Driving the Shafer Trail - Canyonlands National Park, Utah

[mainecoonmommy]

I took this drive going down a few yrs ago w/ my husband. He teased me a couple of times saying "There's a car coming up!". When he said "There's a bus coming up". I didn't bat an eye until I looked @ A BUS coming up! She (!!) had dropped off rafters. He's a firefighter & drives the pumper truck so he wasn't nervous as he BACKED UP for 500 yds or so! I had to get out of the SUV! Since then I've gone DOWN the Moki Dugway in SE UT. A gravel section of UT 261 w/ sharp switchbacks & a 10% grade.

[mainecoonmommy]

I took this drive going down a few yrs ago w/ my husband. He teased me a couple of times saying "There's a car coming up!". When he said "There's a bus coming up". I didn't bat an eye until I looked @ A BUS coming up! She (!!) had dropped off rafters. He's a firefighter & drives the pumper truck so he wasn't nervous as he BACKED UP for 500 yds so! I had to get out of the SUV! Since then I've gone DOWN the Moki Dugway in SE UT. A gravel section of UT 261 w/ sharp switchbacks & a 10% grade.

[CANDigB]

Canyonero for the win!!!!!

[spamstoper3]

*****

[zimgo405]

A friend and I traveled this, starting from the top down to Potash road in a '69 Camaro. That was a trip! 5 hours and a third of a tank of gas. We met a Toyota Celica coming the other way and talked for a short. Neither of us was going to turn around! Anyway, great video. Can't wait to get back and do it again in a little more capable vehicle.

[joan0154]

I watched this again. Note that we did it in reverse, from Island in the Sky to Utah 279, therefore going down, not up. I think it was much more challenging. The brake pads smelled awful by the time we got to the bottom. Last comment. Still fun to watch.

[joan0154]

And here is hubby's reaction to the video:

"I dunno, looks a lot more traveled than when we took it. Not once did I see them try to figure out where the trail lay nor did I notice them moving rocks to make the road passable. I guess it is a cheap thrill now." We did both. Have to note that there was a fork in the road near the potash plant...unmarked...lucky for us we picked well.

[joan0154]

Great video. Hubby and I did the Shafer Trail in 1981 in a Chevette (ranger board said it was passable by 2-wheel drive)...with 3 beers, some melted ice, and a hungry dog. Started from Island in the Sky at 11 and reached Utah 289 at sunset. Kissed the pavement. Could not find a beer in Moab. Great memory.

[russlehman]

I drove the Shaefer Trail in about 1980 in a VW Karmann Ghia, also downhill. I remember taking a wrong turn somewhere onto a road that dead-ended on a ledge. The road wasn't really that bad, but was steep enough in a couple of spots that I'm not sure the VW would have handled it going uphill.

[ep1433]

I thought you said you were 4-wheeling? How can that be? You were driving Jeep Liberty.

Kidding. Liberty's are tough little cars. At lest that's what many women who drive them have told me.

Ok, ok. Honestly, white rim trail is awesome. The Maze District trail out to the overlook is as good.

[lvleiva]

Excellent video nice picture!! how did you download this quality?? I have a high def camera and I couldn,t download it like this. Could you please share the secret with me, thanks.

[Batulao83]

Excellent, we only reached the Potash site up to the paved road, thanks for showing where the road leads, that it leads to Goblin Valley which we saw from 70 to 24