Explore the most popular Mountain Biking trails in Canyonlands National Park with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you.
Not for the faint of heart but also super safe and exciting!
We had the adventure of a lifetime on this trail in a Jeep. It’s a tight squeeze with hairpin turns to the bottom of the canyon but we’ll worth the white knuckles.
Would recommend an off road vehicle. Bumpy and a little scary if you’re new to off roading. I’d say intermediate to beginner if you have someone more experienced to talk you through it. I did use 4 wheel drive but I think 2 wheel drive would make it. I’d definitely recommend a higher clearance vehicle. Amazingly beautiful!
Nice view at the end, easy trail
Funny enough, we sort of ended up driving on this trail by mistake and it ended up being the highlight of our Utah5 trip. Luckily, we had a car that could handle it, though nothing is to technical or crazy aside from a pretty. Nerve racking switchback out of the canyon. This trail is full of Amazing views, wildlife, and unspoiled vistas.
Beautiful trail. No crazy obstacles, lots of cliff side driving. Did overnight, camped at Potato Bottom. Went counterclockwise meaning second day was a long one. Excellent scenery!
excellent for sight seeing. easy for any AWD vehicle. I would recommend a competent driver though as the road is right on the edge of many cliffs.
Absolutely cool with very sharp and steep switchbacks at the Island in the Sky entrance. We did it in a 2001 chevy van with a small trailer for a trail bike. It was very rough in places with some rocky stretches. We did lose a trailer light due to the vibration. I would recommend a higher clearance vehicle that can handle rough roads or a trail bike. My brother took the trail bike and said no problems at all. My sister said never again. LOL. She was scared to death going down the switchbacks. It was probably scarier on her side and she wasn't driving.
Heidi H. on Shafer Trail
FYI, No OHV allowed on Shafer Trail, we had rented a Yamaha Wolverine but were not allowed to drive out on this trail :-(
I don't like heights. The edges are very close to the car and it is hard to pass other drivers with only a few pull off points. My driver was confident and skilled but other novice drivers stopping in terrible spots that we had to pass made me so nervous.
I highly recommend taking this trail when you are you looking to fit several trails in a day. We took it after Gemini bridges and Long Canyon road and it was the perfect end to the day. The views are spectacular! Make sure your camera batteries are charged with plenty of space on your memory card. It's a very photogenic trail. It's easy enough for most vehicles.
Awesome trail. Great view of the canyon. We came from Canyonlands and into Moab. If you come the other way around I don’t think you have to pay the $30 fee.
Completed this drive upwards in a stock Honda CRV. No issues though do not attempt if you are uncomfortable with heights. Saw a bighorn sheep at the start. Great views and fun way to start off a trip to Canyonlands.
Excellent drive, definitely suggest going from Canyonlands into Moab during the morning. Beautiful light and less crowded.
Views are beyond excellent!!! Go up the Moab (city) side to save some money. Just about anything with AWD can do this! Careful going through the salt company's property. If you're going up during bug season (as we did) remember to take repellent (we didn't). Would recommend airing down as the washboard is pretty annoying. Dropping to 20PSI would have been much better for us, and its close enough to get back into town and air back up at the gas station if you don't have on board air. After completing the trail I had more mosquito bites than pictures - but the picture I took were spectacular.
Stressful but fun. Descended in a Grand Cherokee Overland with Terra Grappler tires. No slips or wheel spin. Stayed in off-road 1 most the way, just in case of a random high point rock. Off-road 2 in a couple spots that looked high, but not for long. Take your time. We saw sheep on a cliff and dry bed near the trail and deer fawn in another creek bed.
The Walkie Talkies 4. on Shafer Trail
Awesome fun drive for a stock 4 wheel drive or better vehicle. We started out of Moab so we could drive up the Shafer Switchback section - easier than coming down! Some great vistas, particularly at Thelma & Louise Lookout point. If you are lucky you will get to see some desert bighorn sheep along the drive!
blast of a trail.
This was an amazing drive! I recommend starting in Canyonlands NP and finishing in Moab.
drove this today in my 2015 jeep wglr unlimited with my hubby as he followed in his2013 chevy silverado. we drove the whole trail in 8 hours. it was amazing. only a few spots were a little on the crazy side but that wont stop us from doing again sometime. a heads up..there are 3 major camps near by that cost $20 a night cash/check. with fire pit but u have to carry out ur ashe and there are 12 primitive camps with only an out house near by. they do not cost. Bring LOTS of WATER. there are no near by stores for convienence. it was 104 today.
Amazingly beautiful scenery; it's spoiled for me the paved, touristy overlooks at some of my favorite parks. The trail itself is not difficult our technical in a lifted Wrangler. The steep incline towards the end of the trail is fun with amazing overlooks.
Easily the best thing I've ever done! I went solo in my Jeep Wrangler and took 4 days to complete which was extra time because I wanted to enjoy it. I definitely recommend you be at least a moderately experienced driver to tackle this one. There are 3 or 4 points that give even super experienced 4 x 4 drivers pause. I've Ben all over the United States, to over 40 States, and this is by far the best drive I've ever done.
Easy trail in a RZR1000. No challenges or obstacles. Beautiful views of the Potash ponds and Dead Horse. You will find yourself right across the river of Dead Horse Point. A gravel road with a few rocky bumps.
Easy trail with a stock 4Runner. Only put it 4X4 a couple of times. Great views in Canyon Land Park.
Absolutely beautiful and amazing views. We had so much fun just enjoying the natural views of UTAH.
A lot of highlights in Moab and this is one of them. We started on 279 out of Moab and through Potash road on to Shafers Trial up to Island in the Sky. We stopped off at Corona Arch / Pinto Arch (versus going to Arches NP with crowds and crowds of people). The trail starts off rough but ok for my lifted 4x4 Jeep. Used low-gear for a couple of inclines but didn't necessarily have too,,,,but I wouldn't want to be there without 4-wheel drive. After the Potash area the road smooth's out a little and is a little better. We took a couple of side trails and stopped off at the base of the Deadhorse Point park at the Colorado River. We had the doors off the Jeep and that's what really made the ride fun. The 'fear of height's' wife in the front seat struggled for a while (she didn't know what we were getting into) but came to terms with a few peeks and glances as we climbed up the canyon wall road. Absolutely gorgeous drive and ride up to the top. Didn't do the top down ride but really can't think of it being better. I would suggest if you have a 4x4 or rent a 4x4, take 279 route out of Moab and go up the trail to Island in the Sky.
Very easy drive, drove it from Canyonlands towards the Colorado River in a stock 2016 Ram 1500. Trail is very easy. The first half doing the switchbacks and being down in the canyon was great. The drive did get a bit exhausting towards the end by the evap pools (but it was our 4th day of off-roading) - maybe stop for lunch half-way through. Would do again.
