Shafer Trail in Canyonlands too lofty for an S10 rider w/little dirt experience?

[Augdaug]

Hey gang! I've mostly been a pavement tourer for most of my riding experience but I've been eying the Shafer Trail on my Moab, UT trip later this year. Any opinions and/or tips for taking my S10 on this particular trail? I've read it is manageable even for thiose like myself. I'll have a set of fresh Shinko 705's for the journey. Thanks!

 

[True Grip]

Very doable! You'll be fine steep switchbacks are easily conquered. Practice tight turns in a parking lot or yard get comfortable with balance going slow and throttle control. You'll love it!

 

[tomatocity]

I am very interested with the same reservations. I don't ride off-road very well. Looked on Goggle Maps and could not find a Shafer Trail https://goo.gl/maps/N8HpxA7xwLu

 

[Z06]

http://www.dangerousroads.org/north-america/usa/591-shafer-trail-road-usa.html
Took my cousin on it during our 199 day ride a few years ago. He had no problem on his Tenere with limited offered experience.

 

[eemsreno]

I just got home from Moab.
When you do the Shafer Road, You need to do it from the Park heading east down hill to Moab.
The reason I say that is because if you head west out of Moab on Potash road which turns into Shafer road, You will be interring into Canyonlands National Park without a permit.
Shafer road is smooth on the switch backs but becomes some what of a jeep road east of the White Rim Trail turn off.

 

[RED CAT]

Its a piece of cake on an S10.

 

[craigd]

I just got home from Moab.
When you do the Shafer Road, You need to do it from the Park heading east down hill to Moab.
The reason I say that is because if you head west out of Moab on Potash road which turns into Shafer road, You will be interring into Canyonlands National Park without a permit.
Shafer road is smooth on the switch backs but becomes some what of a jeep road east of the White Rim Trail turn off.

You do not "need" to ride heading east. No one will bother you about a permit.

 

[Augdaug]

I like what I'm reading! Thank you all for your input! This will be my first time visiting Moab and I can't describe how excited I am to finally make it there. Unfortunately, there's major construction this year in Arches or else I'd visit there but with my limited time that I'm able to stay in Moab (THIS time, at least!) I'm going to focus more on Canyonlands National Park. Obviously, I'm hoping to ride the Shafer Trail and all of your guys's excellent input is helping me definitely try it! I do plan on riding it from inside the park as to stay "legal" with a permit. I can't wait to go! ::015::

 

[RCinNC]

I just got home from Moab.
When you do the Shafer Road, You need to do it from the Park heading east down hill to Moab.
The reason I say that is because if you head west out of Moab on Potash road which turns into Shafer road, You will be interring into Canyonlands National Park without a permit.
Shafer road is smooth on the switch backs but becomes some what of a jeep road east of the White Rim Trail turn off.

According to the National Park Service's website, the only road you need a day use permit for is White Rim Trail. The site specifically says that you don't need one for either Shafer Rd or Potash Rd. ( https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/dayusepermits.htm ).

I plotted out a GPS route for the ride through Shafer Canyon and Potash Rd, and you aren't on any of the permit required roads. Did you see a sign or something that said a permit was required?

 

[Scubatech]

We usually just pay on the way out and the Rangers have never mentioned a problem.

 

[limey]

I just got home from Moab.
When you do the Shafer Road, You need to do it from the Park heading east down hill to Moab.
The reason I say that is because if you head west out of Moab on Potash road which turns into Shafer road, You will be interring into Canyonlands National Park without a permit.
Shafer road is smooth on the switch backs but becomes some what of a jeep road east of the White Rim Trail turn off.

I tried to ride white rim Trail last year by myself and had to turn around after 2 hrs it became impassable and I also ran out of water. Probably one of the stupidest things I've attempted, it took me about and hr to back my fully loaded bike down the trail and the temperature was around 110f .

 

[WJBertrand]

Speaking or Utah, has anyone done the Burr Trail on a Super Tenere?

 

[Augdaug]

Limey, I can't even imagine!

 

[limey]

Limey, I can't even imagine!

I'm really good at doing stupid crap on the bike. Early on I dumped the bike fully loaded and that took me awhile to remove all my crap and get the back on its feet. Then three weeks later on the Continental Divide in Wyoming I didn't take any notice to the warning signs and ended up loosing the rest of the year on the bike.

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[limey]

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[limey]

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[Augdaug]

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Dammit, boy!! I admire you're adventurousness, though!

 

[markbxr400]

My son and I did Schafer about 10 years ago on KTM 520EXC's. Awesome road. I wouldn't have any reservation doing that road on my S10.

 

[SilverBullet]

Speaking or Utah, has anyone done the Burr Trail on a Super Tenere?

Yes just last week. Majority of it is paved, dirt section is ~20 miles and nothing rough or technical. If you're afraid of heights you might not like the steep switchbacks though. Nice scenic road.

_

 

[eemsreno]

You do not "need" to ride heading east. No one will bother you about a permit.

Matt and I got stopped by a ranger at the bottom of the Shafer switchbacks and had to show our pass.