Shafer Trail or Shafer Canyon Road? 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. Stunning trip - adequate challenge for a dirt road beginner. Shafer Trail, Canyonlands National Park: Address, Phone Number, Shafer Trail Reviews: 4.5/5. Planning on driving Shafer Road summer 2019. Photos (1,008) Directions. Hair-Raising Drives In The National Park System The best times to visit this trail are March through November. How to Drive the White Rim Road: Map, Photos & Driving Tips 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. I had to hang out of the window and guide him through the turn. 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. Perfect control. Here the road had several deeps ruts which required some tight maneuvering in our vehicle. Shafer Trail. One Perfect Day in Canyonlands National Park. If you click the icons on the map, you can get more information about each point of interest. 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. White Rim Road: Detailed Planning Guide and Checklist Was not as scary as I thought it would be. What a great road to explore on. This is a very popular area for mountain biking and scenic driving, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. 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. Pretty sure we suffered with acute stress for a few days when trying to go to bed having flashbacks. Do you need to book in advance to visit Shafer Trail? After reading the reviews, I couldn't decide if this road was doable or not! 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. *8]YKE$e?6[c`dq;dDUt+). I would NOT do this in a car. 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. 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. In this photo, you can see Potash Road as it runs along the Colorado River. Can any length of this trail be safely driven out and back on a regular clearance 2WD? You can also purchase a park-specific annual pass. Winding "road of death" in Canyonlands National Parkthe Shafer Trail. Cars driving uphill have the right of way. You have scenery, the interesting photo op presented at Tea Kettle Junction, and . What was actually a 1/2 day ride might as well have been an eternity because that is what it felt like. We were in a Nissan Frontier truck (4dr cab, 4-wheel drive) and at times my friend could not tell which way the trail went and we hoped we would not end up going over the sheer drop-offs. As we went thru the gate and headed doen the dirt road I told my girlfriend that this was'nt bad at all. Just make sure you give yourself at least an hour and a half of daylight, to get back onto paved road before sunset. We love the switchbacks that are near the entrance of Canyonlands National Park. I wouldnt do it again, nor recommend, but if youre a thrill seeker who likes living on the edge (literally) then youll love it! Then, spend the rest of the day visiting the overlooks and hiking the short trails in the park. 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. Required fields are marked *. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. This was a nice way to end the day after doing 3 hikes at Canyonlands. After Canyonlands was established in 1964, ranchers were granted a ten-year extension of ranching in the park. Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road: Driving Route, For more details on how to plan your time in Canyonlands, read our post. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. Make sure your vehicle falls within these guidelines before you go. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. I also read your list of the 10 best things to see/do in Islands in the Sky District. Copyright All Rights Reserved. White Rim Road - National Park Service Potash road is fairly rough, limiting speed to 10 mph max. Every muscle in my body was sore afterwards from clenching my muscles and I literally cried. Turn right and in a few minutes, you will be in Moab. beautiful accessible 4x4 Rd, just need 6+" of clearance. 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. It is best to touch base with the Visitor Center to ensure there is nothing you should be aware of before starting your trip. You can do this in different ways, and there is no exact right way to do it. The switchbacks are no joke but once those are behind you its pretty smooth sailing. Well this is like that except you dont know its going to be ok when you feel like any plethora of rocks could slide onto you, out from under you, or somehow end up off the narrow ledge/road, and it lasts an hour!!! 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. I don't think I've ever been so scared in my life. There are many places to pull over and allow oncoming traffic to pass. There are several viewpoints along this part of the road for jaw-dropping views. Red Wing is a city in Goodhue County, Minnesota, United States, on the Mississippi River. Thanks for this AMAZING account that basically leaves nothing unclear! Your email address will not be published. One Day Canyonlands and Arches Itinerary. Too down in an AWD Chevy Equinox and had no issues. There are no vehicle length restrictions for the Shafer Canyon Raod and I just re-checked the NPS website. Its a very cool drive!! We also did it a few days before Memorial Day, so we didn't have any contentious weather, and we also came across many other people on the trail as well.It started