily disagree, because at least when you're going down the canyon, you can see what lies on the road ahead. Make sure to check Twitter if you want to check if any of the parks have closed because of too many people. We went top to bottom. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. Shafer Trail in Canyonlands National Park is an off-roading experience and an incredible drive. This is known as a Gooseneck. The Shafer Trail in Moab, Utah is regarded as one of the most dangerous roads in America. I refuse to do it again and I got nervous just watching the other vehicles that were on the trail. Incredible views of Shafer Canyon from up top. Dont forget to check out the White Rim area while you are there. Check theweather reportbefore starting your trip andcurrent road conditionsbefore heading out. Killer drive!!!! There are no vehicle length restrictions for the Shafer Canyon Raod and I just re-checked the NPS website. 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. This is where you can see the Colorado River making a 180-degree turn in the canyon. One Perfect Day in Canyonlands National Park. You can take a RZR on part of the Shafer Trail, but you cannot take it on the entirety of the trail. Rivian only used 10 miles of range the entire way down! Canyonlands can especially get busy once Arches closes. This includes street-legal OHVs. If you drive into the park from the Shafer Trail, you can avoid the entrance station altogether. Pretty sure we suffered with acute stress for a few days when trying to go to bed having flashbacks. Youre welcome. Shafer Trail Closed The unpaved Shafer Trail road at Island in the Sky is closed due to winter conditions. The National Park Service recommends that you drive a high-clearance 4WD vehicle on Shafer Canyon Road. We had to wait about an hour to get into Canyonlands one day. Canyonlands National Park is on the right side of the photo. The Shafer Trail in Utah is the perfect way to experience Canyonland National Park, and we have written about all the highlights of this trip, including the Shafer Trail Switchbacks, overlooks, and how to get there. Went back to Moab via Potash Rd. High-clearance 4WD vehicles with a low range gear (4LO) arehighly recommended. Here is a photo looking up at the point. We took the Shafer trail from Canyonlands all the way back to Moab. For more information on driving the Shafer Trail, check out the Scenic Drives section under Things to Do. 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). My husband loves it. We continued down the trail to the Potash road and on to highway 239. The switchbacks are no joke but once those are behind you its pretty smooth sailing. Have a great trip to Canyonlands! 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. Nothing too challenging (in a 2021 Jeep Rubicon with 35 tires), however, I would not consider doing this in a stock or low clearance vehicle. The Shafer Trail may take several months to repair and will remain closed until repairs are done. This photo was taken at the top of Shafer Canyon Road, about one mile before starting down the Shafer Trail switchbacks. White Rim Road: Detailed Planning Guide and Checklist qKHWHql2AH5iADn:jK ^T%Q]OhS'QoOIT]N f1HK{:AN Insane!!!!! Canyonlands National Park charges a fee to enter. During the busy months, you can easily wait for an hour or more just to get into Canyonlands National Park or Arches National Park. Unbelievable and amazing views if the Colorado! From here the Shafer Canyon Road, also known as the Shafer Trail, begins to climb gradually, offering exceptional views over the entire valley. Left image Length 19.6 miElevation gain 3,106 ftRoute type Point to point. It is a popular photo spot for many because the Shafer Switchbacks are unique and make for a fun picture. Here it is. Would need to know where are the dirtiest parts of the shafter canyon road ? No, you do not need a permit to drive these roads. I've stood over Niagara Falls, right on the edge, done the Gondolla up and down Jasper Mountain, heights hadn't been a problem before this "ride". Tammy Daybell's death was a homicide . Shafer Trail (Canyonlands National Park) - Tripadvisor For more information, please see, No conditions reported in the past 7 days. 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. 4/28/2023. The photos of the trail (and looking at it on Google Earth) made it look quite scary, however after watching the drive real time on YouTube it seemed very doable. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. 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. Shafer Trail Road-Potash Road is the name of an iconic drive located on the east central edge of Utah, in the western United States. Most definitely. We are planning to visit in late June and drive Shafer to Potash. This is a far less busy arch than Corona Arch, but it is a fun and underrated hike. 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. The switchbacks are a total of only about 1 mile long. Our family travels throughout the United States in our RV visiting beaches, national parks and everything in between.