White Rim Trail info

Have any of you done the trail very recently? I've got camping reservations for tomorrow, and I just got this email from Recreation.gov. I've done the entire loop several times and I'm familiar with the area in question and I know there are several spots which could be pretty wet and muddy. I've got all the self recovery equipment, but it's just me and my girlfriend and no other vehicles.

Due to recent heavy rain, Upheaval Wash (between Hardscrabble and Labyrinth) on the White Rim Road may be impassable. There are likely mud pits on the west side of the White Rim between Upheaval Wash and the park boundary. We have received no recent reports on east side conditions. Exercise caution and expect more difficult than normal driving conditions; including washouts, deep water and mud, and rock falls. Be prepared to self-rescue, turn around, or drive out-and-back to reach your campsite. Driving after dark is dangerous so give yourself ample time to negotiate this difficult terrain. Please contact the Backcountry Permit Office at canyres@nps.gov or 435-259-4351 for further information.

Also, a note to a moderator, this might actually be better posted in the Moab Offroad forum. Feel free to move it.

 

How was it? I have reservations next week in my stock '19 offroad.

 

It was pretty intense when I was there. It was only me and my girlfriend in my truck. When we left Saturday morning, the road conditions were listed as shown in my above post with otherwise beautiful weather. Weather quickly changed in the afternoon and we had to find high ground to stay out of the flood path. This pic is between Murphy's Hogback and Candlestick about 15 minutes after the major part of the storm passed and doesn't even come close to showing the scale of how much water there was. We had to cross a few spots where the road had totally washed away and water crossings were necessary. Lots of super slippery mud and partially washed away roads prevented us from even reaching our reserved campsite at Hardscrabble, but we found that nobody was camped at Potato Bottom A so we just crashed there. The road after Potato Bottom C was completely washed away but we made it through with some tricky maneuvering. At the switchbacks up Hardscrabble Hill, the loose gravel road had started eroding and falling away and was impassable. We had to turn around. Luckily we had enough spare fuel to make it 80 miles back the long way.

It looks like they've updated the road conditions. Maybe they did some quick repair on Hardscrabble Hill since we were there. I am not sure a stock tacoma could make it. Based on the current road conditions, I would not attempt it if I was the only vehicle in the group. Totally worth it to do an out-and-back trip even if you can't make it all the way.

The current road condition report as of this morning:

• White Rim Road 4WD: open. Due to recent heavy rain, exercise caution and expect more difficult than normal driving conditions for this road. Hardscrabble Hill is passable to modified 4WD vehicles with experienced drivers and spotters. Upheaval Wash is passable but can change quickly after storms. Expect deep mud (50-100ft long) before the park boundary. Be prepared to self-rescue, turn around, or drive out-and-back to reach your campsite. Driving after dark is dangerous so give yourself ample time to negotiate this difficult terrain.

 

Amazing pic! Thanks for the intel, was preparing to likely have to make it an out-n-back. Staying at airport and candlestick. Predicted temps keep creeping up (to 102 now in Moab) (I’m from the desert, but still)

 

I was in there early October 2021. It started raining in the AM breaking camp at Hardscrabble C. It was light and we were just about up the Mineral Bottom switchbacks when it started raining hard. I'd have liked to have done some hiking around at Fort Bottom, Black Crack and Zeus/Moses. But that wasn't the day for it. The dirt road back to 313 was slick and squirrely in the mud. Would have been worse on the trail.

 

Just a heads up for anyone going out there soon. I have a reservation for camping along White Rim and got this email:

Important Update for Canyonlands National Park Overnight Backcountry Permits

Road crews will be closing Shafer Trail Road for two weeks (October 24th through November 10th) for routine work. The plan is to have the road open on the weekends but closed during the weekdays. This work will repair tread surface and repair road shoulders that were damaged during significant rain events that undermined Canyonlands park roads. Due to the heavy rains and subsequent rapid runoff the Shafer Road is at risk of rapid deterioration as more of the road edges and surface break. Visitors and staff will still be able to access the White Rim Road via Potash Road during this time. If you have any questions, please contact the backcountry permit office at canyres@nps.gov.

 

Most of the Shafer switchbacks were fine a few days ago, but there was a spot that was seemed a bit narrow and had ruts. I presume they're working on that part. If true, then you may be able to get in through potash road, but check on that. I'm curious what they'll do with hardscrabble.

It was HOT, up to 107-ish according to my taco thermometer. That and hardscrabble may have kept people away, a lot of campsites were unused. Went ~18 hrs at one point without seeing another soul, that was eerie, but also pretty cool at the same time. There was an FJ with me at Airport A/B, but no-one at the other airport, I had all of Murphy to myself (except for the mice which invaded my rooftop tent).

The trail was rougher than I expected. Not sure if that's due to the floods, or my false expectations. I did not make it all the way to hardscrabble (was warned against it by more than one, was told of a truck already stuck at the bottom.)

 

Wanderlust's pic made me wonder what sort of waterfalls happen when I crossed the dozens of washes as they go over the rim. Probably cost me 1 hr of travel time stopping and looking!