Drive the Shafer Trail from Canyonlands NP to Moab Utah- drop 1900 feet to the Colorado River

The Shafer Trail is an amazing drive and a great way to really experience the solitude of Canyonlands National Park. Most of the year it's safe for most SUVs. It takes just a few hours but you'll never forget it.
It's great for first time off road drivers but talk to a Ranger at the visitor center to be sure it's safe.

[@hupego1]

Great video!! Well explained , planning to drive this road in August!

[@TheWestisBig]

Thanks! hope it’s not too hot for you. bring water.

[@28105wsking]

Check you spare tire and tools, extra water and extra gas, extra food and charge up your phone and make sure someone knows you are going and when you plan to be out. Even if you just arrange to call the ranger at the entrance, that's safe. Be sure you have warm clothing, it gets very cold in the desert at night if your car should break down. It can easily go down to freezing at night, even if it has been 100 during the day.

[@TheWestisBig]

Good point. Be prepared!

[@michaelschmidt8968]

Great video. Perfect for anyone (like me) doing advance travel planning. Hits all the essential details, includes awesome footage, and even has compelling / inspiring commentary. Thanks for putting this together!

[@TheWestisBig]

Thanks for subscribing!! and for recognizing the hard work.

[@FewPewPewRah]

Nice job sir.

[@TheWestisBig]

Thank you kindly

[@theturdcurd2382]

I moved from Vegas back to Chicago in 2000 because I was stupid. I miss just grabbing my friends and our Jeeps, yes, highly modified, and just picking a direction and driving. After 20years I'm still trying to make my way back there, hopefully I'll get there and again explore before I'm too old..

[@TheWestisBig]

just go

[@wolfvonderr4487]

Excellent video. I cannot wait to do this trail next April (albeit without 4WD). Your voice and attitude is amazing, I almost wished you were my tourguide.

[@TheWestisBig]

Thanks. be sure to check road conditions by talking to a ranger before driving it

[@ChristisKing117]

Some of God’s best work.

[@TheWestisBig]

it’s a great place

[@crankybuzzard6867]

Love Shafer..... The scenery .... well. Nice video!

[@TheWestisBig]

Many thanks!

[@crankybuzzard6867]

@@TheWestisBig Its just such an awesome place. Anxious to go back and do it again. Lots of good trails out there. We'll do Moab in Oct. next time.

[@TheWestisBig]

true

[@npinola1]

Excellent commentary. So few YT videos provide that. Naming roads using landmarks and tips based on experience are much appreciated. History lesson was interesting as well (cattle road)

[@TheWestisBig]

Thank you for recognizing the work! it’s much appreciated.

[@adventurelifewithbob2960]

Enjoyed your video. One of my favorite roads in the Moab area. Usually the first one we take newcomers on. And of course, Moab is one of the best places for video and photography.

[@TheWestisBig]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@thewanderingpinto5979]

Vantastic video! this April visited Moab for the first time, loved it! Schafer Trail\Potash road was our first adventure we did in Moab. it was a great way to breakin my new Bronco Sport Badlands! we also did the Bronco off Roadeo, Chicken Corners, Gemini Bridges, Fins and Things and Willow Springs Road. Cant wait to return to do more exploring!

[@TheWestisBig]

Great to hear!

[@PK.Adventures]

Thank you for this great video. It helped me a lot mapping out our Utah trip for September.

[@TheWestisBig]

Thanks for subscribing! I need help getting to 100k

[@chiptaxfree]

Absolutely fantastic description of the place. I'm heading there next weekend and I'm going to take these trails.

[@TheWestisBig]

thanks for recognizing the hard work! Be sure to talk to a Ranger about the condition of the road. This late in the year it may be in rough shape.

[@johnferreira7498]

I LOVE YOUR CHANNEL

[@TheWestisBig]

Thank you very much! And Thanks for Subscribing. Sorry to ask but Please encourage others to sub as well. Apparently I need 100,000 to make it worthwhile to continue.

