Utah·United States
Photo: Greg Willis · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
The White Rim Road circles a pale sandstone shelf halfway down the canyons of Canyonlands National Park, with drops to the Green and Colorado rivers on one side and cliffs above on the other. The switchbacks of the Shafer Trail lead down from the mesa, and the camps along the rim are among the most spectacular in the desert.
In season: Apr–May, Sep–Oct · Peak: Oct
Three or four days on dirt and rock, with sandy sections and steep climbs such as Murphy Hogback. There is no water on the route, so most groups ride with a support vehicle carrying supplies.
The switchback mining road off the mesa rim
A hundred miles round the bench below the Island in the Sky
The steepest climb on the loop, usually pushed
Reserve the campsites in the national park lottery months ahead, or join a supported tour from Moab. Ride the Shafer Trail descent as a taster, and carry all the water you need if you go unsupported.
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