White Rim Trail At Canyonlands

dorocks

dorocks

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2009
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306
Location
El Cajon CA
My wife and I decided to run this trail since I had seen it mentioned a few times and it looked interesting photographically. We took my recently acquired 2001 Tundra with a high top camper shell. We did not reserve a campsite ahead of time but when we went to the visitor center some people had canceled their reservations. We stayed in Moab for the night and took out on Monday morning. You can enter the trail from the Shafer switchbacks end or the other end near the Horsethief campground. We entered from the latter since our first campsite was nearer that end.

The first few miles were not much, just arid high desert. But once you drop down the first switchback down to the Green River the eye candy begins. Seriously after a few days you get overwhelmed by the beauty, Between the surrounding high plateaus and the eroding canyons that you are driving right next to it is a rare treat to be able to access such beauty in a National Park.

Be aware you must be totally self sufficient. Bring lots of water and make sure your gas tank is full. The sites do have well maintained vault toilets.There is no cell service in the Canyon. The first night we camped in the Hardscrabble site and we were it. The other site was unoccupied. There was probably not another person for 20 miles. We shared a night with the locusts in the bushes. It was nice to sleep on the platform in the shell. Did not have to sleep on the ground.

Weather was great. Low 70s daytime. Quite windy at times.

Came out third day, went to Arches the next and drove towards Williams AZ to see my brother while taking a side trip up into the Manti La Sal mountain range east of Moab.



http://keithbarnes.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Moab-Utah-2009/9938944_bxKCH#688981134_89ECY
http://keithbarnes.smugmug.com/Landscapes/White-Rim-Trail-Day-One/10009194_GDoQc#684877824_vFTqq
http://keithbarnes.smugmug.com/Landscapes/White-Rim-Trail-Day-Two/10029977_C7Ldd#686983608_kzvXV
http://keithbarnes.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Manti-La-Sal-Mountains-UTah/10041181_Ai6hJ#688014899_Y8598

Keith and Jeanne Barnes
La Mesa CA
 

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Thanks Keith,
Its 0630 and we are loaded and rolling. Next stop Goldmine camp in Bluff and White Rim on Monday. See Y'all next week.
 
Thanks Keith,
Its 0630 and we are loaded and rolling. Next stop Goldmine camp in Bluff and White Rim on Monday. See Y'all next week.


I was just mapping out campgrounds on the white rim trail yesterday. I have done it several times but the last time I was on it was roughly 12 years ago. I was, just in the last week thinking I would like to do a fall trip there again. I don't know if I can get away but may try in the next two weeks or so. The pictures above have really convinced me that really want to go do the WRT again very soon. Especially since I am looking outside at the snow falling, as I write this!
ohmy.gif


Thanks for the pic's Keith, and Chnlisle, enjoy the trip!

Good camping.

Paul
 
pretty nice...............

We will have to add this to the list.

Do you think a 4 Runner pulling a short lightweight Casita trailer could do it? Or would they even let you?
 
Not sure what the rules are Patrick but I would advise against it. I needed to make several multipoint turns just coming down the Shafer Trail in my DC Tundra (which is flat and easy otherwise). That's not even considering some of the rough and rocky ascents in the middle of the trail. I'd say leave the Casita at a campground and tent camp it.
 
Thanks....those pictures with the switch backs look tight.

Just have to do the planned mods to the 4 Runner and park the Casita. Winter and Spring projects...we'll see.....
 
Thanks....those pictures with the switch backs look tight.

Just have to do the planned mods to the 4 Runner and park the Casita. Winter and Spring projects...we'll see.....



Now I don't think you need to mod the 4Runner at all to do the WRT. I wouldn't worry about the 4Runner at all. I just don't think you want to drag the Casita through there. I'm actually kinda surprised you two haven't done the WRT yet, given your appreciation for the Moab area...

.
 
Now I don't think you need to mod the 4Runner at all to do the WRT. I wouldn't worry about the 4Runner at all. I just don't think you want to drag the Casita through there. I'm actually kinda surprised you two haven't done the WRT yet, given your appreciation for the Moab area...

.


It is the inside that needs the mod. Pull the back seat and make a platform for storage and sleeping. I looked at the links for that roof mount tent as you suggested, but just too pricey for the limited time using it.

There are way too many cool places to see in Utah and within time we are checking them off. I can't wait for retirement!!!
 
We got back last night and we still cant get over just how amazingly beautiful this trip was. The shear volume of the sights is amazing. One right after another.

Pat the only way you can pull a trailer in there is if you can disassemble and reassemble it a couple of times. And by the way Y'all No Camper Jacks!!

If I do this again (maybe next year) I think I'll have a better handle on which camp sites I'd prefer. But all 'n all it was just spectacular. When I get it together I'll post some Pix as I'm sure my buddy Gene Rubin will do. As Gene said "I've been to Valley of the gods and Monument Valley and love both of them but comparing them to The White Rim is like comparing Sequoia to Denali." I would have to agree. Just being able to drive into and through all of this beauty is remarkable.

Oh yeah and it snowed!
 
Sunny,
Pam had a great time and did a lot of walking. She walked about half way down Horse Thief to start the trip and a good portion of the downhill on Murphy's Hogback. The times she walked we weren't driving much faster than 3 or 4 MPH and my buddy Gene's girlfriend Ann walked with her. Going out we spared her the trip up Shafer Trail and came out Potash. It was longer and had more great things to see. If we go again next year we'll go in on Potash and go half way and come back out Potash.
 
Jay sounds like you had a good trip.



I have a walker too when the road gets bad. I reminder her to take her camera to shoot pictures. She even walked in a thunder storm. It is the same old line, “If you are going to die, you are going to die alone, I’m walking”



Look forward to your story and pictures
 
"Walker" :LOL: Never heard it described that way. I took a group of students from Minnesota to Canyonlands 20 years ago and were going down Rt128 along the Colorado River when we came to the old single lane Dewey suspension bridge. Had a walker so everyone got out and walked it which with the full moon and clear utah sky that was the way to cross :)

If you are familiar with the bridge you probably know that the old one burned down a few years back. Sad deal, cool bridge.
 
Well Who knows if any of this is right. With the help of Sunny I managed to get some pix in a gallery but they are not in order even though I put them in order but at this point I'm just glad they're in. I will shortly run away screaming. Way too much work which would indicate I'm still doing something very wrong. I tried to bulk load them but nope!

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/index.php?app=gallery&module=user&user=11&do=view_album&album=148
 
Cool pix, cool trip! We need to do this one.


Anyone want to do it in a couple weeks? Looks like it takes 2 weeks to get a permit, at least. I'm guessing this late in the season you can get a permit. What direction would present the lesser challenge to my large F250 Grandby, any recommended campsites? Might be a little cool but seems well worth it :)
 
One of the perks of traveling with this merry band of misfits is the music. Phil Salazar is a virtuoso on fiddle, guitar, mandolin and you name it. Lauren Donahue is a great fiddle and mando player and Gene Rubin plays all three as well so there's always music in camp. Come with us to Gonzaga and Laguna San Ignacio in the spring and be treated to some great sounds around the campfire at night or bring your axe and jam with them. Here's a You Tube video Gene and his girlfriend Anne took on our trip with them playing in Bluff and some White Rim footage too.

 
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