Potash Road to Shafer Switchbacks - 4x4 Jeep Trail - Moab, Canyonlands, Deadhorse State Park, Easy

The Potash Road to the Shafer Switchbacks is an amazing 4x4 easy trail. A stock 4WD vehicle can easily do this trail. It will take you around the rim by Deadhorse State Park and then up the canyon into Canyonlands National Park. This has been one of our favorite national park experiences and I think it’s one you will love as well!
The Moab trail guide we use can be found here:
amzn.to/3uTiDrN

[@dannypawelek6859]

I just did this with my wife and stepson two weeks ago and it was spectacular. The wife complained that I should stay closer to the wall and so I let her drive and she was very good for the first time and thank me for trusting her. Lol

[@ron-namvet5651]

It is not pronounce poat ash... it is pot ash, it is used in fertilizer

[@chadoconnell7165]

Man, you’re braver than us. We just tried it and totally chickened out. Granted, I’m scared of heights, but that first corner past the Thelma and Louise cliff sent me back that direction with my tail between my legs 😂

[@scootypuffjr.]

The whole area looks like a Coyote and Road Runner cartoon. I spent a few days in the area last week as part of a southern Colorado, Four Corners, eastern Utah trip with my 10yo daughter. We loved every place we went on the trip, but my daughter said next time let's go to straight to Moab area. We have an FJ Cruiser and did part of 3 different easy trails with plans to come back next year and do Fins n Things and a few other well known trails. Edit: We did Willow Springs rd, the Shafer switchbacks top to bottom then back up to the park, and Cache Valley rd in Arches NP.

[@Boogra]

There is literally nowhere else on the planet that is more beautiful in my opinion. I'm actually working on a painting of the exact view you get from standing on the lookout point your thumbnail shows.

[@RVHomeschool]

We’ve been to over 40 parks and this is still one of my favorite views of any place we’ve been. Link to your painting when you are finished. Would love to see it.

[@renepoggenpoel1711]

Drove the trail in my dodge grand caravan. Loved it.

[@thewanderingpinto5979]

Thanks for posting. I watched it before going to Moab. We are there now, did the trail on Thursday, only top to bottom. It was Amazing!! I drove my new Bronco Sport Badlands, performed flawlessly. My wife did not let me get to close to the edge at the Thelma and Louise spot LOL!

[@RVHomeschool]

Glad to hear you had a great time. Isn’t it beautiful?!

[@thewanderingpinto5979]

@@RVHomeschool yes it is!

[@timnoll1900]

Phenomenal video. I did this in reverse going down the switchbacks. Unfortunately i did it around 5pm so i couldn't pull over as much to really take it all in. Plus it was my first attempt at off roading. So i did the last portion from Thelma and Louise point to the end in the dark. Talk about panic lol. I think i could've kissed the pavement once i hit the abrasive l actual road lol. But thanks for this video it brought back memories to one of the coolest things I've ever done.

[@stephenhall5694]

Spectacular is right! You caught this trail in perfect light at several points. Ansel Adams would be proud!

[@edgarberrios7498]

This video is awesome 👏🏼 thanks

[@RVHomeschool]

Glad it was helpful

[@keithbrown6318]

Loved this trail myself! We did it in my stock 2WD Chevy. One of the highlights of our out West excursion back in June2022. Great video!

[@rodhester2166]

chevy what? Curious if a stock (no lift ) f150 fx4 could do it with out hitting rocker panels or front air dam.

[@crankybuzzard6867]

have recommending MANY times!!!! Thanks for the video!!

[@evsta100]

Nice ending vid. Thank You Kids look like they are loving it. My Jeep tj 99 would love it lol THX

[@toddglover2054]

It's pronounced "Pot Ash," not Po Tash. Ask a local. And the park is Dead Horse POINT State Park! Great videos!!

[@tengyang1895]

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing your family experience.

[@darrickiam]

I am saving this video from next month while I am in moab.

[@RVHomeschool]

You’ll love it! So amazing.

[@paulfercho5740]

Great video and 411. Adding this one to the list for my 2nd Moab trip in either May or October.

[@spacewizard69]

I just did this trail but I started from Shafer Switchbacks in my Porsche Cayenne first time off road and is awesome

[@steveludwig4200]

Excellent step by step instruction...you must be a teacher....LOL. Just curious which is your favorite way to start this trail up like this route or down? Thx

[@chadpontow]

Great overview of the drive. Can't wait to try it the next time we are out west!

[@RVHomeschool]

Thank you. I hope it’s helpful. Definitely worth checking out the next time you visit Moab.

[@rollinmckim4719]

Thanks for the great visit, watching this now! An absolutely other-worldly phenomenal landscape, good to see again. We used to pose beneath the balanced rock to make it look like we were holding it up, of course! I must have skirted some payment points, unless those are newer the past ten years or so. Sorry! It's WELL worth it!

[@garyacker7388]

Man how it's changed a lot! I drove it a blazer and it was pretty rough. That was back in the 80s.

[@RVHomeschool]

I bet they do some trail maintenance these days.

[@9greatdanes981]

All the fun trails got warn to east level

[@billwaterhouse5894]

Pot and ash....Potash :)

[@7nash974]

Excellent footage and explanation! Thank you, Thank you!

[@RVHomeschool]

Thank you for watching. Have fun on your trip.

[@juhakaaro9656]

Hey, Thanks for sharing video! Great views and so different we have here in Finland! The Colorado river flows nicely through a rocky area!

[@drfrank777]

Very nice job. I'm hoping to be out there (From FL) in October, and knowing that there are roads / trails where I can drive my stock 4x4 pickup is great info. Thanks!