off as a very nice ride. The Shafer Trail is named after the Shafer family, who were Mormon pioneer settlers. Shafer Trail - Canyonlands - Utah - Full - YouTube Highly recommend this trip, lots of fun, but BE AWARE Potash Rd is NO JOKE! I heartily disagree, because at least when you're going down the canyon, you can see what lies on the road ahead. Thanks for your reply, thanks for your great site !!! USA ROAD TRIPS: Planning your next big adventure in the USA? The Shafer Trail road can be accessed by anyone in a high-clearance 4WD vehicle with a low range gear (4LO) (recommended). When authorities recovered his body, they found the remains of other hikers who had suffered the same fate. The most thrilling part of the drive. <>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> I think the 8 hr time is based on hiking, not driving. It looks like you'd need a 4 wheel drive vehicle but it's. this was at 2:30pm. Death grip doesn't come close. I'd recommend it for at least the semi-experienced 4 wheeler and probably between the months of April-October if you don't want to deal with winter weather/slick conditions. 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. We drove it terrifying but breathtaking if you like heights! I think that the Shafer Canyon switchbacks look a lot more dangerous from the viewpoints than when you are actually driving on them. Judging from the subtle fall foliage along the banks of the Colorado, I would estimate this at late October or early November. Did it going down the canyon along Potash Rd all the way to Moab (as we thought going up would be more difficult with tires spinning) and did not bottom out once. Part of the trail had flooded and washed away!! The Shafer Trail in Moab: A Complete Trail Guide for 2023 Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. go slow but why would you want to go fast anyway!? 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. It's a little on the scary side at times, but highly worth it for both the 4 wheeler (hubby) and shutterbug (me) alike. The Road was so Steep, My Wife Jumped out of the Truck! If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. 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. The Shafer Trail may take several months to repair and will remain closed until repairs are done. <> We never felt unsafe or scared when driving the Shafer Trail. Canyonlands National Park charges a fee to enter. ATVs, OHVs, or UTVs are not permitted inside the park. Many backcountry roads in the Moab area used for recreation today were improved by the Atomic Energy Commission. qKHWHql2AH5iADn:jK ^T%Q]OhS'QoOIT]N f1HK{:AN Stupid question. No, you do not need a permit to drive these roads. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to Your Places, click Maps, and you will see this map on your list. 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. However, like Shafer Canyon Road, a high-clearance AWD SUV should be sufficient. Good eyewe did this in early November, around November 9 or 10 I believe. We did a lot of breathing and reassuring to get up the canyon wall. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. It is hopeful that repairs at Upheaval Bottom, Taylor Canyon and Lathrop Canyon can be completed within the next week. The views are amazing, and we enjoyed exploring this less-visited trail in Moab. He informed me that if he did, we'd probably end up in the canyon, so I shut up and let him drive. Backcountry driving conditions can change rapidly after rain or snow. <> Remember, unlike in the past, high-clearance, 4WD vehicles with low gear settings (4LO) are highly recommended to traverse this route. 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. There are a lot of places to pull off at the bottom to take some really good pictures of the Colorado River and rock formations as well. For the full list, check out our Canyonlands Travel Guide. However, the mines produced very little uranium and were soon abandoned. Pretty moderate drive, nothing technical. Most Dangerous Road in the United States - Shafer Trail to Potash Road 4 0 obj And with 140 farms in Upstate participating, there are plenty of sugar shacks to choose from in every region. 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. I was just at Canyonlands again in June 2011 and took some photos from an overlook of Shafer Trail and I still get weak-kneed when I think about riding down the canyon. Or is it a road that goes to Potash and then back to Canyonlands? We took it with a FWD Kia SUV, and we had no problem whatsoever. Took the trail down into the canyon and on to White Rim Rd to Musselman Arch where we returned to Potash Rd for the 32 mile return trip to Moab. Overall, it was a must do!! .=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` Does it get me close? Drive the Shafer Trail -Canyonlands Island in the Sky to Moab- The West is Big! For more information on driving the Shafer Trail, check out the Scenic Drives section under Things to Do. We are planning to visit in late June and drive Shafer to Potash. Said we needed 4wheel drive and high clearance. Sweden Online Genealogy Records FamilySearch Definitely do not do without 4WD if it is wet/muddy though. 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. A few larger steps that required a slower crawl but really nothing that a decent ground clearance cant handle. