White Rim Road
White Rim Road
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100-mile Road Which Most Visitors Bike Or Drive By Four-wheel Vehicles.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
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Rachelle C
Tamuning, Mariana Islands144 contributions
Jun 2024 • Friends
We did quite a bit of advance planning, getting reservations and permits. Sadly we weren't able to go all the way around. We went the last day of May and first day of June, but there was significant flooding at Upheaval Wash so we couldn't go all the way around. I think if i had it to do over, I would go in the fall. The daytime temperatures were warm but not unbearable. We slept fine at night. The first day we drove to the White Crack Campground, and the second day to Murphy's Hogback before turning around and going back out the way we came. The campground at White Crack was spectacular. We had it to ourselves and the view at the campground alone was worth the drive. We had three cars - a stock jeep, a Rubicon, and a Ford F-150. The jeeps were fine but the Ford struggled in a few places. Most of the bathrooms we used were fine, except for the bathroom at Gooseberry Campground, which was disgusting. We went down Lathrop Canyon for lunch, and it was a very pleasant place to eat, with a bathroom and a picnic table. Overall 10 out of 10.
Written June 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RB_Advisor
Los Angeles, CA448 contributions
Jun 2017
I had a fantastic experience traveling on the White Rim Road for my first time. It was not at all what I expected, but it was a thrilling and wonderful experience I plan to repeat. The trip was ridiculously hot because it was in June, but none the less, I had a great time and I am currently planning another trip next April when the temperatures will be much milder. It being my first trip I did learn a few things which I’ll try to pass on here.
I entered Canyonlands via Potash Road, which is actually US 279 and starts just outside of Moab before the entrance to Arches. Using Potash Road saved me quite a bit of time in getting to the White Rim Road since I didn’t have to go all the way to US 313 and through the Canyonlands main gate. Unfortunately entering Canyonlands via Potash Road means I didn’t get the thrill of going down Shafer Trail Road because Potash Road meets the White Rim Road at the bottom of the Shafer Trail.
I travelled across the White Rim throughout the day and stopped at a number of spectacular vantage points which many people miss because the viewpoints are not literally on the White Rim Road.
1. Gooseneck Overlook is only 1.3 miles from the junction of Potash Road and the White Rim Road. It’s frequently missed because it’s so close to the start of the White Rim Road, but it’s worth stopping at. A sign indicates where to park and it’s about a quarter mile hike to the overlook. If your camera has panoramic capabilities, you’ll be able to take a 180 degree photograph of the Gooseneck.
2. Musselman Arch is 2 miles past Gooseneck Overlook and is just a slight detour off the White Rim Road. It too has a sign marking it and does not require any hiking. There’s parking right next to the arch.
3. In an additional 8 miles there’s a turnoff to Lathrop Canyon, also with a sign marking the turnoff. Traveling down Lathrop Canyon for 4 miles there’s a picnic area right next to the Colorado River. I had a wonderful afternoon there to both rest and cool off because the river made the temperature a bit more bearable. There are picnic tables and even some trees yielding a bit of shade. And as far as I know, the Lathrop Canyon detour is the only way to get to the Colorado River on the east side of the White Rim Road.
4. About 3 miles after the Gooseberry campground is Monument Basin and it can be viewed from many great spots for the next 2 to 3 miles. A sign does not mark Monument Basin because it’s not a single point but instead a huge canyon with the incredible structures that epitomize Canyonlands. There are a multitude of great locations to take photographs. I should add that last year when I visited Canyonlands, and only viewed it from its upper level past the main gate, I looked down from Grand View Point Overlook at Monument Basin and decided I had to experience what it would be like to see those structures close up. It was fascinating this year to be on the White Rim 100 ft. from those structures looking up at Grand View Point Overlook.
5. About 2 or 3 miles after Monument Basin there’s a sign for a turnoff to White Crack. White Crack is also not on the White Rim Road but requires a 1.4 mile detour. The turnoff is at the southernmost point of the White Rim Road below Junction Butte. White Crack Point has vistas in all directions; looking south you have beautiful views of the Needles District, and looking to the west there are equally beautiful vistas of the Maze District. If you turn around and look north, you’ll have picturesque views of Junction Butte and Grand View Point. And if you catch just the right late afternoon or early morning light, the views make for absolutely astounding photographs.
