White Rim Road 4WD Tour: Moab Canyonlands backcountry
The Shafer Trail switchbacks drop you back down from a day spent 25 miles into the backcountry.
A full-day 4WD tour of Canyonlands National Park near Moab follows the White Rim Road loop, a rugged 25-mile backcountry route that descends to the Colorado River and climbs back out via the Shafer Trail. The guide leads optional hikes to caves, canyons and viewpoints, or you can stay with the vehicle at overlooks like Gooseneck and Lathrop Canyon. The tour includes a professional guide, lunch, and transport by 4x4 vehicle; a minimum of three people is required to run.
9h
Step-by-step itinerary
Full-day White Rim Backcountry Tour
- Discuss petroglyph panel and ancient cultures
- View petroglyph panel and pass Potash Salt Ponds
- Drive below Dead Horse Point State Park
- 4WD tour of Island in the Sky
- Follow canyon down to Colorado River
- Optional hikes and sightseeing at Gooseneck, Lathrop Canyon, Musselman Arch
- Return via Shafer Trail switchbacks and viewpoint stop
The Experience
The White Rim Road sits below Dead Horse Point State Park—a vantage most visitors never reach because it requires a 4WD vehicle and a full day to drive. You start at the Utah Scenic Byway 279 petroglyph panel, where the guide discusses the ancient cultures of the Moab area, then head off-road past the Potash Salt Ponds and down into Island in the Sky. The road itself is the landscape: every bend opens onto a new angle of the canyon system, with the Colorado River visible far below.
The guide offers several short optional hikes along the way—moderately challenging routes that lead to caves, caverns and viewpoints carved into the White Rim Sandstone. Musselman Arch, Lathrop Canyon and Gooseneck Overlook are the named stops, but the hikes are optional; if you prefer to stay with the vehicle and absorb the views from the road, that's the day too. Lunch is a buffet-style meal served during the tour, and your guide carries extra water for refills.
The return journey climbs the Shafer Trail switchbacks—the part most people remember. You stop at the viewpoint to look back down into the canyons and places you visited throughout the day. The whole tour runs nine hours. If you hold an Annual National Parks Pass, bring it for entry; otherwise, a day pass for each park is $15 per person.
What’s included
- Professional guide in English.
- transport by 4x4 vehicle.
- buffet-style lunch.
- ice water and refills throughout the day.
- access to the White Rim Road backcountry loop and optional short hikes to caves, canyons and overlooks.
Operated by NAVTEC Expeditions
Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to travel deep into Canyonlands with a guide who knows the backcountry and can stop at overlooks and trailheads most visitors never reach. The 4WD vehicle and fixed itinerary mean you don't navigate the rugged White Rim Road yourself, and the optional hikes let you choose how much walking fits your day.
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Top questions
What is the White Rim Road and why does it need a 4WD vehicle?
The White Rim Road is a 25-mile backcountry loop that descends below Dead Horse Point State Park to the Colorado River and climbs back out via the Shafer Trail. The road is unpaved and rugged, requiring four-wheel drive to navigate safely; a standard car cannot make the trip.
Can I hike on this tour or do I stay in the vehicle the whole time?
The tour includes several short optional hikes to caves, caverns and overlooks along the White Rim Road. The hikes are moderately challenging and lead beneath the White Rim Sandstone level. If hiking isn't for you, you can stay with the vehicle at viewpoints like Gooseneck Overlook and Lathrop Canyon.
What does lunch include and when do we eat?
Lunch is a buffet-style meal served during the tour. Your guide also carries ice water and extra bottles for refills throughout the day, so bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated in the desert.
Is this tour inside Canyonlands National Park and do I need a park pass?
Yes, the White Rim Road tour travels through Canyonlands National Park. If you have an Annual National Parks Pass, bring it for entry. Otherwise, you'll need to purchase a day pass for each park individually at $15 per person.
What's the Shafer Trail and why is it the most exciting part of the day?
The Shafer Trail is a series of steep switchbacks that climbs back up from the White Rim Road to the rim level. It's considered the most exciting part because the switchbacks are dramatic and technical to drive, and the viewpoint at the top lets you look back down into all the canyons and places you explored throughout the day.
How many people does this tour need to run and what if I'm booking alone or with one other person?
Every 4WD tour requires a minimum of three people to operate. If your group doesn't meet the minimum, you'll be offered other tour options, a full refund, or the option to pay for the third person's fare yourself.
White Rim Road 4WD Tour: Moab Canyonlands backcountry
9h · EN
from US$ 360 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.88217 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider
