POTASH/SHAFER TRAIL- A THRILL RIDE WITH FANTASTIC VIEWS AND VISTAS OF CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK
Shafer Trail and Potash Road is a 18.3 mile moderately trafficked drive point-to-point trail. It was scary but fun and makes a great story to tell your friends. Words can’t describe the road and pictures don’t do it justice. This is a great trail for someone who is looking for an off road experience and either has a 4-wheel drive vehicle or rents one from the many places in Moab. Virtually any four-wheel drive vehicle will succeed in navigating this road. Fantastic views and vistas are everywhere. You will pass by an interesting Potash plant along the way on the lower part. There are a lot of different looks and areas on this trail.
Starting just north of Moab, the Potash Road follows along the north side of the Colorado River. Along the road are numerous ancient petroglyphs side-by-side with popular rock climbing routes. Just off the road is a turnoff to see dinosaur tracks (Poison Spider Mesa trail) and Corona Arch. Driving up the trail you do have a bit of difficulty seeing over the hood when you hit the 180 turns that are a fairly decent grade. As the pavement ends at the end of Potash road you’ll find the beginning of the scenic Shafer Trail Road which follows the rim of the Colorado River and then switches back and forth up the mesa to the Canyonlands Island in the Sky area. The final 5 miles or so are incredible switchbacks with hairpin turns up a 2000 foot rock face and very narrow in places. This is a beautiful but challenging trail. Join us on our journey in the video below.