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. We are familiar with driving on remote, dirt roads, but want to know: We will be driving a 4-WD long bed pickup with a length of 21 ft. Will this be o.k. Amazing views. I don't like heights to begin with but never dreamed it would be this terrifying. 99% of travelers recommend this experience. 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 Trail: 205 Reviews, 1,039 Photos, Map - Utah | AllTrails more, Canyonlands National Park Half-Day Tour from Moab. Shafer Canyon Overlook is not actually on the Shafer Trail. Seatbelts are required on all roads. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Cheers, Julie. Went back to Moab via Potash Rd. 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! 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. endobj Welcome to CS Ginger! Julie Last updated: February 18, 2023 United States 10 Comments. For the first 2.5 miles, you drive just below the rim. It is a must!! 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. An incredible ride, not for the faint of heart - Review of Shafer Trail Make sure to check Twitter if you want to check if any of the parks have closed because of too many people. The Shafer Trail in Moab was later improved along with the White Rim Road by the Atomic Energy Commission, which used the trails to move uranium-rich bedrock into Moab to be processed. Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. His death in hospital two years later was the result of complications from the head injuries sustained. 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. Nearby you can also hike through Little Wild Horse slot canyon. Or driving the whole road up to Moab ? The Shafer Trail Road in Canyonlands is a great 44 trail. Not for two-wheel-drive sedans, but rather 4WD or AWD, this narrow thread of road leads to the fabled land of moving rocks in the heart of Death Valley. I recommend renting a vehicle for this drive. We were overcome with fear for the entire two hours it took (13 miles, sharp switchbacks, going 8/9 mph) and our mortality became real. If you drive into the park from the Shafer Trail, you can avoid the entrance station altogether. This is a must drive if you have a high clearance, 4 wheel drive vehicle. If you still have time and energy left, this is another cool spot to add onto this drive. John Shafer is credited for improving the trail and making access into the canyon easier. 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. These are genealogy links to Sweden online databases and indexes that may include birth records, marriage records, death records, biographies, cemeteries, censuses, histories, immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, obituaries, or probate records. 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. 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. You can obtain this permit online or at the visitor center. Experience the Shafer Trail - National Park Service Geologically, this is the layer of rock that sits right below . Try this 19.6-mile point-to-point trail near Moab, Utah. The view from the flat area was awesome and a great stop after doing 1/2 of the trail. Were good . I would not want to drive my own vehicle on this road and put this kind of wear and tear on it. It is a great overlook that lets you see the Shafer Switchbacks that you will drive down when you do decide to go on the Shafer Trail. Depending on the source, you will see this road referred to by two different names. Pets may be transported inside vehicles only. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. 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. You can also join a guided tour. The Cannon Valley Trail has its eastern terminus in Red Wing. Do you like the idea of venturing away from the crowds and driving through some truly dramatic landscapes? 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. Today, the Shafer Trail is a challenging, unpavedbackcountry road for recreational users seeking the experience of a lifetime. Hi, I am returning to Canyonlands in September 2018. Once you get past the ponds, it is a paved road to Moab. Travel 38.3K subscribers Join Subscribe 2.7K 234K views 4 years ago CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK In this segment of. 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. Please stay on the trail so as not to disturb biological soil crust. Get an early start, arriving in Canyonlands at or just after sunrise. Some subscription websites listed below can be . 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. 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 Viewpoint - National Park Service At Mile 17, the road becomes Shafer Basin road. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Just past the Petroglyphs around mile 5.8, you will run into the parking lot for the Poison Spider Mesa off-road trail. During inclement weather, the road can become impassable. Once past the Shafer Canyon switchbacks, the road levels out. This is a rough road that eventually gives way to pavement. The trail had recently opened and still had snow in some locations which made for some scary hair pin turns. The scariest thing Ive ever done! Just under 10 miles down Potash Road, you will find parking for the popular Bowtie Arch and Corona Arch. How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left hand corner of the map to view the layers (points of interest and the driving route). All stock. Ive got a full stock Nissan Titan XD with BFG KO2s and it was a pretty easy trail. Check out this 18.3-mile point-to-point trail near Moab, Utah. You will travel this road for about 2.5 miles until you start into the Shafer Switchbacks. This part of the road is relatively smooth and very well maintained. Looks like some of the rock overhangs are lowwill we have enough clearance? 