A couple of other things I learned from my first trip on the White Rim Road is that I wasn’t able to travel nearly as fast as I thought I’d be able to. Because the White Rim Road consists of mostly slick rock, I was only able to travel between 5 and 10 miles an hour through much of my journey. And coupled with that is since the entire trip is 100 miles long, on my next trip I’m going to spend 2 or 3 nights camping so that I have more time to stop and enjoy the sights longer. Another item I’m going to be taking is aspirin because bouncing over that slick rock for hours gave me a headache. And two other things I’m going to pack are hiking chairs and some type of covering to create shade because the White Rim is almost completely void of trees and there’s no place to sit down comfortably nor is there any natural shade.
Unfortunately, because of the flooding this year near Upheaval Canyon, I couldn’t make the classic full 100 mile loop, therefore, I had to return back the way I came but that did mean that I did get to go up the Shafer Trail Road which was a thrilling end of my trip. But even having to return as I had come, my trip this year was so fantastic that I’m already planning my next trip so that I can explore what’s on the east side of the White Rim Road.
I entered Canyonlands via Potash Road, which is actually US 279 and starts just outside of Moab before the entrance to Arches. Using Potash Road saved me quite a bit of time in getting to the White Rim Road since I didn’t have to go all the way to US 313 and through the Canyonlands main gate. Unfortunately entering Canyonlands via Potash Road means I didn’t get the thrill of going down Shafer Trail Road because Potash Road meets the White Rim Road at the bottom of the Shafer Trail.
I travelled across the White Rim throughout the day and stopped at a number of spectacular vantage points which many people miss because the viewpoints are not literally on the White Rim Road.
1. Gooseneck Overlook is only 1.3 miles from the junction of Potash Road and the White Rim Road. It’s frequently missed because it’s so close to the start of the White Rim Road, but it’s worth stopping at. A sign indicates where to park and it’s about a quarter mile hike to the overlook. If your camera has panoramic capabilities, you’ll be able to take a 180 degree photograph of the Gooseneck.
2. Musselman Arch is 2 miles past Gooseneck Overlook and is just a slight detour off the White Rim Road. It too has a sign marking it and does not require any hiking. There’s parking right next to the arch.
3. In an additional 8 miles there’s a turnoff to Lathrop Canyon, also with a sign marking the turnoff. Traveling down Lathrop Canyon for 4 miles there’s a picnic area right next to the Colorado River. I had a wonderful afternoon there to both rest and cool off because the river made the temperature a bit more bearable. There are picnic tables and even some trees yielding a bit of shade. And as far as I know, the Lathrop Canyon detour is the only way to get to the Colorado River on the east side of the White Rim Road.
4. About 3 miles after the Gooseberry campground is Monument Basin and it can be viewed from many great spots for the next 2 to 3 miles. A sign does not mark Monument Basin because it’s not a single point but instead a huge canyon with the incredible structures that epitomize Canyonlands. There are a multitude of great locations to take photographs. I should add that last year when I visited Canyonlands, and only viewed it from its upper level past the main gate, I looked down from Grand View Point Overlook at Monument Basin and decided I had to experience what it would be like to see those structures close up. It was fascinating this year to be on the White Rim 100 ft. from those structures looking up at Grand View Point Overlook.
5. About 2 or 3 miles after Monument Basin there’s a sign for a turnoff to White Crack. White Crack is also not on the White Rim Road but requires a 1.4 mile detour. The turnoff is at the southernmost point of the White Rim Road below Junction Butte. White Crack Point has vistas in all directions; looking south you have beautiful views of the Needles District, and looking to the west there are equally beautiful vistas of the Maze District. If you turn around and look north, you’ll have picturesque views of Junction Butte and Grand View Point. And if you catch just the right late afternoon or early morning light, the views make for absolutely astounding photographs.
