White Rim Trail
One hundred miles on a sandstone shelf.
The White Rim sits on the bench between Canyonlands’ Island in the Sky mesa and the Green and Colorado Rivers 1,000 feet below. A hundred miles of graded dirt, sandstone ledges, and a few spots that’ll make a driver pay attention — Hardscrabble, Murphy’s Hogback, the climb up Mineral Bottom.
It’s a reservation trail. The NPS caps day-use and overnight permits, and they go fast — call the Canyonlands reservation office months in advance for the good campsites. You haul out everything, including waste. There’s no water. Bring more than you think you need.
Most rigs do it in 2-3 days counterclockwise from Shafer Trail to Mineral Bottom. The reward is sleeping on a rim with the Colorado River a thousand feet below you and the Milky Way so sharp it looks fake.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Rock |
| Features | Camping, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 100 mi / 161 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Best season | March-May, September-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4x4 with high clearance |
| Nearest town | Moab, UT |
| Land manager | NPS - Canyonlands National Park |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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