I recommend visiting the Shafer Canyon Overlook before starting your drive. Another way you can combine the two trails is by going into Canyonland National Park and starting from inside the park. He also mentioned that we we would go by the place where Thelma and Louise go over the cliff in a car in the movie. Please stay on the trail so as not to disturb biological soil crust. 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. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. Ranger Paul Downey was the Incident Commander. The 1st mile down from the rim was a bit white-knuckled due to the drop, but easily doable and well worth it. Shafer Trail. 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. She kept saying that it looked like the truck our Toyota Tundra off road package simply couldn't fit on the road and that she was sure we were going over the edge. Many backcountry roads in the Moab area used for recreation today were improved by the Atomic Energy Commission. This is a Jeep/4x4 trail t. bar) and I had pretty much felt that my life was going to end that day. You can do this in different ways, and there is no exact right way to do it. 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. From here, it is a smooth, easy drive back to Moab. The Cannon Valley Trail has its eastern terminus in Red Wing. We plan to visit Canyonlands as part of our Utah adventure in mid to late May. Moderate 4.7 (604) Canyonlands National Park. . It is a must!! Every muscle in my body was sore afterwards from clenching my muscles and I literally cried. x][~p/{Ni7/}d;b-A,%dRHf=,Gj~b5U;}A?6b~5D;4pC~y8}7?/O>9=zK={I>Ok+z.;==Ph: But it is! No, you do not need a permit to drive these roads. By the time we realized it there was no turning back (literally). We drove the Shafer Trail in a jeep we rented from Moab Adventure Center and had an amazing time. Tony Boeckel: 1892 1924 31 years American baseball player car San Diego, California Cris Bolado: 1969 2017 47 years Filipino basketball player motorcycle Phnom Penh . If you have a 44 vehicle with a 4-low range and high clearance, you will be able to get down the road with ease. You do need to pay attention when driving the trail because there is two-way traffic, and at times, you may need to pull over at a pull-out to let other vehicles pass. The petroglyphs are close to a popular rock climbing area. Depending on the source, you will see this road referred to by two different names. The ranger recommended to not do it in AWD if there was recently any rain. In 1917, Sog Shafer widened the trail and used it to move cattle through the Island in the Sky area. Shafer Trail. We never would have made it out without the help of a plant worker!! Seems to me it is more condusive to mountainbiking than driving. The steep, exposed sections of the Shafer Trail, Lathrop Canyon Road, Murphy Hogback, Hardscrabble Hill, and the Mineral Bottom switchbacks make the White Rim . Try this 31.5-km point-to-point trail near Moab, Utah. However, it does intersect with the White Rim Road, and the White Rim Road does require a permit. 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. I personally would not, but it all depends on you of course. If you click the star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road are two dirt roads that connect Canyonlands National Park with Moab. 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. I could've sworn to you that the drop-off was about a trillion feet down, so I said, "Okaaaaaaayyyyy, you might want to maybe hurry this up a little." %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 Damaged soils are prone to erosion and invasive species. F350 with dually top to bottom no problem, Full sized F350 with dually went from top to bottom. endobj 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. 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. For the full list, check out our Canyonlands Travel Guide. Cars driving uphill have the right of way. Potash road is fairly rough, limiting speed to 10 mph max. Its a beautiful time to be in Utahwe even had a dusting of snow at Canyonlands on this visit just a few days before these photos were taken. It only took us 41/2 hours, and I never got out of two wheel drive. Get an early start, arriving in Canyonlands at or just after sunrise. For one, because the view was always in front of you and two, you didn't have to press the gas going up the switchbacks! Were good . So much fun to drive! this was at 2:30pm. We were definitely unprepared and did not know what we were getting into. Today, hundred of visitors every year experience the thrill of a lifetime driving down the sandstone cliff to the basin below. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. The Corona Arch is a great hike and is highly recommended. 