A couple of other things I learned from my first trip on the White Rim Road is that I wasn’t able to travel nearly as fast as I thought I’d be able to. Because the White Rim Road consists of mostly slick rock, I was only able to travel between 5 and 10 miles an hour through much of my journey. And coupled with that is since the entire trip is 100 miles long, on my next trip I’m going to spend 2 or 3 nights camping so that I have more time to stop and enjoy the sights longer. Another item I’m going to be taking is aspirin because bouncing over that slick rock for hours gave me a headache. And two other things I’m going to pack are hiking chairs and some type of covering to create shade because the White Rim is almost completely void of trees and there’s no place to sit down comfortably nor is there any natural shade.
Unfortunately, because of the flooding this year near Upheaval Canyon, I couldn’t make the classic full 100 mile loop, therefore, I had to return back the way I came but that did mean that I did get to go up the Shafer Trail Road which was a thrilling end of my trip. But even having to return as I had come, my trip this year was so fantastic that I’m already planning my next trip so that I can explore what’s on the east side of the White Rim Road.
Written July 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steven W
Littleton, Colorado, United States4 contributions
Jun 2013 • Couples
We just got back from this trip and it was a blast. The ranger at the station was very helpful in providing us information, but we never imagined it would be like it was. First, the scenery is second to none and there is more than enough thrills for the 4wd community without being outright treacherous to novices. I rate the difficulty as a 7.6 out of 10 and we did it in my 2010 Tundra. Some of the switchbacks are pretty tight but I only had to back it up twice around them. The road is bumpy and I should have deflated some air pressure, but we went in all stock and did ok.. Make sure your passenger isn't too distracted because they need to anticipate bumps and whatnot or could get whiplash fairly easily as my wife nearly did. Also, the steep parts around the hogback are not evident so you need to be ready to go to 4wd low at a moments notice or risk slipping backwards in 4wd high. Yep, a few parts are that steep. We were both bummed about no fires, but had our Coleman propane stove and the river was too high and fast to really go swimming, but all in all it was great.. I echo someone else's opinion about white crack camp site. It is head and shoulders above the others and off the main road a ways and could be easily overlooked, but make sure you sleep there for the night.. There's some unexpended old Winchester 300 mag ammo out there, just leave it alone and you'll find arrow heads and whatnot, leave that too and bring a telescope or binoculars for star gazing. I picked up a few plastic bottles along the way and added them to our trash, but again these guys take care of their parks like no one else in the country and it is clean and pristine out there, almost untouched. If you go out there do your part to help keep it that way and have yourself a blast.
Written July 1, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RB_Advisor
Los Angeles, CA448 contributions
Apr 2018 • Friends
I have been exploring Canyonlands for 3 year, and after those 3 years, I finally decided to traverse the 100 miles of the White Rim Road. The White Rim Road was not what at all what I expected and below are my recommendations in traversing it:
I rented a vehicle from a Moab establishment (Canyonlands Jeep) that had a reputation for knowing exactly what equipment was required for off-roading on the White Rim Road. I rented a Jeep Wrangler that was a high clearance 4X4 with off-road all-terrain tires. Canyonlands Jeep told me that the tires were under-inflated for a reason and that I should leave them under-inflated during my trip. Driving on those tires was a learning experience and I almost felt like I was driving on balloons and it took me a good day to become comfortable in driving the jeep, which I did in Moab, but eventually I became 1 with my jeep. And once I got to the White Rim it all made sense why the jeep was configured as it was. Those under-inflated tires were precisely what’s needed on the White Rim.
My General Guidelines for travelling on the White Rim Road:
1. You will only be able to average between 5 and 10 miles an hour. The slick rock is an extremely hard surface and can’t be travelled on very quickly. As an example of how rough the White Rim road is, mountain bicyclists travelling on the White Rim will be passing you in your 4X4.
2. The White Rim Road is 100 miles long so you should camp at least 1 night, if not 2. The Canyonlands reservation website is very sophisticated and allows reservations 4 months in advance. But be aware that there are only 20 group campsites over the 100 miles and they fill up quickly.
3. You and your vehicle will be bouncing across the slick rock almost constantly so be sure to lock everything down with something akin to bungee cords. Anything delicate, for example cameras, needs to be packed in serious packing material.
