Part Time Adventuring
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Most people visit Canyonlands National Park for the overlooks… but the real adventure starts when you leave the pavement behind.
Shafer Trail Road is one of the most iconic off-road routes in Utah, dropping from Island in the Sky down through dramatic red rock switchbacks with unreal views the entire way. It’s easily one of the coolest drives we’ve done in any national park.
The road starts near the Shafer Canyon Overlook and descends roughly 1,500 feet through steep dirt switchbacks before connecting toward White Rim Road and Potash Road, creating an epic route all the way back to Moab. One of the best parts is you do not need a permit to drive this route if you’re simply taking Shafer Trail to Potash Road and exiting to Moab without continuing onto the full White Rim loop.
While the drive is usually manageable in dry conditions for high-clearance vehicles, conditions can change quickly after rain and the steep drop-offs definitely keep things interesting. Always check current road conditions with the park before heading out.
If you want to experience a completely different side of Canyonlands, this drive absolutely belongs on your Utah road trip list.
05/05/2026
You didn’t ask for this… but we’re ranking national parks based on very specific (and slightly unhinged) experiences anyway.
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We camped at Isle Royale and it was smoky, rainy, and honestly felt a little eerie the whole time… a few days after our trip, we found out we had been there during the same time as a tragedy, which definitely explained the heavy vibe we couldn’t quite put our finger on.
Do NOT forget sunglasses at White Sands—the reflection is no joke and you will be squinting within five minutes.
And absolutely bring bug spray to Congaree in the warmer months—the visitor center literally has a “mosquitometer,” which should tell you everything you need to know.
Also, we don’t know what’s in the air at Yosemite, but somehow it consistently attracts the most feral energy we’ve ever witnessed in a national park.
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Maybe that’s EXACTLY what I’m saying on second thought 😏
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