White Rim trail planning help

[sdnative]

I know several of you guys have been to the area so am hoping to get some advice on an itinerary.

I am planning a trip to the White Rim trail this fall. Favorite campgrounds? Drive clockwise or counterclockwise? Recommended side trips? We will probably take our time and spend two nights / three days on the trail (maybe stay in Moab the night before departing, not sure).

Can anyone share their experience? I want to reserve campgrounds and get a permit ASAP, the rest of the planning can be ongoing. I heard Murphy's Hogback CG is fantastic, but it looks full. Any others?

As far as the district, is the White Rim entirely in the Island In The Sky?

Thanks in advance.

 

[OffRoad Rage]

It has been about 7 years since I ran it with a group of CSC'ers and BC Cruiser folks back at Cruise Moab 2010 - pics in this thread - Cruise Moab 2010 Pictures
We ran it in one day but didn't go to every trail or overlook that runs away from the main trail - Moses and Zeus, Upheaval Dome, Whale Rock, etc.. I think we hit somewhere close to 78 to 80 miles dirt. We ran it clockwise from Shafer Trail Road, stopped to play on Musselman's Arch, Up Murphy's Hogback, down to Potato bottom, and out Mineral Road. If I remember it looked like the best camping was around river on the West side of the trail, but you had to leery about the lower camp grounds if the river rose. You can pretty much make as much or as little as you want to out of your White Rim experience. We tried to be very respect of the mountain bikers - so many of them - but that kept the pace down some. There were really nice restroom facilities out in what seemed like the middle of no where too.

Fun time, beautiful scenery, great group. I was hoping to run it again at CM16 but we ran out of days. Enjoy!

 

[sdnative]

Nice, thanks for the link. I was able to reserve Airport and Potato Bottom campgrounds (only thing left) so we will make it a 3 day/2 night WR trip with plenty of time to explore off the beaten path. Now just trying to figure out what to do for the remaining couple of days. Thinking about staying in the area and seeing other parts of Canyonlands or making our way west, possibly along Hwy 12 or 89 somewhere.

 

[sdnative]

Anyone been to the maze overlook and down the Flint trail switchbacks to the doll house? That looks like a nice two day-er. How difficult are campsites in that area during the week?

EDIT: I think we would be too rushed to try ^^ in two days. Made reservations at Devils Kitchen in Needles instead. We will have a full size Dodge so I hope Elephant Hill won't be a problem.

 

[OffRoad Rage]

Made reservations at Devils Kitchen in Needles instead. We will have a full size Dodge so I hope Elephant Hill won't be a problem.

You may have to exercise your uphill backing up skills on that first level!

If you have a few hours to spend, we like to take the 4x4 road in the back way to Arches, take the left out to Tower Arch, and hike from the East side parking lot out and back to the arch. Nice scenery, not many people go there, and some moderate 4 wheeling.

Have fun!

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Anyone been to the maze overlook and down the Flint trail switchbacks to the doll house? That looks like a nice two day-er. How difficult are campsites in that area during the week?

EDIT: I think we would be too rushed to try ^^ in two days. Made reservations at Devils Kitchen in Needles instead. We will have a full size Dodge so I hope Elephant Hill won't be a problem.

A friend of mine has done the squeeze and Elephant hill in an Unimog

When are you doing White Rim?

Did WR last year went in on Shaffer, did all the option trails, and took 600 pictures. Went in on a 1 day pass because no site were available when I arrived but did make it out in 1 day and spent the night. Ratted myself out the next at the visitors center and to a ranger on the trail and no one said anything about spending the night or my dog. I want to go again and take my wife, amazing at ever corner.

 

[Saddletramp]

I would love to make this trek this fall.

 

[OffRoad Rage]

I would love to make this trek this fall.

Steve, the trails in Moab are like Lays potato chips, you can't just stop at one!

For those that like a lot of planning, I'm going to be doing a 9 or 10 day trek up and back to Moab next year that will include CM18. If I could get away for a pre-run this Fall, then all the better

 

[Chrismanjs]

Steve, the trails in Moab are like Lays potato chips, you can't just stop at one!

For those that like a lot of planning, I'm going to be doing a 9 or 10 day trek up and back to Moab next year that will include CM18. If I could get away for a pre-run this Fall, then all the better

I was planning a Moab Trip next year I would be interested in joining you. Do you have rough dates?

 

[OffRoad Rage]

I was planning a Moab Trip next year I would be interested in joining you. Do you have rough dates?

