Potash Road
Potash Road
4.5
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This spectacular bicycle trail follows the Colorado River.
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3 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- Brandon EForest, Virginia247 contributionsWater & WallsThis was an absolutely beautiful drive to the back entrance of Canyonlands. On your journey out the Colorado River winds gently on your left while the canyon walls on your right make you feel as small as we truly are. Don't forget to stop and few the petroglyphs on your way... they are remarkable.Visited February 2023Written February 22, 2023
- Marcia W5 contributionsPotash Rd and MoreKevin Walker, our tour guide, took us on the Potash Rd around the Potash ponds and on around into Canyonlands til there was snow on the road. Beautiful sights everywhere we looked. Kevin was so patient to let us stop and take photos. Highly recommend the tour and Kevin as your guide.Visited March 2023Written March 11, 2023
- Lauraly BUnited States23 contributionsNice driveTaking a drive along Potash Road is beautiful and scenic with the Colorado River flowing along one side and walls of stone along the other. It is a popular site for rock climbing and repelling. A must see is the petroglyph panels.Visited May 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten May 19, 2023
- jxx95951,464 contributionsPleasant, scenic, interesting driveThe problem with Moab is that Arches is such an off the charts experience that everything else pales a bit by comparison. We enjoyed driving down Potash Raod, taking in the views, and seeing the petroglyphs. We made it all the way down to the potash facility at the end. When you've done a couple of days at Arches and Dead Horse Point, this should be next on your list.Visited August 2023Traveled with friendsWritten September 2, 2023
- Mike FAntigo, Wisconsin256 contributionsVery cool drive, lot to see!Very cool drive and worth the time if you have it! Went with my dad and 6yo son. Went straight to the trail head and found the petroglyphs and dinosaur prints. A few helpful signs that explain what you're seeing. Also petroglyphs along the road on a huge cliff which are marked as well. We loved it and would recommend for sure!Visited September 2023Traveled with familyWritten September 14, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
790 reviews
Excellent
505
Very good
225
Average
45
Poor
8
Terrible
7
Kim D
31 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
OK 1st take this road for the beautiful sights not the Potash fields. You come to a big sign that says your GPS is wrong and the road turns into loose dirt, twisting road. Instead see the beautiful Potash fields from a Birdseye view from Dead Horse State Park. On the road that goes through the canyon there is beauty at every turn and some REALLY nice petroglyphs to step out and see.
Written July 23, 2021
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.
Tony K
Moreno Valley, CA735 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
As you turn onto Potash road from 191 follow it down into the Canyon along the River until you see the Brown “Petroglyphs” sign. The Petroglyphs are straight across from sign and up about 15-20’. They don’t stand out real well as they are kinda dark but you can make things out. Continue down road just a little ways to Poison Spider Trailhead area on right, take road the short drive to top. Information Board tells of the Dinosaur Tracks on slope looking north. You have to do some Rock scrambling to climb up and see the one panel with 2 Foot prints on it. If you have Binoculars and know which rock (faces the Highway) you can see them.
Written May 1, 2021
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.
messier27
Fountain, CO222 contributions
Oct 2020 • Solo
The first site is the most impressive but the second site has the famous bear glyph. Although the guides say there is a sign for the 2nd stop, there wasn't one on my trip, just for the first stop and the poison spider site. The poison spider site also has dinosaur tracks, but the hike the see the glyhs and the tracks was too difficult for me to see either. The last of the sites is at jug handle arch. They weren't worth a stop on their own but the arch was nice as well
Written October 9, 2020
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.
Barry and Nicol... G
Reading, UK1,075 contributions
Jun 2022
The petroglyphs right by the side of Potash road are some of the best we have seen and certainly the easiest to access. The road runs by the Colorado river with the stunning red cliffs surrounding you. Its well worth an hour or so going down this road and back gain.
Written June 25, 2022
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.
LAW64
Tonbridge, UK1,693 contributions
Sep 2022
We loved travelling along the paved section of this road from the direction of Moab. We stopped at the signposted area and saw the amazing petroglyphs which we loved. Then we travelled a bit further and parked and saw the dinosaur print which you can also climb up to quite quickly. Fantastic. We then turned round and returned to Moab.
