Shafer Trail: The Cliff Road Into Canyonlands
A dirt road carved into a 1,500 foot sandstone wall, switchbacking from the mesa top of Canyonlands down to the Colorado River and back to Moab. Part scenic drive, part rite of passage — here's how to do it in your own 4x4, on a guided tour, or on an electric dirt bike.
Ride Shafer on an Electric Dirt Bike Compare All ToursQuick Facts: Shafer Trail
| Location | Starts near the Island in the Sky visitor center in Canyonlands National Park and descends to Potash Road (Highway 279), which follows the Colorado River back to Moab |
|---|---|
| Length & time | About 19 miles of dirt road; plan 2–3 hours with photo stops, plus the scenic paved drive back along the river |
| Difficulty | Moderate. The road itself isn't technical in dry conditions — the challenge is exposure: narrow shelf road, sheer drops, and tight switchbacks |
| Permits | No permit is needed to drive Shafer Trail to Potash Road. Continuing onto the White Rim Road requires a day use permit from recreation.gov |
| Fees | Canyonlands entrance fee: $30 per vehicle, good for seven days. America the Beautiful passes accepted |
| Vehicle | High clearance 4WD with low range strongly recommended. ATVs, UTVs, and OHVs are not permitted inside the park |
| Direction | Drivable both ways — top down from Canyonlands or bottom up from Potash Road |
| Golden rule | Never drive it wet. Rain or snow turns the surface slick and dangerous, and conditions change fast — check current road conditions before you go |
From Cattle Trail to Bucket List Drive
Stand at the Shafer Canyon Overlook in Canyonlands and look down: a thread of dirt road zigzags impossibly down the cliff face below you. Everyone who sees it asks the same two questions. Can you actually drive that? And then, quietly — could I?
Yes, and probably. The route began as a Native American access path, became the trail John "Sog" Shafer used to move cattle off the mesa starting in 1916, and was widened during the uranium boom so ore trucks could grind their way up from the White Rim. Today it's one of the most famous backcountry drives in America — and the surprise is that in dry conditions, a careful driver in a high clearance 4WD can handle it. The switchbacks demand respect, not heroics: low gear, slow speed, and eyes on the road instead of the thousand foot view.
The full experience is a loop unlike anything else in Moab: descend the switchbacks, cruise the canyon bottom past the White Rim junction, pass Thelma & Louise Point, and roll out along Potash Road beside the Colorado River — petroglyphs, dinosaur tracks, and river views all the way back to town.
The weather rule is not optionalShafer's surface turns to grease when wet, and there are no guardrails between you and the canyon floor. If rain or snow has fallen — or is forecast — postpone. The park posts current backcountry road conditions; check them the morning you go.
Three Ways to Experience Shafer Trail
Electric Dirt Bike Tour
Ride the switchbacks themselves on a whisper quiet electric dirt bike with a guide leading the way. No engine noise, no experience required, and nothing between you and the canyon but desert air.
Book the E Dirt Bike TourGuided 4x4 Tour
Let a professional driver handle the shelf road while you handle the camera. White Rim 4x4 tours descend Shafer and continue along the canyon rim country most visitors only see from a thousand feet up.
Book a White Rim 4x4 TourYour Own Rig
High clearance, low range, a full tank, and a gallon of water per person. Use 4LO on the switchbacks, yield to uphill traffic, and give yourself time to stop for the views — there are many.
See Permits & FeesThe Signature Moments of Shafer Trail
Shafer doesn't have rock crawling obstacles like Hell's Revenge — its drama is vertical. These are the moments that end up in everyone's camera roll.
The Shafer Switchbacks
Roughly a mile of stacked hairpins dropping 1,500 feet down the cliff face. Low gear, slow hands, jaw on the floorboard.
Shafer Canyon Overlook
The view from the top, near the visitor center — see the whole road coiled below you before (or after) you drive it.
The White Rim Junction
Where the legendary 100 mile White Rim Road peels off toward the horizon. Continuing onto it requires a day use permit and a 4x4.
Thelma & Louise Point
The cliff edge where the film's final scene was shot stands off the lower canyon stretch — Hollywood's most famous view of the Colorado.
Potash Road
The paved river run back to Moab passes ancient petroglyph panels, dinosaur tracks, and climbers working the canyon walls.
Local tip: drive it top downBoth directions are allowed, but descending from Canyonlands puts the biggest views in front of your windshield and gravity on your side through the hairpins. Enter the park early — the entrance station line grows fast on spring and fall mornings.
Shafer Trail, Rim to River
StartIsland in the Sky
Enter Canyonlands ($30 per vehicle), stop at the Shafer Canyon Overlook for the postcard shot, then turn onto the dirt near the visitor center.
Miles 1–2The Approach
A mellow rim top warmup — just enough time to question your decisions before the road tips over the edge.
The Switchbacks1,500 Feet Down
The famous hairpins, carved into the cliff. Use low range, yield to uphill traffic at the pullouts, and let passengers do the gawking.
Mile ~5White Rim Junction
The canyon bottom crossroads (with a vault toilet). Left continues toward Potash Road; straight joins the White Rim Road — permit required beyond this point.
The Canyon RunLedges and River Views
The road rolls along benches above the Colorado, drops a few small rock ledges, and passes the spur to Thelma & Louise Point.