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. Turn left onto Potash Road. Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road are much wider and in much better condition than the White Rim Road. If you click the star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. A little technical in some places but they just find in a Subaru. But this adventure wouldn't be complete without ascending Shafer Trail to the top of the Island in the Sky. Our Jeep. Breathtaking views - well worth combining with Potash Rd. Our website uses cookies. Its function has changed through the years; from a route made by Native Americans to access resources on the mesa top, to a trail for sheep herders moving flocks to better foraging in winter time, and then a road for trucks moving loads of uranium from the backcountry to market. At this point, you will start to be directly beneath the Dead Horse Point State Park. We cringed to see a number of passenger type vehicles traveling on it and observed lots of paint scrapes on Rocky sections. So, we drove back down the switchbacks and took Potash Road to Moab. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Thank you! Length 19.6 miElevation gain 3,106 ftRoute type Point to point. We are an every day family prioritizing experiences and memories. Killer drive!!!! The intersection is very easy to see. For this drive, we had a Jeep Rubicon that we rented from Jeep Canyonlands Rentals in Moab. 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. There were no muddy areasit was all a dry, dirt road with some rocky spots here and there. Myself, growing up 4wheeling and driving the back woods, and wherever else I could go, I consider myself a good 4wheeling driver. The scenery is absolutely beautiful. If you are there during any part of the busy season, you will know you are close to the petroglyphs when you see cars and rock climbers along the road. The National Park Service recommends that you drive a high-clearance 4WD vehicle on Shafer Canyon Road. There is a vault toilet at the intersection of the White Rim Road and the Shafer Trail. Do make sure you check on the road conditions. Murphy Trailhead scheduled to close March 21-23 The Corona Arch is a great hike and is highly recommended. 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. We recommend booking Shafer Trail tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Shafer Road Utah - most dangerous road in USA - YouTube The Shafer Trail Road is a great trail for all skill levels and families. ZDxOTT(/njO"F@QN/>E- avk;/s>v_85=hS/nG&! You have to have a permit to travel on White Rim Road. I personally do not think a 4WD is necessary, but high clearance is definitely a must to avoid damaging your vehicle. Some people like to start the trail at Potash Road because you can avoid the entrance fee station going into Canyonlands National Park. 4/28/2023. We attempted it a few hours after it had rained and ended up driving through over a foot of water and some deep mud!! To get back to Moab, drive Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road described above. 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. Most people start in Canyonlands and end in Moab. Shafer Trail, 1.007 Fotos - Utah | AllTrails 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. 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. 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. You can either start by entering through Canyonlands National Park, or you can start by taking the Potash Road in Moab, Utah. Tip 4: Even though Canyonlands National Park is not as popular as Arches National Park, it will still get busy. Trailhead: Find the trailhead off Potash Road\Highway 279, about 16.5 miles from its junction with Highway 191. 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. 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. Then it started raining which made things even scarier. We used Canyonlands Jeep Rentals and had an awesome experience. Many other trails at Island in the Sky also bear names for the families who worked them. 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 road is actually much wider than I expected. My husband loves it. 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. Online Genealogy Records. My husband insisted on the trail. Shafer Trail is an awesome drive. Thank you for the recommendation to go up hill (from Potash Rd to Canyon Land NP visitor center). The road turns away from the river once you pass what is called Thelma & Louise Point. endobj You can travel the Shafer Road from Potash Road and drive until you get to the White Rim Road and Shafer Trail intersection. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. Youre welcome! 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. We drove 2,5h by GMC Terain. Red Wing is home of Red Wing Shoes, the Riedell Ice and Roller Skates and Red Wing Stoneware.
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