Written October 3, 2022
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.
Pupasaurus
Rockville58 contributions
Oct 2022
We came down the Shaefer road from Canyonlands NP and continued on the Potash road. A bit of a bone jaring experience but it was a great adventure. I would advise against taking a sedan on this road. High clearance 4x4 would be the recommended vehicle
Written October 20, 2022
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.
TotalOfFive
chicago193 contributions
Oct 2022
This was a driving outing for us after hiking in the morning. We went all the way to the end of the paved road at the potash mine location. There is a bit of information about the mine and two memorials to miners who died in accidents. It's a beautiful drive the entire way. The petroglyphs are on the high rocks opposite a turn out. Watch for the sign that says "petroglyphs".
Written October 10, 2022
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.
Mike F
Antigo, WI256 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
Very cool drive and worth the time if you have it! Went with my dad and 6yo son. Went straight to the trail head and found the petroglyphs and dinosaur prints. A few helpful signs that explain what you're seeing. Also petroglyphs along the road on a huge cliff which are marked as well. We loved it and would recommend for sure!
Written September 14, 2023
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.
Marcia W
5 contributions
Mar 2023
Kevin Walker, our tour guide, took us on the Potash Rd around the Potash ponds and on around into Canyonlands til there was snow on the road. Beautiful sights everywhere we looked. Kevin was so patient to let us stop and take photos. Highly recommend the tour and Kevin as your guide.
Written March 11, 2023
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.
Lee B.
58 contributions
Aug 2020
We drove down from Island in the sky along the Schaffer Trail and then onto Potash Road. Make sure you have good clearance and all wheel drive. it took every bit of two hours to travel the 30 some miles downhill....this is a gravel road and in a couple of places are technical....you all come to Thelma and Louise point overlooking Dead Horse Point.
Written August 14, 2020
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.
pgoffingbs
Hannut, Belgium219 contributions
Adrie, I think you simply did not prepare yourself to go there and the surprise was just frightening for you. Objectively, this is a fantastic place to visit even without a 4wheels drive, we had a Ford Expedition 2X4 and had no problem at all, simply fantastic
RudysWorld
Saint Clair Shores, MI100 contributions
Last year, we drove down into Canyonlands via Shafer Canyon Rd., taking that out to the Gooseneck Overlook along White Rim Rd. This year, I am thinking of doing the same, but turning off at BLM 142 (Potash Rd.) in order to get to the gooseneck in the Colorado River, and drive back to Moab via BLM 142 past the potash ponds.
How rough is the terrain for driving in an all-wheel drive smaller SUV? We found the travel along Shafer Canyon Rd. and White Rim Rd. to be doable last year. But, I don't want to get further along BLM 142 and have to turn around on the way back to Moab. (And I would prefer not having to drive back up those switchbacks again.)
Dennis C
Sydney, Australia290 contributions
Hi There,
The road is doable for sure got a couple of hard road outposts along the way but a hell of a lot of fun in an SUV not sure i would do it if it was raining
Jan F
1 contribution
I was told this was a bike trail. Are bikes a good idea? Do they share the road or is there a separate trail?
Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,751 contributions
It is not a bike trail. But it can and has been biked. There is no trail for bikers only but the Potash Trail is lightly traveled by vehicles so you don't figure to run into an 18-wheeler. However, from the bike rental shop in Moab to the end of the paved road at Potash, it is a round trip of 40 miles. Beautiful scenery. Wonderful atmosphere. But I think a 4WD vehicle would be more enjoyable.
chryss136
Bouches-du-Rhone, France6 contributions
bonjour, avec un Chevrolet Suburban est ce qu'on peut s'aventurer sur cette piste ou est ce vraiment trop risqué ? est ce qu'on peut la commencer et faire demi tour ou sommes nous obligés de la finir une fois entamé ? merci
MeneacBreizh
Meneac, France98 contributions
Bonjour,
Oui ça passe en faisant attention, dans certain endroits vous avez la possibilté de faire demi tour
Magnifique trail
Il y en a d’autres un peu partout a Moab
Bon séjour nous y serons début octobre
Amicalement
Michel et Joelle
FlavyDo
Italy91 contributions
Salve!
