Carl's Jeeping Trips: Shafer Trail

Rating: 2
This trail has a few ruts and rough spots that would make it difficult in a passenger car. However, if you take care you could likely do it in a typical passenger car.

Location
This is located in Canyonlands, near the Island in the Sky Visitor Centor.

Trailhead
This 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).

This road connects to the Potash Road and the White Rim Trail. Shortly after you reach the bottom of the switchbacks, the Potash Road is a left turn. If you go straight you will be on the White Rim Trail. Unless you are ready for a LONG day or a 2-3 day trip, make sure you stay to the left and go on the Potash Road. The White Rim Trail is about 100 miles of slow dirt road. Most people do the White Rim Trail in 2 days. The turn-off to the Potash Road is well marked. Coordinates are 38°27'33.6"N 109°47'40.9"W (38.459335, -109.794693).

The Potash Road is a dirt road until after you pass the Potash Plant. The road then follows the Colorado River and comes out just northwest of Moab and joins Highway 191. If you want to go up the switchbacks, you can start from this end and turn down the Potash Road from Highway 191. It is well marked. Coordinates of the turn off are 38°36'22.1"N 109°36'07.7"W (38.606141, -109.602149).

Description
This is a fun, easy road that is fairly well maintained. This gives you great views of the scenery of Canyonlands and is an alternate way to get into the Island in the Sky District. The famous portion of this road is the switchbacks. They are not difficult, but it is steep and rides along a cliff edge which could be scary for somebody not used to this type of driving. The road is plenty wide and there is usually enough space to pass another vehicle. There are also multiple pullouts making it even easier to pass oncoming traffic.

Remember, etiquette is that uphill has the right of way.

At the bottom of the switchbacks there is a well marked left turn that takes you to the potash road and back to Moab. If you continue straight you will start the White Rim Trail. The White Rim Trail is a spectacular trail that follows a rim of white rock (hence the name) and offers many spectacular views. We had a few hours to spare so we followed this trail and went down Lathrop Canyon, a total of about 15 miles. I can't wait to come back and finish the White Rim Trail!

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.