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 Shafer Trail is named after the Shafer family, who were Mormon pioneer settlers. Truth be told, I"d do both again knowing now what I didnt' know then when we started out. The tasks performed by the animal must be directly related to the persons disability. I wouldnt do it again, nor recommend, but if youre a thrill seeker who likes living on the edge (literally) then youll love it! Uphill traffic has the right-of-way. Use berms and pull-outs to allow uphill traffic to pass safely. ! This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. 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?" 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. Literally cried, hands sweating buckets, and a death grip on the seat in front of me. Below are a few tips that can save you some money and make for a great trip. 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. Seatbelts are required on all roads. The Shafer Trail Road is a great trail for all skill levels and families. more Needles District Road Closures All Needles district 4x4 roads and Elephant Hill Access Road are closed and impassable due to severe weather. The scariest thing Ive ever done! Started at Canyonlands and went down into canyon. Here is the Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road driving route in detail. 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. 7:L :}flFSn?ZCW:z9i&U+ l| Many other trails at Island in the Sky also bear names for the families who worked them. But it is! At Mile 8, you will arrive at the Gooseneck Overlook on the Shafer Trail. The Shafer Trail, WOW!!! Followed that up the next day with a hike to Delicate Arch, where the last 200 feet is on the edge of a cliff! 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. The petroglyphs are close to a popular rock climbing area. The trail had recently opened and still had snow in some locations which made for some scary hair pin turns. Beautiful drive in a stock Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport 4X4. BEST OF CANYONLANDS: Top experiences in Canyonlands includes visiting the Island in the Sky district, driving the White Rim Road, hiking in the Needles district, and hiking the Syncline Loop. Julie Last updated: February 18, 2023 United States 10 Comments. Very cool trail. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. 4 0 obj 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. My truck is a 2001 Dodge 2500 4whell drive. 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. Visit our park website for more information on road conditions and safe driving. His death in hospital two years later was the result of complications from the head injuries sustained. The times that my eyes weren't closed tight, I would just stare at the mountain wall next to the truck. The Shafer Trail Canyon overlook is also known as the Shafer Trail Viewpoint. Were good . 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. 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. Shafer Trail in Canyonlands National Park is an off-roading experience and an incredible drive. This was a super fun trail with amazing views. Many backcountry roads in the Moab area used for recreation today were improved by the Atomic Energy Commission. Erkunde diese 31,5-Kilometer lange Strecke in der Nhe von Moab, Utah. View out towards Dead Horse Point State Park after the switchbacks. Buckle up! The steep, exposed sections of the Shafer Trail, Lathrop Canyon Road, Murphy's Hogback, Hardscrabble Hill, and the Mineral Bottom switchbacks make the White Rim loop a challenging ride, and require extreme caution for both vehicles and bikes during periods of inclement weather. You can click the check marks to hide or show layers. Beautiful views. 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. Absolutely not enough adjectives to describe this trail!! A bit before the White Rim Rd you take the left into the Potash Rd. You do not nearly scrape the wall or totter on the edge of oblivion. Canyonlands National Park Half-Day Tour from Moab, Canyonlands National Park Backcountry 4x4 Adventure from Moab, Arches and Canyonlands 4X4 Adventure from Moab, Immersive Canyonlands National Park All Day Hiking Experience, Canyonlands National Park White Rim Trail by 4WD, Sunset ATV Tour and Trail Experience in Hell's Revenge, Moab Combo: Colorado River Rafting and Canyonlands 4X4 Tour, Arches National Park 4x4 Adventure from Moab, Hell's Revenge 4x4 Off-Roading Tour from Moab, Day of Photography in Moab, Arches & Canyonlands, Discover Moab in A Day: Arches, Canyonlands, Dead Horse Pt, Colorado River Rafting: Afternoon Half-Day at Fisher Towers, Thrilling Guided You-Drive Hells Revenge UTV Tour In Moab UT, Moab Stand Up Paddleboarding: Splish and Splash Tour, Flatwater Fun: Moab Stand Up Paddleboarding. 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. Explore different ways to experience this place. Shafer Trail Road To White Rim Road, Canyonlands National Park. 17 miles of this road is unpaved. They split shortly after getting to the bottom of the Shafer Switchbacks. % Death Road is a lethal journey in the Bolivian Yungas region . These petroglyphs are about 5 miles down the Potash Road. We went top to bottom. Do I Need a Permit to Drive Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road? You can either start by entering through Canyonlands National Park, or you can start by taking the Potash Road in Moab, Utah. Awesome and not as scary as I thought it would be! A high-clearance vehicle with 4WD is also recommended for Potash Road. