Canyonlands Backcountry Tour: Shafer Trail & Petroglyphs

The canyon floor and the mesa top in one half-day, on roads most visitors never find.

A half-day guided backcountry tour of Canyonlands National Park from Moab takes you off the pavement into the park's rugged interior on an exclusive National Park Service permit route. You travel in a private 4x4 vehicle with a professional guide, stop to examine petroglyphs carved by Ancestral Puebloans, cross the White Rim to Musselman Arch, and climb the Shafer Trail switchbacks to the Island in the Sky mesa. The tour includes private transportation, bottled water and light snacks. Children from age 1 are welcome, and groups over 6 travel in separate vehicles.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Utah Scenic Byway 279 Rock Art Sites15m
2. Canyonlands National Parkpassing by

Explore Canyonlands backcountry highlights

• Drive along Potash Road by Colorado River
• View ancient petroglyphs on cliff walls
• Stop at Musselman Arch overlook
• Ascend Shafer Trail switchbacks to mesa top
• Enjoy panoramic canyon views from mesa

The experience

Potash Road carves along the Colorado River beneath towering red cliffs, and that's where most park visitors stop. This tour continues where the pavement ends. Your guide points out the geological layers exposed in the canyon walls (each one a chapter of earth's ancient history), and explains the natural forces that shaped the landscape. You'll stop frequently for photos, but there's little hiking. The vehicle does most of the work.

Along the way you stand beneath sheer cliffs where centuries-old petroglyphs left by ancient cultures are etched into the dark desert varnish. You cross the White Rim to view Musselman Arch, a striking flat-topped stone bridge that juts out over a 300-foot drop to the canyon floor. Then comes the Shafer Trail: a legendary series of dirt switchbacks that hug the cliffside. As you climb, the panoramic views widen with every turn until you reach the top of the Island in the Sky mesa, thousands of feet above the canyon floor.

The tour runs about four and a half hours. Your guide is a professional with deep knowledge of the region's natural and human history. Private transportation is included, along with bottled water and light snacks. If your group is larger than six, you'll travel in separate vehicles but stay together as one tour.

What’s included

• Private 4x4 transportation throughout the tour.
• bottled water and light snacks.
• professional guide with expertise in the region's geology and human history.
• pickup from your Moab location.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 10:00, 14:30 and 15:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (1 to 14 years)

GroupUp to 24 · max 6 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 46 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 15

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Moab Scenic Adventures

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to explore the canyon floor and mesa in a single morning: your private 4x4 vehicle and guide access roads that remain closed to regular park traffic.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 14 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Musselman Arch and why does the tour stop there?

Musselman Arch is a striking flat-topped stone bridge that juts out over a sheer 300-foot drop to the canyon floor. The stop offers a dramatic view of the power of natural erosion and the scale of the landscape.

Do I need to be in good shape to do this backcountry tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. There is little hiking. You travel mostly by 4x4 vehicle and stop to view sites from short walks or standing points.

What exactly is the Shafer Trail and what happens when we drive it?

The Shafer Trail is a legendary series of dirt switchbacks that hug the cliffside as it climbs toward the top of the Island in the Sky mesa. As you ascend, the panoramic views widen with every turn until you reach the mesa top thousands of feet above the canyon floor.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes private 4x4 transportation, bottled water, and light snacks. Your professional guide is also included.

How long is the tour and when does it start?

The tour runs about four and a half hours. Pickup is included. Your guide will arrange the meeting time and location when you book.