4. Rest when you feel tired! It’s extremely exhausting driving on the White Rim Road and I was shocked how physically tired I was after only half a day being the driver, therefore, be sure to take breaks when you feel tired because you’ll need to be alert, especially if you’re the driver.
My overall guidelines for travelling on the White Rim Road because there are two 4WDing locations along the White Rim Road that you probably will have viewed on YouTube: Murphy’s Hogback and Hardscrabble Hill.
1. My personal experience is that Murphy’s Hogback is a “piece of cake.” From the top of the Hogback it looks sinister, but you can easily see anyone coming up the Hogback so you can quickly avoid going up/down the hogback. It looks really ugly, but it’s not really very challenging.
2. Hardscrabble Hill is an entirely different matter and a much more challenging trek. Hardscrabble Hill is close to 5 miles of up and down and very narrow 4WDing at times. Plus, there are very few turnouts for vehicles to pass each other. It’s an absolute thrill to do Hardscrabble Hill, but be ready for some hair raising experiences depending on who else is coming from the opposite direction.
One final note, because of the thrilling experience I’ve had on the White Rim Road, I’m currently planning on exploring the Maze District next year.
I rented a vehicle from a Moab establishment (Canyonlands Jeep) that had a reputation for knowing exactly what equipment was required for off-roading on the White Rim Road. I rented a Jeep Wrangler that was a high clearance 4X4 with off-road all-terrain tires. Canyonlands Jeep told me that the tires were under-inflated for a reason and that I should leave them under-inflated during my trip. Driving on those tires was a learning experience and I almost felt like I was driving on balloons and it took me a good day to become comfortable in driving the jeep, which I did in Moab, but eventually I became 1 with my jeep. And once I got to the White Rim it all made sense why the jeep was configured as it was. Those under-inflated tires were precisely what’s needed on the White Rim.
My General Guidelines for travelling on the White Rim Road:
1. You will only be able to average between 5 and 10 miles an hour. The slick rock is an extremely hard surface and can’t be travelled on very quickly. As an example of how rough the White Rim road is, mountain bicyclists travelling on the White Rim will be passing you in your 4X4.
2. The White Rim Road is 100 miles long so you should camp at least 1 night, if not 2. The Canyonlands reservation website is very sophisticated and allows reservations 4 months in advance. But be aware that there are only 20 group campsites over the 100 miles and they fill up quickly.
3. You and your vehicle will be bouncing across the slick rock almost constantly so be sure to lock everything down with something akin to bungee cords. Anything delicate, for example cameras, needs to be packed in serious packing material.
4. Rest when you feel tired! It’s extremely exhausting driving on the White Rim Road and I was shocked how physically tired I was after only half a day being the driver, therefore, be sure to take breaks when you feel tired because you’ll need to be alert, especially if you’re the driver.
My overall guidelines for travelling on the White Rim Road because there are two 4WDing locations along the White Rim Road that you probably will have viewed on YouTube: Murphy’s Hogback and Hardscrabble Hill.
1. My personal experience is that Murphy’s Hogback is a “piece of cake.” From the top of the Hogback it looks sinister, but you can easily see anyone coming up the Hogback so you can quickly avoid going up/down the hogback. It looks really ugly, but it’s not really very challenging.
2. Hardscrabble Hill is an entirely different matter and a much more challenging trek. Hardscrabble Hill is close to 5 miles of up and down and very narrow 4WDing at times. Plus, there are very few turnouts for vehicles to pass each other. It’s an absolute thrill to do Hardscrabble Hill, but be ready for some hair raising experiences depending on who else is coming from the opposite direction.
One final note, because of the thrilling experience I’ve had on the White Rim Road, I’m currently planning on exploring the Maze District next year.