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Then, spend the rest of the day visiting the overlooks and hiking the short trails in the park. On the way, you will pass rock climbing sites and Corona Arch. Pretty sure we suffered with acute stress for a few days when trying to go to bed having flashbacks. There are several viewpoints along this part of the road for jaw-dropping views. Insane views!!!! ARCHES AND CANYONLANDS: If you have limited time, learn how to visit Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in one day and do this drive!. Highly recommend the ride but would only use 4WD vehicles for the clearance and sometimes rocky road. Just put it in 4WD and low and let it go! You dont need a highly modified rock crawler of any sort to drive it. The Shafer Trail in Canyonlands was named for the Shafer family. I refuse to do it again and I got nervous just watching the other vehicles that were on the trail. Amazing views! Drove a stock Subaru Forester from Shafer down through Potash no problem on a sunny day. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. It may take longer depending on how frequently you stop for photos. There are many places to pull over and allow oncoming traffic to pass. This is where you can see the Colorado River making a 180-degree turn in the canyon. Save a lunch break for Thelma & Louise Point. Dont forget if you are going on White Rim Road, you need to purchase a permit at recreation.gov or at the Visitor Center. 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. Once we made it to the bottom of the canyon alive we totally enjoyed the trail. Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road: Driving Route, For more details on how to plan your time in Canyonlands, read our post. Trail was amazing!! Ive got a full stock Nissan Titan XD with BFG KO2s and it was a pretty easy trail. Tammy Daybell's death was a homicide . 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 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. Print/PDF map. High-clearance 4WD vehicles with a low range gear (4LO) arehighly recommended. If you want to visit both on the same day, visit Arches early. In Moab, there are numerous companies that will rent 4WD vehicles. John Shafer gradually made the road better and easier to access, and other trails in the area are named after the families who worked on or around those trails. Shafer trail was cool. If youre in the Moab area and you are okay with some puckering at the beginning, its so worth it. Even though you just did it, it is still somehow unbelievable that you just drove down that seemingly unsurmountable canyon wall. x][~p/{Ni7/}d;b-A,%dRHf=,Gj~b5U;}A?6b~5D;4pC~y8}7?/O>9=zK={I>Ok+z.;==Ph: We cringed to see a number of passenger type vehicles traveling on it and observed lots of paint scrapes on Rocky sections. I came across this trail when doing research on the national parks for our trip to Moab. 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". The sheer cliffs are exciting but not unsafe. 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. This is because RZRs are not allowed to enter national parks. Unbelievable and amazing views if the Colorado! Copyright All Rights Reserved. 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. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. We plan to visit Canyonlands as part of our Utah adventure in mid to late May. Theres one question I have: Which date did you take the pictures? For this drive, we had a Jeep Rubicon that we rented from Jeep Canyonlands Rentals in Moab. 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$D*pVk:{7PQk2__5NCxb@yGJp|Um3ia/f.1{?~q{lok{Ac+l7jl4g ArC+/t/; ?BprFtW![b1ia!T?&&-8[5r$F[BzvlD+1I`;y|fX @Lw-xV4aSt Each year, hundreds of visitors experience the thrill of driving down the winding sandstone cliff to the basin below. It was filmed right here, next to the Colorado River, just outside of Dead Horse Point State Park. Follow this road all the way till you drive on the 279. Perfect control. Canyonlands can especially get busy once Arches closes. It was a little scary, I'm not going to lie. Most people start in Canyonlands and end in Moab. John Shafer is credited for improving the trail and making access into the canyon easier. We hope you find this guide helpful on your road trip. 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. Nearby you can also hike through Little Wild Horse slot canyon. 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. The Cannon Valley Trail has its eastern terminus in Red Wing. Once you get below the rim, you will take Potash Road 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. Day use permits are available up to 24 hours before your trip. We started at the top and had driven down to the bottom and I must say I have never been so scared in my life. Cars driving uphill have the right of way. <> The Shafer Trail in Moab, Utah is regarded as one of the most dangerous roads in America. USA ROAD TRIPS: Planning your next big adventure in the USA? Read our article about the 15 Best National Parks, where we narrow down the long list into 15 must-see parks. There are a few areas driving up narrow cliffs and hillsides. Today, the Shafer Trail is a challenging, unpavedbackcountry road for recreational users seeking the experience of a lifetime. Guard rails? We never felt unsafe or scared when driving the Shafer Trail. Today, the Shafer Trail is a challenging, unpavedbackcountry road for recreational users seeking the experience of a lifetime. Damaged soils are prone to erosion and invasive species. The road down the side of the canyon was plenty wide enough and there are multiple areas to pull aside along the way down, even with the switchbacks. Check out this 18.3-mile point-to-point trail near Moab, Utah. Very cool off drive instead of doing the scenic drive. Looks like some of the rock overhangs are lowwill we have enough clearance? It is also quite wide, at least compared to the White Rim Road. 