shafer trail road deathsflorida man september 25, 2001
Island in the Sky: White Rim Road The 100-mile four-wheel drive White Rim Road loops around and below the Island in the Sky mesa top and provides expansive views of the surrounding area. On the way, you will pass rock climbing sites and Corona Arch. There are portions of the route where one wrong may be disastrous, and tricky sections requiring three-point turns. Once you get to the intersection, you can go down White Rim Road until you want to return. But be careful not to go after any rain!! 90% of travelers recommend this experience. The Cannon Valley Trail has its eastern terminus in Red Wing. 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. At Mile 17, the road becomes Shafer Basin road. Very few "shoulder" areas if 2 cars are trying to pass each other. So much fun to drive! This photo was taken at the top of Shafer Canyon Road, about one mile before starting down the Shafer Trail switchbacks. 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. Uphill traffic has the right-of-way. Use berms and pull-outs to allow uphill traffic to pass safely. We have everything you need to know below. Shafer trail was cool. Follow this road all the way till you drive on the 279. Drive the Shafer Trail -Canyonlands Island in the Sky to Moab- The West is Big! <>>> Did it in a rented Ford Taurus with 5.1" of ground clearance, so it is doable in a 2 wheel drive sedan if you have some testicular fortitude, are a good driver who knows where your tires are/understands how to approach rocks without bottoming out, and of course do not care about wear and tear on the vehicle. 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. ATVs, OHVs, or UTVs are not permitted inside the park. Insane!!!!! Epic trail!! Learn more about Utah in our Utah Travel Guide and the United States in our United States Travel Guide. View of the Shafer Canyon Switchbacks from Shafer Trail Viewpoint. So much fun!! Most Dangerous National Parks in the U.S. | Fatal Accident Statistics In Moab, there are numerous companies that will rent 4WD vehicles. Incident Tally by Month - Grand County, Utah The best times to visit this trail are March through November. Next was to convince my wife. This is a must drive if you have a high clearance, 4 wheel drive vehicle. 2 0 obj 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. The Shafer Canyon Road is what you will turn on after you pass the entrance station in Canyonlands National Park. Worked in perfectly for us after a quick trip to Mesa Arch. We can laugh about it now but I dont think I would ever do that again. It begins in Canyonlands and can be driven all the way through to Potash Road leading you back in the town of Moab. 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. I am a 50+ female from the flatlands!We drove down from the top in a 4WD Toyota Forerunner. However, we were really interested in driving Potash Road back to Moab. A gem of day is ahead !!! The switchbacks are a total of only about 1 mile long. Make sure your vehicle falls within these guidelines before you go. Many backcountry roads in the Moab area used for recreation today were improved by the Atomic Energy Commission. Do you like the idea of venturing away from the crowds and driving through some truly dramatic landscapes? It was a little scary, I'm not going to lie. List of people who died in traffic collisions - Wikipedia This is one of the fun Moab off road trails. 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. There are no vehicle length restrictions for the Shafer Canyon Raod and I just re-checked the NPS website. So, we drove back down the switchbacks and took Potash Road to Moab. 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. From here, you can see Shafer Canyon Road, the White Rim Road, Potash Road, and Dead Horse Point State Park. To do this, you must have a permit. % Do not recommend! Take the first left after passing the Island in the Sky entrance station. Visit our park website for more information on road conditions and safe driving. Youre welcome! Shafer Trail (Canyonlands National Park) - Tripadvisor Hello Markus. Judging from the subtle fall foliage along the banks of the Colorado, I would estimate this at late October or early November. There are several viewpoints along this part of the road for jaw-dropping views. there is plenty of room in those switchbacks to pass another fellow 4wheel. Your choices are basically to run smack into the rock face or go over the edge with little room for error. High-clearance 4WD vehicles with a low range gear (4LO) arehighly recommended. It is one thing to watch cars travel the switchbacks from the Shafer Canyon Overlook.