[@RVHomeschool]

You could also do Willow Springs (back way into Arches) assuming it’s still open. I heard they are making part of it into a state park. I would avoid the major Jeeping trails (Fins, Hells Revenge, Top of the World, etc).

[@robertf3340]

Heading there in late May. Thanks for the video

[@RVHomeschool]

Enjoy. It’s beautiful.

[@darylhagle8565]

Great video thank you !

[@sluggotinfantryman]

Great video 📹 👍

[@michaelhukenbeck114]

Well done

[@BrendenCaruso]

Great video! You really showed what to expect

[@RVHomeschool]

My least favorite thing is getting our Jeep stuck in a situation. So I like to show people what to expect and hopefully keep them from getting in a bind.

[@tomanderson9872]

Wow! What a great video, and such a soothing soundtrack :) I'm planning on doing this exact route next month, so it's very helpful to see the full trail ahead of time.

[@RVHomeschool]

Awesome! You’ll love it. One of the most magical experiences we’ve had in all of our travels.

[@tomanderson9872]

@@RVHomeschool we did it this last Saturday. It was amazing!

[@RVHomeschool]

@@tomanderson9872 Awesome! Wasn’t that view amazing. The video doesn’t even do it justice.

[@TJackSurvival]

Beautiful

[@RVHomeschool]

The sight is almost unbelievable. Must be one of the best views in that area.

[@jrt3879]

Awesome road, did it on a bmw r1250gsa, watch for the sand spots, especially on the switch backs

[@Dreamrider7]

I love your approach to making videos. I especially liked the lake city loop video. My only criticism is your mispronunciation of the word potash. It is pronounced POT ASH (paa tash) not poe tash. Your 4 wheeling videos are among the very best on Utube.

[@RVHomeschool]

Thanks. I’ve learned since this video the proper pronounciation. 😂 I’m sure I do that a lot when I travel places I don’t know well. Glad you liked the video.

[@vivianriver6450]

I did this trail a few times in my Subaru Forester. I love the way it's so accessible to visit the wilderness here and the Shafer Switchbacks are stunning. I also did Gemini Bridges which was also a lot of fun.

[@RVHomeschool]

We will have to check out Gemini Bridges next time we are in Moab.

[@vivianriver6450]

@@RVHomeschool It has been years since I've done Gemini Bridges, but IIRC it is easier than Potash Road. Just make sure you have your GPS with you, and a good camera!

[@Djarvis2]

There are several campgrounds on the trail you just have to get a backcountry permit

[@RVHomeschool]

Thank you for answering that. People have asked and I didn’t have good information for them.

[@sluggotinfantryman]

Do one over Burro and Up backside of Peale, probably already did.

[@BS2Dos]

👍👍

[@joshuamorales7845]

great video, thanks. can I ask where did you get your bear hat from?

[@RVHomeschool]

It’s a Patagonia hat. I would imagine they can be found at REI, or Cabelas. I bought it at a local Colorado outdoor place called Jax’s.

[@soonerbum]

Mind telling what setting used on your gopro? It looks great!

[@RVHomeschool]

No GoPro. I just film on my iPhone. It’s even an older 11.

[@danbarber7333]

It's Pot Ash, not Po tash... It's used to make fertilizer...

[@UTAH100]

Thank you.

[@jimnorwood8133]

Great video and thanks for sharing! We are visiting Canyonland tomorrow and would like to take this trail. My only concern is the switchbacks and not having enough room if you encounter another vehicle. Are there plenty of turnouts for vehicles to pull off for right of way?

[@RVHomeschool]

I don’t know about plenty of turnarounds but I do think there would be some places (or you could tell before heading up the switchbacks if another car is coming). We’ve done a lot of trails without room for two vehicles and I feel like people are respectful and willing to move over if needed. Everyone wants safety on the trail. Have fun.

[@soonerbum]

Great video! Think I can do this in a 2WD Suburban?

[@RVHomeschool]

Depending on the conditions you may have some clearance issues (Subarus tend to be lower to the ground) but we did see a BMW sedan out on the trial - so you don’t necessarily need a built-up 4x4 to do the path.

[@everready19373]

Great video, good narration and maps. But it's pot-ash, not po-tash.

[@kellyparsons9892]

So my question is... coming next month, renting a jeep to do this. Should you go down the mountain or go up ?

[@RVHomeschool]

Personally I’m a little less scared climbing up those switchbacks versus going down. If you head down just be sure you downshift to first gear the whole way down instead of riding the brakes.

[@kc7071]

For anyone who has driven this. Would a stock outback wilderness make it through no problem? 9.5 clearence.

[@RVHomeschool]

You may want to check with rangers at Canyonlands to make sure there isn’t any wash out or problem areas, but when we went I would think an outback would be okay.

[@makuemakue2957]

What recommended PSI would you deflate to?

[@RVHomeschool]

We normally deflate about 10 below what is normal. So we normally are at 40, but deflate to 30 on most trails.

[@tomesplin4130]

Potash is potassium carbonate (not potassium chloride)

[@kayaduss]

Can you camp along this trail ?

[@RVHomeschool]

I’m pretty sure if you pull a permit for White Rim (which shares some of this trail) you are allowed to camp at some point - so it might be possible. We didn’t camp on it and some parts line along private property. Check into the White Rim permit and you can probably see the camping guidelines for the area.

[@9greatdanes981]

Say it in a French accent to piss people off.. Sounds cooler

[@RVHomeschool]

Seems no matter how I pronounce things I anger some people. 😆

[@9greatdanes981]

@@RVHomeschool see direction above and repeat

[@GarageGeek]

Fact that she was churlish about another vehicle showing up tells me all I need to know about people who drive angry-eye jeeps.