Written July 4, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zee P
Bellevue, WA43 contributions
Mar 2014 • Couples
Enjoyed a two day trip on White Rim Road with camping at White Crack and Hardscrabble B which were amazing. This is a 100 mile journey that definitely required a 4WD vehicle...much of the road can be done with 2WD but the climb up from Potato Bottom over Hardscrabble Hill would be very challenging simply due to the inclines. Having been to the viewing areas on Canyonlands, I can tell you that this exposes the park in way that you cannot see from above. If you have a bit of adventure, you can see the true ruggedness and amazing beauty that Canyonlands has to offer by traveling White Rim Road. (For camping, backcountry permits are required. There is no water on White Rim but there are pit toilets at each campsite.)
Written March 12, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John S
Norman, OK78 contributions
Aug 2015 • Family
We were only in the White Rim Road for a short duration, after driving down the Shafer Trail. The views were impressive and I would suggest driving the road to Musselman Arch; at the very least.
You can turn around and head up the Shafer Trail, or take the Potash Road back to Moab. Either way you will experience views that are truly wonderful.
The road was a fairly easy one to navigate, in our 4x4 truck. We never used four wheel drive, in that the conditions were dry.
I'm not sure if a low clearance vehicle would do so good on the road. Plus, having four wheel drive gives you additional options if something unexpected arises.
You can turn around and head up the Shafer Trail, or take the Potash Road back to Moab. Either way you will experience views that are truly wonderful.
The road was a fairly easy one to navigate, in our 4x4 truck. We never used four wheel drive, in that the conditions were dry.
I'm not sure if a low clearance vehicle would do so good on the road. Plus, having four wheel drive gives you additional options if something unexpected arises.
Written July 8, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MicLaf9999
Lakewood, CA15 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
My wife and I spent three nights camping along the White Rim Road. Back country permits are required for camping and camp sites are limited and in high demand during spring and fall. I spent some late nights on line getting the sites I wanted. Also please note no camp fires are allowed along the road. You have to bring all your food, water and other camping gear with you as there are no services along the road except for pit toilets. you must have a capable four wheel drive vehicle with 4 lo. We took our two high clearance Jeep Wranglers. Also invest in a good tent capable of handling wind gusts and rain. We experienced rain, wind, lightning and lots of mud on the west side of road. Strongly recommend that if you want to drive this trail, you have some experience driving off road. Driving conditions: steep and narrow ascents and descents, rocky road conditions up to nine inches high, slick rock, sand, ruts and mud. Trip of a lifetime!
Written May 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dan Z
Weston, West Virginia, United States8 contributions
Aug 2014 • Friends
We had a late start that day and got to the beginning of the road out of Moab at about 11:30 am. The views were spectacular, with rock formations towering 1000 feet above us and the Colorado/Green River almost a 1000 feet below us at times. The rock formations and colors were amazing. I told my friends that it was so beautiful that it actually hurt my eyes...ha! The terrain varied from sand, rock, gravel, mud, and everything in between. We stopped to take pictures at several of the canyon rims, but didn't take too much time to explore. It was clean, untouched, and remote. We only saw 2 other vehicles in the 100 mile road and managed to get out by 7:00 pm. Our bikes allowed us to make a slightly faster pace than a 4 WD but I would have still enjoyed stopping longer and exploring the area more. It is probably the most adventurous, remote road that I had ever been on....the switchback road at the end of the road was exhilarating and fun!
Written September 7, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
yacro
Los Angeles, CA246 contributions
Jun 2014 • Friends
Before I went on this trail, I have heard all the rumors about how Subarus/Minivans/BMW X3 are able to drive the 100 miles of White Rim Road. I even though about brining my Subaru Outback onto it. But now after I have gone through it, I absolutely have to say that you really need a high clearance 4WD to do the whole 100 miles. I highly doubt any vehicle other than a 4WD high clearance can climb up the 3-4 really steep sections on the trail.
With that said, the scenery is absolutely incredible... endless canyons, chasms, cliffs, ledges, viewpoints, rivers... My pal and I drove the whole road over 3 days (slightly too long, but not so long if you want to get out of the car and do some side trails/hiking) and thought the bare minimum would be 2 days.