The FinishPotash Road to Moab
Pavement returns at the potash evaporation ponds. Follow Highway 279 along the river — petroglyphs and dinosaur tracks are signed — back to US 191 just north of town.
Shafer Trail Permits and Fees
Good news: the drive itself needs no permit. You pay the park entrance fee, and you only need a backcountry permit if you turn onto the White Rim Road at the junction.
| Pass or Permit | Cost | When You Need It |
|---|---|---|
| Canyonlands entrance fee | $30 per vehicle | Every vehicle entering the park; valid seven days. America the Beautiful annual passes accepted |
| Shafer Trail permit | None | No permit is required to drive Shafer Trail between Island in the Sky and Potash Road |
| White Rim Road day use permit | Free–nominal, via recreation.gov | Required year round for every vehicle, motorcycle, and bike on the White Rim Road; reservable starting 24 hours before your trip |
| Overnight backcountry permit | Varies | Only if camping along the White Rim — book well ahead for spring and fall |
Know the boundaryATVs, UTVs, and OHVs are prohibited everywhere inside Canyonlands, including Shafer Trail — this is a road for street legal 4x4s, motorcycles, and bicycles. If side by sides are your thing, head to Hell's Revenge and Fins and Things instead.
Best Time to Drive Shafer Trail
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | Mild temperatures and green canyon bottoms; entrance lines build by mid morning | Prime time — arrive early |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Extreme heat on the exposed rock and afternoon monsoon storms that can slick the road fast | Go at sunrise and watch the sky |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | Golden light on the cliffs, cool air, thinner crowds | The sweet spot |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Open in dry spells but snow and ice close it regularly; shaded switchbacks hold ice longest | Only after checking conditions with the park |
Pair the drive with the rest of your parks itinerary — the Canyonlands guide covers Mesa Arch and Grand View Point on the same mesa, Dead Horse Point overlooks the neighboring gooseneck, and the Moab vacation planner ties it all together.
Shafer Trail Tours and Canyon Rim Adventures
Whether you want handlebars, a passenger seat, or a private guide who plans the whole day around your group, these are the tours we recommend for the Shafer and White Rim country. Free cancellation is available on most departures.
Shafer Trail Electric Dirt Bike Tour
Ride the legendary switchbacks themselves on a quiet, easy handling electric dirt bike. The most immersive way to feel this canyon — no license or dirt bike experience needed.
Check Dates & PricesWhite Rim 4x4 Tour
Descend Shafer and roll onto the White Rim country below the mesa — the guide handles the permit, the driving, and the geology lesson while you take in a view few visitors ever reach.
Check Dates & PricesMoab Sunset Jeep Tour
Canyon country saves its best light for last. An evening jeep tour catches the red rock glowing at sunset — the perfect low effort finale to a Shafer Trail morning.
Check Dates & PricesPrivate Jeep Tour
Want the switchbacks, the movie point, and the petroglyphs on your own schedule? A private jeep tour builds the day around your group — ideal for families and photographers.
Check Dates & PricesShafer Trail FAQ
Do you need a permit to drive Shafer Trail?
No. Shafer Trail between Island in the Sky and Potash Road requires no permit — only the $30 Canyonlands entrance fee. A day use permit from recreation.gov is required only if you continue onto the White Rim Road at the junction.
How scary is the Shafer Trail?
The road is narrow with sheer drops and no guardrails, so the fear factor is real — but the driving itself is moderate in dry conditions. The switchbacks are wide enough for careful passing at pullouts, and thousands of visitors drive it every year. If exposure isn't your thing, take a guided tour and ride as a passenger.
What vehicle do you need for Shafer Trail?
The park strongly recommends a high clearance 4WD with low range (4LO). Careful drivers complete it in stock high clearance SUVs in dry weather, but low clearance cars, vans, and rental crossovers should not attempt it. ATVs, UTVs, and OHVs are prohibited inside Canyonlands.
How long does the Shafer Trail take?
Plan 2 to 3 hours for the roughly 19 mile dirt section with photo stops, then another 30 to 40 minutes on paved Potash Road back to Moab. Guided tours typically run 3 to 4 hours including hotel pickup.
Can you drive Shafer Trail both directions?
Yes. Most visitors descend from Island in the Sky for the views and easier gravity, but driving bottom up from Potash Road is allowed and popular with those timing sunset on the mesa. Yield to uphill traffic on the switchbacks either way.
Is Shafer Trail open in winter?
The road stays open during dry spells but closes regularly for snow and ice, and the shaded switchbacks hold ice long after storms. Check current conditions with the park before attempting a winter drive — and never drive it wet in any season.
Where was Thelma & Louise filmed on Shafer Trail?
The film's famous final scene was shot at a cliff edge above the Colorado River near Fossil Point, reached from the lower canyon stretch of the route — now widely known as Thelma & Louise Point. It's a short detour and one of the best photo stops of the drive.
What should I bring?
A full tank, at least a gallon of water per person, snacks, sun protection, and a downloaded offline map — there's no fuel, no water, and little cell service between the visitor center and Potash Road. A spare tire you know how to change is cheap insurance out here.
Ready to Ride the Rim?
The switchbacks look the same in every photo and completely different when you're on them. Spring and fall departures fill early.
Book the Shafer E Dirt Bike Tour Or Take the White Rim 4x4