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. Looks like some of the rock overhangs are lowwill we have enough clearance? The unpaved backcountry road winds 1,500 feet (457 m) down colorful sandstone walls, over roughly 5.2 mi (8.4 km) before joining the White Rim Trail. .=PAdK+1k.F0DKRk&*q,^5`uAquAu5Ahc"MJ.H^i_BdO>x($+GKAuLXXr3R*"!BO>vepCPC[H-eXLw_ s`ooq2gq ;p|2 rQnnQd#VbY,+aWpJ!z4@sm~KHPC%#lsWb,ee'9g?*Bt10`ChXf^*ZFI]e-zaX}'Kb^0` The Shafer Trail is named after the Shafer family, who were Mormon pioneer settlers. Island in the Sky: White Rim Road The 100-mile four-wheel drive White Rim Road loops around and below the Island in the Sky mesa top and provides expansive views of the surrounding area. *8]YKE$e?6[c`dq;dDUt+). Do not recommend! Enjoy!!e. The Road was so Steep, My Wife Jumped out of the Truck! The overlook is pretty cool. Tip 1: If you start the Shafer Trail from Potash Road, you do not have to wait for traffic to get into the Canyonlands National Park. Not at all technical but use Low 4 Wheel at least thru the switchbacks. The Shafer Canyon Road is what you will turn on after you pass the entrance station in Canyonlands National Park. 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. Thanks for this AMAZING account that basically leaves nothing unclear! Ive got a full stock Nissan Titan XD with BFG KO2s and it was a pretty easy trail. As you follow the Shafer Basin Road past the Potash Ponds, the road will join up with Forest Road 142, which is the Shafer Trail. Too down in an AWD Chevy Equinox and had no issues. If you are planning on visiting Arches National Park or the nearby Natural Bridges National Monument, purchasing the America the Beautiful Pass would be worth your while. 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 wanted to do some 4-wheeling and were told about this trail at the visitor's center so we decided to give it a try. Both the permit and the high-clearance 4WD vehicle are enforced by the national park service. Tip 4: Even though Canyonlands National Park is not as popular as Arches National Park, it will still get busy. However, the views are amazing. Just past the Petroglyphs around mile 5.8, you will run into the parking lot for the Poison Spider Mesa off-road trail. If you arent comfortable driving on the Shafer Trail, you can take a Moab Jeep tour which will take you on the nearby White Rim Road. 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. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. I came across this trail when doing research on the national parks for our trip to Moab. Loved the route and plan to do it again sometime!! Our website uses cookies. Shafer Trail was originally used by Native Americans. Boaks was injured in a minor road traffic crash while getting off a bus. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Turn left onto Potash Road. 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. I think just as beautiful though. Pretty sure we suffered with acute stress for a few days when trying to go to bed having flashbacks. 96% of travelers recommend this experience. 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. Very cool trail. 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. Hi, I am returning to Canyonlands in September 2018. 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. We descended the trail in our Yukon XL. Pretty moderate drive, nothing technical. . The one he had been experiencing for the past however many miles on our way down the canyon on Shafer Trail. Most definitely. John Shafer is credited for improving the trail and making access into the canyon easier. This was a super fun trail with amazing views. Canyonlands can especially get busy once Arches closes. The views are amazing, and we enjoyed exploring this less-visited trail in Moab. The Shafer Trail at the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park is an iconic road that descends 1,500 feet (457 m) through a colorful, massive sandstone cliff. We were the only non SUV or truck we saw on the trail though so definitely not common. When we did this, the weather was very dry, so as far as the dirtiest parts, the entire route from Shafer Canyon Road through Potash Road was about the same. We had to wait about an hour to get into Canyonlands one day. Utah-279 ends at Highway 191. 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. It is one thing to watch cars travel the switchbacks from the Shafer Canyon Overlook. +8M*= g3vM(ljlu* things to do in Canyonlands National Park. Is there a risk driving from the park to Thelmas & louise and back to the park ? If you have the America the Beautiful Pass, the entrance fee for Canyonlands National Park is included. 