Each year, hundreds of visitors experience the thrill of driving down the winding sandstone cliff to the basin below. No, you do not need a permit to drive these roads. With one day, you can drive Shafer Canyon Road, a portion of the White Rim Road, and then return to Moab via Potash Road. He informed me that if he did, we'd probably end up in the canyon, so I shut up and let him drive. Its not really my thing to be jostled around but the views made it worth it. Planning on driving Shafer Road summer 2019. The views from Canyonlands are wonderful but if you take the Shafer, you are so much closer to the canyons and can really get the perspective. Credit: NPS Photo, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to Your Places, click Maps, and you will see this map on your list. Seems to me it is more condusive to mountainbiking than driving. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. My friend and I had actually gone down this trail in June of 2008 (we were at Canyonlands again in June 2011). [Steve Swanke, RISKY] Cheers, Julie. There are no vehicle length restrictions for the Shafer Canyon Raod and I just re-checked the NPS website. Watch for oncoming cars, since you'll need to pull over for on switchbacks; most parts on Shafer don't have room for 2 way traffic. Once past the Shafer Canyon switchbacks, the road levels out. An incredible ride, not for the faint of heart - Review of Shafer Trail But this adventure wouldn't be complete without ascending Shafer Trail to the top of the Island in the Sky. Youre welcome. We got into the bottom and the road was like a hi-way, wide, gravel road. The Shafer Trail, WOW!!! They split shortly after getting to the bottom of the Shafer Switchbacks. Dont think the dogs cared to much for it. As the Shafer Trail starts to distance itself from the Colorado River, you will pass by the Potash Ponds.