Canyonlands White Rim Trail

[TimRiker]

We're interested in driving the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park. Anyone else have this on their list? Might be as soon as next week/weekend. Not sure what the road conditions are currently. Sometimes the west end of the loop is under water.

 

[86Scotty]

I've done it in a Jeep in one day alone so i was moving fairly quickly and it took me 11 hrs IIRC. I don't recommend that. Slow down and do it in a couple days. Definitely check conditions on the Hardscrabble side. It's a once in a lifetime experience. Probably the most fascinating road/trail I've ever done. I can't wait to get back there and do it a little slower with friends/family along.

 

[N147JK]

Enjoy!

White Rim Road - Canyonlands National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

(We'll be down in the Needles District for 3 nights.. looking forward to it!)

 

[TimRiker]

We're headed that direction this weekend. Looks like permits for overnight on White Rim are not available. We'll hit Shafer / Potash and find some other things to do.

 

[86Scotty]

We're headed that direction this weekend. Looks like permits for overnight on White Rim are not available. We'll hit Shafer / Potash and find some other things to do.

I've never understood this. It's 70 miles of rugged trail with a couple hundred people a day on it max. I have avoided camping along it, or planning to, because of the lack of permits or available sites before but I see no reason why you couldn't stealth off grid camp in about 1000 places along that trail.

I dunno, maybe I'm just not keen on rules but camping where others don't seems like a better idea from a leave-no-trace standpoint. It's what offroad camper vans were made for.

The chance of someone coming along who cares, such as a ranger, seem very unlikely to me.

 

[TimRiker]

Camping by Green River tonight.
Did Shafer Tail and Long Canyon this week.

 

[TimRiker]

I've never understood this. It's 70 miles of rugged trail with a couple hundred people a day on it max. I have avoided camping along it, or planning to, because of the lack of permits or available sites before but I see no reason why you couldn't stealth off grid camp in about 1000 places along that trail.

I dunno, maybe I'm just not keen on rules but camping where others don't seems like a better idea from a leave-no-trace standpoint. It's what offroad camper vans were made for.

The chance of someone coming along who cares, such as a ranger, seem very unlikely to me.

The small number of camp sites is a problem, but also a win if you can get a reservation.
Running Long Canyon trail was fun and required no permit. We spent the week at various boondocking spots none of which needed a permit or fee. Some were awesome, some were just ok. All of it was fun.

 

[86Scotty]

Long Canyon is great. It used to be much more challenging. They opened up the top down to the big rock you go under a few years ago. I was creeping up it one night after dark to find a spot on the top of the bluff and a guy in a mini School bus (2wd dirtbag conversion) met me head on. I couldn't believe he had tried to nagivate that trail until I got further up and realized it had been widened and smoothed out. Not sure why they did this. Kind of ruined the really challenging part at the top, but I still love that trail.

 

[doublevan2]

So regarding vehicles/height due to overhanging rock ledges, etc., video mentioned tall Sprinters could be a problem - what about SMB Econolines with newer CCV tops at 10 feet ? Anybody got that experience yet ? Overall - what season seems to be the best regarding wet/mud experiences ?

 

[Aldercrest]

I did the White Rim years ago with my high top Ford. No issues. My trip report is still here on the forum, but the photo links are broken. You can find the photos in my gallery, though.

I wouldn't recommend it in a Sprinter.

 

[JoeH-SMB]

Long Canyon is great. It used to be much more challenging. They opened up the top down to the big rock you go under a few years ago. I was creeping up it one night after dark to find a spot on the top of the bluff and a guy in a mini School bus (2wd dirtbag conversion) met me head on. I couldn't believe he had tried to nagivate that trail until I got further up and realized it had been widened and smoothed out. Not sure why they did this. Kind of ruined the really challenging part at the top, but I still love that trail.

I believe that choke point was/is called Pucker Pass. I could get my 1978 Subaru up it when I was doing field work for my geology MS back in the late 80s. Moab is a different place now.

 

[swellrunner]

I've never understood this. It's 70 miles of rugged trail with a couple hundred people a day on it max. I have avoided camping along it, or planning to, because of the lack of permits or available sites before but I see no reason why you couldn't stealth off grid camp in about 1000 places along that trail.

I dunno, maybe I'm just not keen on rules but camping where others don't seems like a better idea from a leave-no-trace standpoint. It's what offroad camper vans were made for.

The chance of someone coming along who cares, such as a ranger, seem very unlikely to me.

SAME

I’ve done the trail once, no camping permit (non available) but saw so many places that were camped by others. Not one to advocate openly breaking rule publicly, but not personally much one for ridiculous rules. I know MANY that have camped along the trail, responsibly over the years.

 

[JoeH-SMB]

I'm not sure I'd call the permit system on the White Rim ridiculous. It's a national park for a reason and they manage the use and visitation for the quality of experience and solitude for those who do play by the rules.