Things to keep in mind. The temperature gets really hot (we did this in late June) with scorching sun in the day time. We had to sit in a car with air conditioining turned on for a few hours to cool down one day when we got to camp at 2 pm, much earlier than we thought. At night however, the temperature was perfect... barely needing the warm temperate sleeping bag we brought. There were also quite a bit of mosquitos, so plan on bringing bug repellents (could be just late June though). The wind during the day time was also fierce (we stayed at Gooseberry and Candlestick and both had gale force winds in late afternoon) and we had to use stakes for our tents. And of course, there is absolutely no water or food or gas on the road. One side trip that surprised us was the Lathrop Canyon. That side road is comparable to the steep sections at Murphy Hogback and Hardscrabble. But the "view" at the end of the road to the river wasn't very spectacular at all. And out of all the websites, White Crack and Murphy Hogback stand out easily for their superior scenery just steps from camp (but most of camps already have superb views).
If I have a chance to return here, I would do the trail in the other direction and see what I missed.
With that said, the scenery is absolutely incredible... endless canyons, chasms, cliffs, ledges, viewpoints, rivers... My pal and I drove the whole road over 3 days (slightly too long, but not so long if you want to get out of the car and do some side trails/hiking) and thought the bare minimum would be 2 days.
Things to keep in mind. The temperature gets really hot (we did this in late June) with scorching sun in the day time. We had to sit in a car with air conditioining turned on for a few hours to cool down one day when we got to camp at 2 pm, much earlier than we thought. At night however, the temperature was perfect... barely needing the warm temperate sleeping bag we brought. There were also quite a bit of mosquitos, so plan on bringing bug repellents (could be just late June though). The wind during the day time was also fierce (we stayed at Gooseberry and Candlestick and both had gale force winds in late afternoon) and we had to use stakes for our tents. And of course, there is absolutely no water or food or gas on the road. One side trip that surprised us was the Lathrop Canyon. That side road is comparable to the steep sections at Murphy Hogback and Hardscrabble. But the "view" at the end of the road to the river wasn't very spectacular at all. And out of all the websites, White Crack and Murphy Hogback stand out easily for their superior scenery just steps from camp (but most of camps already have superb views).
If I have a chance to return here, I would do the trail in the other direction and see what I missed.
Written June 25, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
t1g2
Santa Fe, NM38 contributions
May 2014 • Family
The views and sheer beauty of this place rate a "6". Words can't describe what you'll see.... but I'm rating this a 4 because if you don't know what you are doing here, you can get yourself into serious trouble. The only camp sites available for the dates we went were 65 miles apart. We are a physically fit family and found ourselves in a scramble to survive on that day. It became quite miserable and scary as you put in 12 hours of biking (even with rotating driving) and the sun is setting. We actually did not make it to our camp as it was 9pm, pitch black and totally dangerous to go forward.... so we camped where we were / fell.
The wind is bitter at times... like you can't open your eyes because the dirt is stinging your face. We were biking in the direction from Shafer to Mineral Road and the wind felt like it was against us most of the time. Biking from the opposite direction may have been better.
We had a Jeep and it handled everything fine but it had its work cut out for it. There are two passes that are essentially one lane with a 400 foot drop on one side. If you come upon a vehicle coming the other direction you are both going to pee in your pants. Bikers (really, you walk your bike up these big passes) need to go ahead and stop traffic - but some people don't seem to do this do don't count on it.
It seemed that we averaged 5 to 6 miles per hour on bike (which takes into account a short lunch break). We're fit, but not seasoned mountain bikers.
Everything would have been SO much better if the camp sites were spaced 30 miles apart. Funny thing was, all sites were booked but many went empty. I think many of the tour companies buy up the sites because they are cheap. We passed 2 mountain bikers the whole time. Most were on mountain bikes or in cars. Still only a few people.
Shafer camp site is beautiful as is Labrinyth B. Others we passed didn't look inviting at all (except for Potato Bottom). We didn't see White Crack.
Driving or biking is dangerous after dark. Get where you are going well before sunset.
The wind is bitter at times... like you can't open your eyes because the dirt is stinging your face. We were biking in the direction from Shafer to Mineral Road and the wind felt like it was against us most of the time. Biking from the opposite direction may have been better.
