Canyonlands: 4x4 White Rim Tour with Island in the Sky Views

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.88 (1,121 reviews) 93% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/8

Duration4h

GroupUp to 20

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Moab’s wild switchbacks, ancient rock art and Colorado River views

You’ll ride with a local guide from Moab into Canyonlands by 4x4, tracing ancient petroglyphs along Byway 279 before bouncing along White Rim Road to Musselman Arch. Climb the Shafer Trail’s wild switchbacks and watch the Colorado River snake far below—all with ice water on hand and stories you’ll remember long after you’re home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Half-day 4WD tour in Canyonlands

Start at Colorado River banks
Drive 4WD roads to Island in the Sky
Stop at petroglyph rock art site
Visit Rock Art Sites of Moab
Drive along White Rim sandstone formation
Walk 300 feet to Musselman Arch
Backtrack White Rim to Shafer Trail switchbacks
Descend Shafer Trail to Scenic Byway 313

The Experience

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect from a Canyonlands 4x4 tour. The name “Island in the Sky” sounded almost too dramatic, but standing there later, wind tugging at my shirt and red dust in my teeth, it made sense. Our guide—Mike, who’s lived in Moab forever—started us off slow along Byway 279. We pulled over where the canyon wall is basically a storybook in stone. He pointed out petroglyphs I’d have walked right past; some spirals, some stick figures that looked like they were dancing (or fighting? Mike just grinned). It was quiet except for our voices echoing back a little.

The real jolt came when we hit the White Rim Road. The 4WD lurched over rocks and the world dropped away on one side—1,000 feet straight down to nothing but space and river. I kept thinking about how old everything felt here. At Musselman Arch, we hopped out for a short walk; I ran my hand along the sandstone (it’s rougher than it looks), and someone joked about jumping across—nobody did, thankfully. There was a whiff of sage in the air and this dry heat that somehow makes you feel awake instead of tired.

Heading up the Shafer Trail switchbacks was… well, let’s say I tried not to look down too much. Mike told us how this used to be an old cattle route—hard to picture cows making that climb honestly. The Colorado River glinted way below us whenever we stopped for photos or just to catch our breath. Four hours flew by. I still think about that view back toward Moab as we wound up toward Byway 313—the kind of silence you only get when everyone’s just looking out and nobody wants to break it.

What’s included

Your half-day includes transport by rugged 4x4 vehicle with a knowledgeable local guide at the wheel. You’ll get plenty of ice water for refills during stops at rock art sites along Byway 279, scenic overlooks on White Rim Road and Musselman Arch—all starting from Moab and looping back via Shafer Trail without worrying about logistics or park entry fees.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by NAVTEC Expeditions