1) Quante ore ci vogliono per percorrere la Potash road?
2) Una volta terminata dove si sbuca? E' obbligatorio proseguire per lo Shefer trail?
3) Saro' con un suv non 4x4, si puo' fare?
4) Eventualmente, Il tratto asfaltato dove termina?
Grazie
bi1973
Milan, Italy510 contributions
1. In condizioni buone 2.40 max 3.00
2. Si continua per la shaffer trail e si sbuca vicino all entrata del dead horse point - canyolands
Puoi tornare indietro ma non avrebbe senso, il panorama va visto tutto
3. Si se la strada è asciutta e se senti un motore brillante. L importante è che l auto sia alta
4. Il tratto asfaltato lo trovi nella prima parte partendo da Moab e costeggia il fiume
Travel_Addict_Cyprus
Michigan1,114 contributions
I am a little confused after reading the reviews. Is Potash Road the same thing as Utah Scenic Byway 279? Or is it that they both have petroglyphs?
Thanks!
Linda A
Bonita Springs, FL354 contributions
It’s the same. We did it earlier this month. It was really a nice drive. We only went as far as the factory. We took lots of pics. It was recommended by someone at tourist information.
artistwriter22
Delta, CO
If I have a 19-20' camper-van, can I get into Canyonlands NP via Potash road?
sylvainm483
Montpellier, France179 contributions
No way.
genehayes
Bullhead City, AZ7 contributions
Is this road a loop? If not, where does it start and where does it end? Can I make it in a NON four wheel drive Ford Expedition>
John G
1 contribution
Might be a little dicey in a few places on some of the rock steps, but if you get out and plan your route in person up close you can probably find a route. These places are probably only around 20-30 feet long. I've got an older stock 4x Tahoe I can't remember anyplace where I really needed 4x4. The bottom end starts off Potash Road which runs up in to Moab. The top end just inside the entrance n to Canyonlands National Park.
macturbo
5 contributions
Help! Rain forecast in western Utah is forcing me to make last min travel changes, want to head up to eastern Utah instead. I camp in my truck camper. I would love to camp at Gold Bar campground on Potash road, but BLM office this morning told that would be too full to even park in and sleep in the bed of my truck, and that in fact all the public camping in and around Moab, etc would be full by noon. Does this sound correct and if so any suggestions for other areas? I dont mind camping out of town, I just dont want to pay $100 for a tent site, if that's the case I'll come back another non holiday weekend
PrincessOyl
Salt Lake City, UT
You would be extremely hard pressed to find a campground that charges $100 per night! Wow! It seems to me like the ones I have stayed in are $15 to $25 per night. That's not bad. Some are more expensive like KOA's, BLM ones or those in the parks are not expensive. Ask at a tourist information stop in the town where you are. They will know almost everything about them, as well as, maps of how to get there, etc. People come and go from those campgrounds at any time, but most check out earlier in the morning. If you see someone packing up to leave, just ask them if they are leaving and would it be okay to pay for their place and take it after they leave....but remember to leave something there so no one will take it because your chair or whatever is there.
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Claim your listingPotash Road - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Potash Road
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Potash Road:
- Canyonlands National Park Half-Day Tour from Moab (From $196.96)
- Canyonlands National Park Backcountry 4x4 Adventure from Moab (From $180.52)
- Arches, Canyonlands & Moab Adventures: Small Group 3-Day Tour (From $1,595.00)
- Utah & Arizona National Parks: Small Group 5-Day Tour (From $2,695.00)
- Utah Mighty 5 National Parks: Small Group 5-Day Tour (From $2,695.00)
- Hotels near Potash Road:
- (4.59 mi) Whispering Oaks Ranch
- (8.58 mi) ULUM Moab
- (6.96 mi) Coyote Cabin Rentals
- (9.84 mi) OK RV Park
- (2.98 mi) Talking Mountain Yurts
Potash Road Information
Excellent Reviews | 505 |
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Very Good Reviews | 225 |
Potash Road Photos | 342 |