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. All the same, I did see some all wheel drive cars on the trail doing just fine. But this adventure wouldn't be complete without ascending Shafer Trail to the top of the Island in the Sky. Here it is. By the time we realized it there was no turning back (literally). They stopped and chatted with us and asked if the roads were any better from the direction we had come from.we told them it was rough.but one look at the woman in the passenger seat should have given us a heads up that what was up ahead was some serious stuff.because her face was ashen white and she looked shell shocked. From here, you can see Shafer Canyon Road, the White Rim Road, Potash Road, and Dead Horse Point State Park. All 3 of us were very scared. For more information on driving the Shafer Trail, check out the Scenic Drives section under Things to Do. 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. Quite a few side by sides & dirtbikes but pretty low volume of other vehicles. VISIT THE US NATIONAL PARKS: Looking for your next big adventure? Turn left onto Potash Road. 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. My husband insisted on the trail. There is a vault toilet at the intersection of the White Rim Road and the Shafer Trail. Connecting Canyonlands National Park with Moab, the Shafer Trail Road/Shafer Canyon Road is an 18-mile dirt track into eastern Utah, featuring American Indian petroglyphs and natural stone arches. Good to know. Left image You can travel the Shafer Road from Potash Road and drive until you get to the White Rim Road and Shafer Trail intersection. I had thought it would be fun to have a little adventure and we both said "how bad can it be??". 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. Drive the Shafer Trail -Canyonlands Island in the Sky to Moab- The West is Big! Murphy Trailhead scheduled to close March 21-23 I don't like heights to begin with but never dreamed it would be this terrifying. <>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Little did I imagine we'd end up on this trail in a Dodge Ram!!! 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. It felt like we were in an Escher paining because you could not see the road ahead and it looked like we were driving into the canyon wall and would get stuck and just then the switchback would appear and we could see our way up and this went on for what seemed like 2 hours but I'm sure it took only half that time. Here the road had several deeps ruts which required some tight maneuvering in our vehicle. The Shafer Trail may take several months to repair and will remain closed until repairs are done. You will drive the White Rim Road out-and-back, since you do not have a permit and a campsite reservation to spend the night. It begins in Canyonlands and can be driven all the way through to Potash Road leading you back in the town of Moab. Do your research well!! Do you like the idea of venturing away from the crowds and driving through some truly dramatic landscapes? 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. Racetrack Road, Death Valley National Park. The Corona Arch is a great hike and is highly recommended. Amazing views. Insane!!!!! Today, the Shafer Trail is a challenging, unpaved backcountry road for recreational users seeking the experience of a lifetime You can start or end at two different locations depending on where you want to end on the Shafer Trail. 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. Dont forget to check out the White Rim area while you are there. You can drive all the way to Moab!! The hike to Corona Arch is 2.5 miles round trip and gets great reviews. Do you need to book in advance to visit Shafer Trail? It takes roughly 2 hours to do this drive. more, Canyonlands National Park Half-Day Tour from Moab. Or Dead Horse State Park? F350 with dually top to bottom no problem, Full sized F350 with dually went from top to bottom. This drive is a great way to add a little adventure to your visit to Canyonlands National Park. The switchbacks are a total of only about 1 mile long. A few larger steps that required a slower crawl but really nothing that a decent ground clearance cant handle. Two way traffic on about a 20-foot wide track? I personally would not, but it all depends on you of course. ATVs, OHVs, or UTVs are not permitted inside the park. It was far more intense, rough and free form with lots of gully crossings and rock. 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. Welcome to CS Ginger! We are an every day family prioritizing experiences and memories. John Shafer is credited for improving the trail and making access into the canyon easier. 