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. I personally do not think a 4WD is necessary, but high clearance is definitely a must to avoid damaging your vehicle. It was far more intense, rough and free form with lots of gully crossings and rock. Fantastic and fun and completely doable. 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. f6t,mHpS3Ej}j&;T )0n One Perfect Day in Canyonlands National Park. If you drive into the park from the Shafer Trail, you can avoid the entrance station altogether. Shafer Trail Road-Potash Road is the name of an iconic drive located on the east central edge of Utah, in the western United States. Our family travels throughout the United States in our RV visiting beaches, national parks and everything in between. ATVs, OHVs, or UTVs are not permitted inside the park. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. The best times to visit this trail are March through November. Drive the Shafer Trail -Canyonlands Island in the Sky to Moab- The West is Big! Your choices are basically to run smack into the rock face or go over the edge with little room for error. Its a very cool drive!! Awesome! The sheer cliffs are exciting but not unsafe. This road circles under Dead Horse Point, along the Colorado River, and past the potash evaporation ponds. We checked in at the visitors center, and the gentlemen told us it was a 9hour drive one way. It is also a good idea to check the weather before starting. After you turn left onto the Shafer Trail (AKA Potash Road), you will descend and shortly cross a small river bed. How Can I Add this on to My Visit to Canyonlands? Views are amazing. As we went thru the gate and headed doen the dirt road I told my girlfriend that this was'nt bad at all. 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. 2 0 obj At 13.3 miles down Potash Road to your right, you will see the Jug Handle Arch. Xre&mEEaE&AH_cEv Vdq0" For more information, please see, No conditions reported in the past 7 days. It requires extreme caution at the best of times for vehicles and mountain bikes, but especially so in inclement weather and at night. This is because RZRs are not allowed to enter national parks. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Laurent, Before you go, here is a link to what the National Park Service defines as a high-clearance vehicle. First view of the Shafer Canyon switchbacks. Drove in reverse from Canyonlands to Potash Rd, nothing technical. Shafer Trail Closed The unpaved Shafer Trail road at Island in the Sky is closed due to winter conditions. endobj Follow this road all the way till you drive on the 279. g[M.w.V6{*q|3'W35f rwrQfdrtk>e"M3EhsQ~6\2kP=w\ 2ADnH9 qkE?yNp0g=6 t&di) '*X(bsGY20E3O 7&pc6+81;ui{K{_5h}8}\s $M`(V{K3\VNKvzsb21dZ\sKUm_ Yes, the Shafer Trail is open year-round. The final scene of the movie Thelma and Louise, when they drove off of the cliff, was not filmed in the Grand Canyon. This includes street-legal OHVs. 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. So my girlfriend and I decided to get going and check this drive out. How rough is the road? Tip 3: Keep in mind that Canyonlands National Park is not as popular as Arches National Park. For the rest of the ride down. This is known as a Gooseneck. For this drive, we had a Jeep Rubicon that we rented from Jeep Canyonlands Rentals in Moab. The only people who will find the trail scary are those who are afraid of heights. Or is it a road that goes to Potash and then back to Canyonlands? At Mile 17, the road becomes Shafer Basin road. 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. Just make sure you give yourself at least an hour and a half of daylight, to get back onto paved road before sunset. Here is a photo looking up at the point. At this point, you will start to be directly beneath the Dead Horse Point State Park. 4 WD with 4 lo is recommended due to steep descent into canyon. 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. % Make sure to check Twitter if you want to check if any of the parks have closed because of too many people. Below are a few tips that can save you some money and make for a great trip. This small roadside pullout is paved with enough space to accommodate a handful of cars. Check theweather report before starting your trip andcurrent road conditions before heading out. 1 0 obj At Mile 8, you will arrive at the Gooseneck Overlook on the Shafer Trail. You should be driving an all wheel or 4 wheel drive vehicle with decent ground clearance. Cheers, Julie, Thank you for the informative article about Canyonlands. Epic trail!! You can also get updated conditions and advice by speaking to a park ranger in the visitor center. What was actually a 1/2 day ride might as well have been an eternity because that is what it felt like. Its not really my thing to be jostled around but the views made it worth it. Was not as scary as I thought it would be. This is one of the fun Moab off road trails. From here, you can see Shafer Canyon Road, the White Rim Road, Potash Road, and Dead Horse Point State Park. Day use permits are available up to 24 hours before your trip. 