I just spent the weekend in Moab, went on a little back-way trip through part of Canyonlands, took the Potash Road up to Island in the Sky via the Shafer Trail. This short back country day trip only takes about 3 or 4 hours to complete (depending on how long you spend on side journeys), and is great any time of year, even in Winter. There is plenty to see; views of the Colorado from the White Rim, Close up views of the Potash Ponds, Dinosaur Tracks and Ancient Petroglyphs, even maybe a little wildlife (we saw Big Horn Sheep on this latest trip). This trip is truly a back country journey. You won't need a 4 wheel drive vehicle to complete the trip, but I would recommend something with some clearance. The first part of the trip on HWY 279can be completed in a passenger car, but the last half of the trip on the Potash Road and up Shafer Trail consists of back country roads, graded but a little rough in spots, I wouldn't recommend going past the Potash Ponds with anything but a high clearance vehicle for this part of the journey.
To access the Potash road, head north out of Moab on HWY 191. Take the signed turn off to HWY 279 on your left about 1 mile past the bridge. HWY 279 winds its way along the Colorado River passing through the famous Wall Street area a favorite for Rock Climbers. Watch for Petroglyphs / Ancient Rock Art in this area. It can be found in the along the south facing cliff faces in the dark Desert Varnish. I found a particularly good panel just before the Williams Bottom Campground.
Just after the Williams Bottom campground, located near the Poison Spider Trail-head, are a series of Dinosaur Tracks. The Tracks are located about 200 yards above the large gravel parking lot on the East side (near the Pit Toilet) on a large flat piece of sandstone. A trail leads from the parking lot to the Dinosaur Tracks. Oh, if you plan on tracking any Dinos down in the area a Dinosaur Hunting Permit is recommended.
If you are up for a short hike, the trail-head for Corona Arch can be found just few miles further along the route. Corona Arch is one of my favorite Arches and I highly recommend taking the time to visit it. I have provided a few pictures and a description of this hike in a previous post.
HWY 279 will eventually end near the Potash Facilities, a graded public road continues from here around the Potash Ponds ascending the lower plateaus of the Colorado River to the White Rim below the Island in the Sky. The geology of this area is fascinating and beautiful, deep chocolate browns and reds contrast with the gray and white sandstone found in the area. As you travel along the graded road beware of sudden sink holes or large rocks that may have fallen from above. I was busy taking in the landscape, and came over small rise in the road, and hit a large hole with the passenger side of my truck. I bounced out of the hole, but ended up damaging the running board along this side of the truck, Ouch! Near the Potash Ponds I did spot a few Desert Big Horn Sheep. They appeared to have come down from the cliffs above to graze and enjoy a mid-day drink.
About 3 miles past the Potash Ponds you will come to a look out area over the Colorado River. To the North of this area you can look up to the plateau and see the Dead Horse Point viewing area.
Take the time to drive out to the point overlooking the Colorado. This area was where the famous last scene in the movie "Thelma and Louise" was filmed. The Leap scene where they supposedly drove off the rim of the Grand Canyon was filmed right here.. no really!
Continue along the Potash Road to the junction with the White Rim Road. You will see some signage when you enter Canyonlands National Park. Please be sure to pay the park entrance fee at the top of the Shafer Trail. To continue to the Shafer Trail, turn right at the junction. This route will take you up the steep winding trail to the top of the Island in the Sky. As you wind your way up the Shafer Trail be sure to be on the lookout for vehicles making there way down. There are no turnaround points on the trail, and only a few areas wide enough to accommodate 2 vehicles, so be alert.
The Shafer Trail was actually built before Canyonlands became a National Park. Shafer Trail actually started out as a cattle trail, constructed by John Sog Shafer in 1917. Later on when the search for ore and uranium became popular in the late 1940s and early 1950s, uranium miners looked for ways to remove ore from what is now the White Rim area, they turned old cattle routes into truck routes. The Shafer Trail then became one of those routes, and was completed in October 1952. Ore from the White Rim area was then trucked up the Shafer Trail and out toward Moab long the top of the Island in the Sky. As I traversed the Trail, I could only imagine the old 1950s ore trucks taking the hairpin curves to the top of the plateau.. Ugh! Wouldn't want to have been one of those drivers.
Below I have included a Map of this short trip, and a slideshow to some pics I took on this trip. Also be sure to visit my Amazon Link... Canyonlands National Park Favorite Jeep Roads & Hiking Trails.
Google Map of Trip:
View Potash Road to Shafer Trail in a larger map
Slideshow Images of Trip:
Recommended Read:
"Canyonlands is a wild and wonderful place to explore. I would have been lost without this book. I was able to decide ahead of time what areas of the park I wanted to spend the most time in by reading the detailed descriptions of jeep roads and trails. The beautiful color photographs helped me make decisions as well. I found the maps to be extremely helpful and the estimated travel times to be very accurate. David Day knows his stuff!"