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. This is a Jeep/4x4 trail t. 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. High-clearance 4WD vehicles with a low range gear (4LO) are strongly recommended. For the first 2.5 miles, you drive just below the rim. Just past the evaporation ponds your tires will hit paved road. The White Rim Trail and the Shafer Trail follow the same trail down the Shafer Switchbacks. We recommend booking Shafer Trail tours ahead of time to secure your spot. 83.0 Potash Road & Shafer Trail Road Junction Turning right onto Potash Road will take you back to Moab. The road is actually much wider than I expected. If youre looking for other fun 44 trails in Moab, be sure to check out Fins and Things and Hells Revenge. The "trail" is not wide, actually you shouldn't take a big truck on there. We have a jeep and 3 dogs. 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. We descended the trail in our Yukon XL. Turn right and in a few minutes, you will be in Moab. Potash road is fairly rough, limiting speed to 10 mph max. Seems to me it is more condusive to mountainbiking than driving. Utah-279 ends at Highway 191. Stupid question. Canyonlands National Park Half-Day Tour from Canyonlands National Park Backcountry 4x4 Arches and Canyonlands 4X4 Adventure from Moab. But be careful not to go after any rain!! Worked in perfectly for us after a quick trip to Mesa Arch. Some people like to start the trail at Potash Road because you can avoid the entrance fee station going into Canyonlands National Park. Watch for oncoming cars, since you'll need to pull over for on switchbacks; most parts on Shafer don't have room for 2 way traffic. Shafer Canyon Road is a well-maintained gravel road. Saw some bighorn sheep as we crossed through private property. I personally do not think a 4WD is necessary, but high clearance is definitely a must to avoid damaging your vehicle. Every muscle in my body was sore afterwards from clenching my muscles and I literally cried. 4/28/2023. Then it started raining which made things even scarier. If theres only 2 of you and the passenger wants to video, my suggestion would be to sit behind the driver for the first 1/2. We never would have made it out without the help of a plant worker!! A road that humbles the wildest of egos. Highly recommend this trip, lots of fun, but BE AWARE Potash Rd is NO JOKE! 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. 3 0 obj Today, hundred of visitors every year experience the thrill of a lifetime driving down the sandstone cliff to the basin below. The trail is open even in the winter months, making it a fun year-round trail. There are no vehicle length restrictions for the Shafer Canyon Raod and I just re-checked the NPS website. Youre welcome! Breathtaking views - well worth combining with Potash Rd. The Shafer Trail is named after the Shafer family, who were Mormon pioneer settlers. As the Shafer Trail starts to distance itself from the Colorado River, you will pass by the Potash Ponds. We drove 2,5h by GMC Terain. Death grip doesn't come close. Tip 3: Keep in mind that Canyonlands National Park is not as popular as Arches National Park. .=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` In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. The Shafer Trail Road in Canyonlands is a great 44 trail. I would not want to drive my own vehicle on this road and put this kind of wear and tear on 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. If you only have one day in Moab, visit Canyonlands in the morning, drive Shafer Canyon and Potash Road midday, and spend the afternoon in Arches National Park. To do this, you must have a permit. The view back up Shafer Canyon and the rim of the Island in the Sky mesa. Once you pass the Potash Ponds, you will shortly meet back up with the UT-279 that will take you back towards Moab. Highly recommend 4x4 off road car. Thus was my very first experience with 4-wheeling.We had started from the top of the trail that begins right before the visitor's center in Canyonlands, and took it all the way down to Potash, then to Moab. 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 I had to hang out of the window and guide him through the turn. However, like Shafer Canyon Road, a high-clearance AWD SUV should be sufficient. It is the county seat of Goodhue County. Shafer Trail was originally used by Native Americans. Another way you can combine the two trails is by going into Canyonland National Park and starting from inside the park. We are planning to visit in late June and drive Shafer to Potash. bar) and I had pretty much felt that my life was going to end that day. I started at the bottom to too and highly suggest that way over top to bottom. The first highlighted stop is the roadside petroglyphs. He informed me that if he did, we'd probably end up in the canyon, so I shut up and let him drive. If you are a photographer, consider visiting Mesa Arch at sunrise, to capture the glimmer of the first rays of sun under the arch. After Canyonlands was established in 1964, ranchers were granted a ten-year extension of ranching in the park. Cheers, Julie. Take your time here and scan the road for oncoming cars. Hardly anyone on the road until the end when reaching Moab. Note: If you do not turn left, you will begin the drive the White Rim Road. 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.
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