Carl's Jeeping Trips: Lathrop Canyon

USE OF THIS ROAD REQUIRES A PERMIT FROM CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK

Rating: 3
In dry conditions, this is rated a 3. You need 4-wheel drive and low range due to a loose hill at the beginning that you have to come back up.

Location
This is in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park. This is a spur off of the White Rim Trail.

Trailhead
To get to Lathrop Canyon you start from the Shafer Trail. The Shafer Trail starts 0.2 miles after the fee booth when you enter the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands. It is on your left as you enter the park. GPS coordinates are 38°28'17.4"N 109°48'41.3"W (38.471514, -109.811468).

After you go down the switchbacks you continue straight at the intersection at the bottom. Left takes you to the Potash Road and back to Moab. Straight is the beginning of the White Rim Trail.

You follow the White Rim Trail for about 11.3 miles from the Potash Road intersection. Lathrop Canyon is a left turn. The GPS coordinates of this turn are 38°24'01.5"N 109°47'39.6"W (38.400408, -109.794330).

Description
This is a fun trip that can give you an idea of what the White Rim Trail has to offer. This is a great way to see the scenery that the Island in the Sky has to offer.

The Shafer Trail switchbacks are well maintained and not difficult at all. The only reason I switched into low range was for gearing, but then it was a little too slow.

Once you get onto the White Rim Trail the road slowly becomes more rough. It isn't difficult, but low range is nice. There are some rough areas and rocky areas, but nothing technical.

About 3.1 miles from the Potash Road there is a short spur to an overlook. This is a great spot for pictures as you can drive your vehicle to the edge of the cliff (if your wife will let you).

0.2 miles after you pass the overlook (3.3 miles from the Potash Road intersection) Musselman Arch is on your left. It is a short hike (about 100 yards) to the arch. It is well worth the stop.

After Musselman Arch the road becomes more rough. There aren't any technical spots, but it does make the road a little more slow going. You continue to follow the rim for another 8 miles to get to Lathrop Canyon.

From here you drop down a steep hill off of the White Rim. You go through Lathrop Canyon all the way to the Colorado River. It is a short trip from the White Rim Trail to the river, about 4 miles. The first decent off of the rim is steep and loose. This isn't technical and any vehicle with 4-wheel drive and low range should be able to make it back up. If you have any concerns about making it back up then don't go down.

Once you reach the bottom of the steep decent there isn't many other difficulties. There are a few rocks you may have to maneuver around and a few small ledges you have to climb. Overall, the rest of the road is fairly easy and is actually a smoother road (and faster) than the White Rim Trail.

There is a pit toilet at the end of the trail, which my wife and sister-in-law greatly appreciated.

Here are the GPX and KML files from our trip. This is the entire trip through Shafer Trail, along part of the White Rim, and down Lathrop Canyon, then out the Potash Road. I appoligize that the route goes into Moab, I forgot to turn off my GPS and I was too lazy today to edit that portion out.

This is Mesa Arch. It isn't part of the White Rim or Lathrop Canyon, but I included it here because I like the picture. This is a short hike that you can take just past the Visitor's Center in the Island in the Sky.

This is an overlook from the Island in the Sky paved road.

Same overlook as the previous picture, but this one really shows the White Rim. If you look closely, you can see the White Rim Trail running along the edge.