I wrote to the CM Committee (Rising Sun Club) to see if they have preliminary dates for their permitting so as soon as I hear back I can be more firm on the dates. My guess is going to be April 28th to May 6th.

 

[Chrismanjs]

I wrote to the CM Committee (Rising Sun Club) to see if they have preliminary dates for their permitting so as soon as I hear back I can be more firm on the dates. My guess is going to be April 28th to May 6th.

That should be a good time frame for me. Please keep me in the loop and let me know if you need anything.

 

[1Louder]

I did it in Dec/Jan over 3 days. 2 night camping is plenty. We did 3 and were out of the trail after 90 min on day 4. So I would budget 3 days with 2 nights. We did it counter clockwise but I don't know if that makes a big difference or not.

 

[FJRanger]

@1Louder Done with the Turtleback back? Any issues, switchbacks etc?

 

[sdnative]

Looks like we have finalized our itinerary. A few nights in Canyonlands, but the family wants to see some different scenery so we will be making our way over to the north rim GC from there. Looks like the campsites within the park boundary are booked so we are considering something a little further away or primitive camping along the rim. Anyone with first hand experience with Point Sublime? Other locations? How long is the drive from the NR visitor's center to Point Sublime? Road conditions? We all have high clearance 4wd, but want to avoid pin stripping as much as possible.

 

[1Louder]

@1Louder Done with the Turtleback back? Any issues, switchbacks etc?

None..

 

[1Louder]

Looks like we have finalized our itinerary. A few nights in Canyonlands, but the family wants to see some different scenery so we will be making our way over to the north rim GC from there. Looks like the campsites within the park boundary are booked so we are considering something a little further away or primitive camping along the rim. Anyone with first hand experience with Point Sublime? Other locations? How long is the drive from the NR visitor's center to Point Sublime? Road conditions? We all have high clearance 4wd, but want to avoid pin stripping as much as possible.

1-1.5 hour drive. Road varies but I have seen civics on it. You need a permit for Point Sublime. Great place if you can get 1 of the 2 spots available. There is no pin striping on the road to Point Sublime or any of the other forest roads in the area. You should also check Fire Point. 2 best spot. Single camping area and yes it requires a permit. Can you chance it sure but when we roll up with our permit and you have to pack up that sucks...

 

[Saddletramp]

1-1.5 hour drive. Road varies but I have seen civics on it. You need a permit for Point Sublime. Great place if you can get 1 of the 2 spots available. There is no pin striping on the road to Point Sublime or any of the other forest roads in the area. You should also check Fire Point. 2 best spot. Single camping area and yes it requires a permit. Can you chance it sure but when we roll up with our permit and you have to pack up that sucks...

Make sure to stop in the shop/restaurant at Jacob Lake, best cookies I ever had. Everyone on our trip last year bought at least a half dozen on the way in and another half dozen on the way out..

 

[sdnative]

1-1.5 hour drive. Road varies but I have seen civics on it. You need a permit for Point Sublime. Great place if you can get 1 of the 2 spots available. There is no pin striping on the road to Point Sublime or any of the other forest roads in the area. You should also check Fire Point. 2 best spot. Single camping area and yes it requires a permit. Can you chance it sure but when we roll up with our permit and you have to pack up that sucks...

Thanks, I'll give the ranger station a call about getting a permit in advance. I would hate to get there and be turned away.

 

[sdnative]

Make sure to stop in the shop/restaurant at Jacob Lake, best cookies I ever had. Everyone on our trip last year bought at least a half dozen on the way in and another half dozen on the way out..

I agree. We stayed there last year in one of the motel rooms and ate at the restaurant a few times. Nice place.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

There are other places you can go and you won't need a permit. The best view was at Kanab Point. Spectacular, high up on the rim lots of space. Closer to the ranger station is Fire point(permit) and Crazy Jug point. I saw people camped at Crazy Jug but it was really just a wide spot at the end of the road.

Toroweep has a nice set of camp sites, but you do need a permit for sure there. Worth a day drive down there and do the short loop hike from the camp area (I think the trail started at site #4)

We really enjoyed Whitmore Canyon and Point (you go through the Bar 10 ranch to get there). From there, you can hike down to the water.

All of these could be reached in a full size truck. You won't even need 4 wheel drive. Don't miss Kanab Point. I was my favorite for sure.

The North Rim area is HUGE and there are plenty of places to camp even if you don't have a permit. You just might not be right on the edge of the GC.