[@dmerth]

At 8:59, you were are Thelma and Louise Point. Where they filed the car driving off the cliff. As for the Shafer Trail, I've driven it three times. Usually in a jeep rented from Twisted Jeeps in Moab. If you haven't already, consider renting one from them for a day then take it to the "Fins and Things" trail in Moab. Perfect beginner trail that is incredible. The trail is just a couple miles from the center of Moab city. Thanks for the video. I love to "virtually" visit that area often. Next trip is... Yellowstone and your favorite "lunch spot" (you know what I mean LOL)!

[@TheWestisBig]

Thanks! I've always wondered where that was shot!!!

[@PunkSlap]

Cool! I’ve been to Canyonland NP twice but have yet to go off any paved roads. Did that in Capitol Reef NP and Grand Staircase-Escalante though. It was amazing and worth the rough ride.

[@TheWestisBig]

Thanks. I’ve gone off road in Cap Reef too. Very different- it’s in my 90 min Utah Grand Circle tour video. And Thanks for Subscribing. Sorry to ask but Please encourage others to sub as well. Apparently I need 100,000 to make it worthwhile to continue.

[@DC-ok6bk]

Great job. You could also note the famous Thelma and Louise movie shot location. I believe it was where you commented on the spur trail you saw from above, but not exactly certain from that angle. 😊

[@TheWestisBig]

But I don;t know exactly where it is.

[@TheWestisBig]

FYI- a helpful viewer says at 8:59 you can see the place where they drove off the cliff

[@nationalparksprincess3216]

Nice episode 😊

[@TheWestisBig]

thanks!

[@BB-gp5ip]

Did the trail 10 days ago in a Honda CRV. Every great until you get to potash rd. Thats where it gets rough.Took little more than 2 hrs to drive it. We passed maybe 15 cars in that time. All suv jeep trucks and 1 kia car. Personally I would never do it again all the way.Unless I had a jeep or truck. Something with high clearance.

[@TheWestisBig]

Good to know. Curious- did u talk to a Ranger about conditions before heading out? I’ve always done it in May or June. Heard it gets worse as the season progresses.

[@BB-gp5ip]

@TheWestisBigTravelGuides Yea we did. She said it is ok. But slow. Shafer is easy. Potash road where signs are pretty well non-existence after you make the turn. We just drove and occasionally seen a car or the 1 Rv camping at the bottom about half way through potash rd. Thought the guy was nuts. He came in from the otherside and really never hit the rough area.

[@TheWestisBig]

I tried driving in from the postash side once- the lack of signage forced me to turnaround

[@andrew9556]

I did it with my audi q7))) highly recommend to use suv..NO SEDAN..but thing u have to do when u in Moab

[@TheWestisBig]

thanks!

[@rducut]

I rode my bike down shafer trail a couple weeks ago. Totally different experience than driving. Had lunch at Thelma and Louise point (from the movie) then rode all they way back to Moab. Great video thank you fo sharing.

[@TheWestisBig]

wow nice! I brought my mt bike once but didn’t have the guts to do that! If you have a pic of Thelma and louise pt. please send a link. I might want to use it. I should have told that part of the story. I’ll add it to my big Moab area parks video i’m working on

[@thomza]

When the National Park states high clearance AWD recommended, what do you suppose they mean by high clearance? Would a stock Jeep Wrangler suffice?

[@TheWestisBig]

I’ve done in subaru forester and a 2wd suv. but it depends on weather conditions- always talk to ranger before driving the Shafer trail. y to he White rim is much tougher!!

[@ZEVONLIN]

Is camping allowed?

[@TheWestisBig]

hmm. tricky. on parts of the white Rim rd yes. by permit. non of it is blm. part of i’m driving on is a county rd. I’ve never seen comping on the route. Ask a ranger. what a great spot to camp!

[@mr.commander3947]

This kind of terrain,, I need fox suspension for my truck to run fast,,

[@timpoolsdad9281]

DUSTY!!!!!

[@TheWestisBig]

yep

[@snowheyoh321]

This is a nice video but it kind of sugarcoats the gravity of the drive. The drive is scary if you don't have a specialized vehicle, aren't a confident driver....too many people just turn on and think it's a nice scenic drive. The signage really isn't explicit enough. There are some treacherous, tight spots. And some people drive or bike like idiots.