White Rim Road Trailhead Shafer Trail Access

This is where the steep, switchbacking Shafer Trail finally levels out onto the White Rim Road at the bottom of the mesa. The intersection sits on a broad bench with expansive views of the Colorado River below and the towering sandstone walls above. Most overlanders pause here to air down, check their rigs, and soak in the dramatic transition from rim country to river level. It’s a popular photo spot and the official start point for White Rim Trail permits.

Access requires high-clearance 4WD and nerves of steel for the Shafer Trail descent. The road surface is packed dirt and slickrock with some loose sections. Cell service is nonexistent down here, so come prepared. Spring and fall see heavy traffic from guided tours and permitted campers.

Where Shafer Trail meets White Rim Road