We had a Jeep and it handled everything fine but it had its work cut out for it. There are two passes that are essentially one lane with a 400 foot drop on one side. If you come upon a vehicle coming the other direction you are both going to pee in your pants. Bikers (really, you walk your bike up these big passes) need to go ahead and stop traffic - but some people don't seem to do this do don't count on it.
It seemed that we averaged 5 to 6 miles per hour on bike (which takes into account a short lunch break). We're fit, but not seasoned mountain bikers.
Everything would have been SO much better if the camp sites were spaced 30 miles apart. Funny thing was, all sites were booked but many went empty. I think many of the tour companies buy up the sites because they are cheap. We passed 2 mountain bikers the whole time. Most were on mountain bikes or in cars. Still only a few people.
Shafer camp site is beautiful as is Labrinyth B. Others we passed didn't look inviting at all (except for Potato Bottom). We didn't see White Crack.
Driving or biking is dangerous after dark. Get where you are going well before sunset.
Written May 8, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is the road ok to pull a 19ft camper and are there places to camp along the way?
Written April 23, 2019
No way do you want to pull anything besides an off-road trailer on this road
Written May 17, 2019
Can you cover most of the White Rim Road in 1 day in a Jeep rental. My friend and I love photography.
Written January 23, 2018
You can cover the road in a day. However, it is my personal opinion that it will be a very long and crappy day. It is about 150 miles from pavement and back to pavement. That is a lot of miles to cover. There are hundreds of places you are going to want to stop to take photos. This trip is best done over three days. But at minimum, I would recommend camping at least one night. There is too much to see. Also, if your Jeep is not modified, you are only going to travel at 20mph or so. Anything faster will jostle your Jeep and your kidneys.
Written April 15, 2018
Can you cover most of the White Rim Road in 1 day in a Jeep rental. My friend and I love photography.
Written January 23, 2018
Wynona B
Gig Harbor, Washington
RB - what were you riding/driving on White Rim Road? We are planning a trip to Moab/Canyonlands in June with our dualsports. Ideas? Recommendations? Thanks for your input - your review was outstanding!
Written January 8, 2018
Not sure who you are asking this. But I can tell you that in June, it is hot, hot, hot. Even camping at night will be hot. If you are planning to get a motel room, then White Rim Road is not the best idea. There are many other trails that you can do in a day with your dualsports. Funtreks has a book of all the trails with a GPS chip that will show you hot to get to each trail. You going to have blast, but it is hot, hot, hot in June.
Written April 15, 2018
Meine Anfrage; Wir sind zu zweit im November in den Canyonlands mit einem Taho 4X4 unterwegs und suchen einfach die schönste Route in dieser Gegend. Wenn möglich nicht auf einer "Hardcore" Offroadtour aber auch nicht auf Asphalt. Bin für Tipps dankbar. Bitte auch Übernachtungsmöglichkeiten (im Auto) angeben und natürlich alle erdenklichen Empfehlungen die unsere Reise betreffen.
Written July 21, 2016
Hallo "Oberpförtner", was meinst Du, ist die Strecke im November mit einem Chevrolet Taho 4X4 zu bewältigen?
Written July 21, 2016
Hi, planning a trip with the Jeep to White Rim Road, wanted to know if there were any campgrounds areas you liked best. Planning to stay 2 nights but would love to pick a campground with a great view and locations as well. I see the White Crack site is popular as it is already full on the nights we will be there. Kinda thought about starting at Shafer Trail and shooting to stay at Gooseberry the first night since it is only a few miles hike to the White Rim overlook for some great sunset pics. Thanks for your posted info as it was helpful and i would have to agree with you on reversing the route on the return trip. Safe Travels and hope you have a wonderful life.
Written May 30, 2015
I normally drive from Denver to Moab and then hit the White Rim Road right away. I stay at airport the first night and then White Crack the second night and Potato Bottom the third. However, Murphys is the best one. There is one spot that you can set up your tent on the edge of a cliff and watch sun go down at night and rise in the morning. Over all, it does not matter which one you stay at, as the drive is what your after. Great trip, you will have a blast. I like to start at Shafer as well. However, if you have your permits before hand, you can drive in through Potash and you do not have to go down Shafer Trail.
Written April 15, 2018
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