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. With one day, you can drive Shafer Canyon Road, a portion of the White Rim Road, and then return to Moab via Potash Road. After observing multiple vehicles going up and down the steep part (and no one plummeting to their death), she said ok, lets do it. We drove a 2021 Nissan Rogue AWD. Highly recommend 4x4 off road car. Potash Road is extremely rough. Overtime, the use of Shafer transitioned from ranching to recreation. We never felt unsafe or scared when driving the Shafer Trail. In Moab, there are numerous companies that will rent 4WD vehicles. 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!!! But this adventure wouldn't be complete without ascending Shafer Trail to the top of the Island in the Sky. I am dying to take the Shafer Canyon drive. Very cool off drive instead of doing the scenic drive. The road turns away from the river once you pass what is called Thelma & Louise Point. The Shafer Trail may take several months to repair and will remain closed until repairs are done. 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. Quite a few mountain bikes and quad runners were on the trail. ARCHES AND CANYONLANDS: If you have limited time, learn how to visit Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in one day and do this drive!. There are no vehicle length restrictions for the Shafer Canyon Raod and I just re-checked the NPS website. Great views!!! Shafer Canyon Road starts near the visitor center of Canyonlands National Park. Shafer Trail in Canyonlands National Park is an off-roading experience and an incredible drive. You can also join a guided tour. Thank you for the recommendation to go up hill (from Potash Rd to Canyon Land NP visitor center). 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". We got into the bottom and the road was like a hi-way, wide, gravel road. This section is a little more challenging as there are some small rock ledges you will drop down. You can drive all the way to Moab!! Most AWD SUVs will do just fine on this road, as long as it is not wet or snow-covered. We took the Shafer trail from Canyonlands all the way back to Moab. Heres how to do it. The tasks performed by the animal must be directly related to the persons disability. Nearby you can also hike through Little Wild Horse slot canyon. 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. The Shafer Trail Viewpoint, located a little farther down the road, is spectacular, too. Took us 1h45 from Canyonlands back to Moab with a couple of stops for pictures. Hardly anyone on the road until the end when reaching Moab. Tammy Daybell's death was a homicide . For more information on driving the Shafer Trail, check out the Scenic Drives section under Things to Do. 7:L :}flFSn?ZCW:z9i&U+ l| Driving the Shafer Trail is something that youll never forget, however, it is important to do it safely. Visit our park website for more information on road conditions and safe driving. Left image You can also purchase a park-specific annual pass. Do your research well!! This route starts in Canyonlands and ends in Moab. Death Road is a lethal journey in the Bolivian Yungas region . I had thought it would be fun to have a little adventure and we both said "how bad can it be??". 4/28/2023. If people cannot get into Arches, they will go into Canyonlands, making for a long wait at the entrance station. 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. Cheers, Julie. A short distance past Corona Arch (0.5 miles), you will find a small parking area for a trail that will take you to another arch called Jeep Arch. I think that the Shafer Canyon switchbacks look a lot more dangerous from the viewpoints than when you are actually driving on them. Said we needed 4wheel drive and high clearance. 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. Your email address will not be published. The "trail" is not wide, actually you shouldn't take a big truck on there. 3 0 obj Shafer Trail (Canyonlands National Park) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. I hope you have a great trip to Moab and Utah. The Shafer Trail at the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park is an iconic road that descends 1,500 feet (457 m) through a colorful, massive sandstone cliff. Online Genealogy Records. It was filmed right here, next to the Colorado River, just outside of Dead Horse Point State Park. For the first 2.5 miles, you drive just below the rim. for the Shafer Switchbacks? In the same parking lot, there are the Potash Road Dinosaur Tracks and Petroglyphs Trail. [Steve Swanke, RISKY] 90% of travelers recommend this experience. Once you get to the intersection, you can go down White Rim Road until you want to return. If you are afraid of heights, you may have some anxiety because of the switchbacks and when driving by the Colorado River because there are some steep drop-offs. Canyonlands National Park charges a fee to enter. One Day Canyonlands and Arches Itinerary. In this photo, you can see Potash Road as it runs along the Colorado River. 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. Shafer trail was cool. Drove a stock Subaru Forester from Shafer down through Potash no problem on a sunny day. Once we made it to the bottom of the canyon alive we totally enjoyed the trail. At one point the right rear wheel was airborne! The Shafer Trail road can be accessed by anyone in a high-clearance 4WD vehicle with a low range gear (4LO) (recommended). This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Dont forget to check out the White Rim area while you are there. We recommend booking Shafer Trail tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Then all of a sudden, my husband (who is very very afraid of heights), clenched the steering wheel and gritted his teeth. A high-clearance vehicle with 4WD is also recommended for Potash Road. <> It is a popular photo spot for many because the Shafer Switchbacks are unique and make for a fun picture. A road that humbles the wildest of egos. Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information. You have scenery, the interesting photo op presented at Tea Kettle Junction, and . We continued down the trail to the Potash road and on to highway 239. 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. 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. Many backcountry roads in the Moab area used for recreation today were improved by the Atomic Energy Commission. Backcountry driving conditions can change rapidly after rain or snow. USA ROAD TRIPS: Planning your next big adventure in the USA? {-][BX^b1ae ].kmlmz +#pkuv This drive is a great way to add a little adventure to your visit to Canyonlands National Park. However, the mines produced very little uranium and were soon abandoned. This is a very scenic area and a great section to stop and take pictures. They are steep, and it is recommended to travel them in 4 low. Not really technical but if you want to continue via Potash Road, you'll need high clearance. The Shafer Trail is not overly difficult. The Shafer Trail Canyon overlook is also known as the Shafer Trail Viewpoint. Details. 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. qKHWHql2AH5iADn:jK ^T%Q]OhS'QoOIT]N f1HK{:AN We have a jeep and 3 dogs. more, Canyonlands National Park Half-Day Tour from Moab. The Shafer Trail, WOW!!! 94% of travelers recommend this experience. If you are in Moab, Utah, you will go north on Hwy US-191 N (N Main Street), and shortly after you cross the Colorado River, you will turn left onto UT-279 S. This road is also called Potash Road. go slow but why would you want to go fast anyway!? Breathtaking views - well worth combining with Potash Rd. 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. I had a death-grip on the interior bar/handle in the truck (also known as an "OH MY GAWD!!!" Credit: NPS Photo, Right image If you are going down, you can take a peak ahead and see another vehicle coming and pull over in one of the many convenient pull-overs. Perfect control. The park ranger warned of mud and ledges on Potash. In order to drive the Potash Road and Shafer Trail, you need to have a high clearance 44 vehicle, and it is recommended that it has 4 low. If you are a photographer, consider visiting Mesa Arch at sunrise, to capture the glimmer of the first rays of sun under the arch. 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. If youre in the Moab area and you are okay with some puckering at the beginning, its so worth it. This is a very popular area for mountain biking and scenic driving, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Even though you just did it, it is still somehow unbelievable that you just drove down that seemingly unsurmountable canyon wall. Will be there next sep. with a classic SUV (Ford escape or similar). Then it is another great experience to drive down them in a 44 vehicle. 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. Some people like to start the trail at Potash Road because you can avoid the entrance fee station going into Canyonlands National Park. Pets may be transported inside vehicles only. We loved this off-road experience. The Shafer Trail difficulty rating is moderate because there are some steep switchbacks.