Canyonlands National Park White Rim Trail by 4WD
Description
Go deep into Canyonlands National Park on a full-day tour by 4-wheel drive (4WD) that travels the famous White Rim Road. Experience the landscape up close on short optional hikes that lead to hidden passages, secret canyons and caves. Your route includes Island in the Sky, Gooseneck overlook, Musselman Arch, Lathrop Canyon and the Shafer Trail leading to the Colorado River. With an expert guide to show you the treasures of the White Rim Road, experience an unforgettable day in the Canyonlands.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Short stop to discuss the petroglyph panel and ancient cultures of the Moab and Canyonlands area
Brief stop to view a petroglyph panel, then off road to pass the Potash Salt Ponds
The 4 wheel drive road we travel is below Dead Horse Point State Park. You'll see it from an angle that most visitors do not.
This is a backcountry tour of Island in the Sky. We travel by 4-wheel drive vehicle.
Follow the canyon down from the White Rim to the Colorado River
This rugged portion of the 25-mile (40-km) White Rim Road loop offers incredible views around every bend. Explore more of this amazing landscape on several short optional hikes just beneath the White Rim Sandstone level. Follow your guide on moderately challenging hikes to caves, caverns and breathtaking viewpoints over the mighty Colorado River. Or simply relax near the vehicle and soak up the views at Gooseneck Overlook, Lathrop Canyon, Musselman Arch
Perhaps the most exciting part of the day is the return from the White Rim road up the switchbacks of the Shafer Trail! We stop at the viewpoint to look down into the canyons and and incredible places we visited throughout the day.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Things to Bring: reusable bottle (your guide will have lots of extra water available), sun protection/camera/suitable attire and footwear for the weather if need be
- NAVTEC Expeditions is an authorized concessionaire of Canyonlands and Arches National Park
- If you have an Annual National Parks Pass, please bring this for your park entrance fee, otherwise you will need to purchase a day pass for each park individually for $15
- Every 4x4 tour needs a minimum of 3 individuals to run. If your trip does not meet the minimum, you will be offered other tour options or get a full refund (Another option is to pay for the 3rd fare)
Reviews(217)
Our driver/guide was Andrew. He was a very knowledgeable and capable driver and kept us all safe. Andrew was totally committed to making our trip the best he could make it. We had so much fun. Lunch was provided and was so good! I totally recommend Andrew if you want a great experience.
I have to say…. this was one of the most amazing tours that I have ever went on. This tour has the tour at the Grand Canyon put to shame…. The Grade Canyon tour was great but Zeth our guide was very knowledgeable and went the extra mile to take care of all 4 of us on the tour. I was told by friends to go in this tour. The views and surroundings are incredible.
My husband and I just returned from our full-day Canyonlands White Rim tour with guide Adam. The day went by so quickly, with frequent stops for spectacular views or points of interest. We even saw a herd of nine bighorn sheep! Adam provided us with a very nice picnic lunch (wraps, fresh fruit, an assortment of chips/snacks, and dessert) near the bank of the Colorado River. There were a couple of easy, short, optional hikes that were quite fun, and we had frequent bathroom stops (pit toilets) as needed at various camping sites. Near the end of the day, we ascended the Shaffer Trail, which was incredible, but I wouldn’t want to be in a car on that road with someone who didn’t know what they were doing! Adam made us feel perfectly safe, and he was extremely personable and knowledgeable, entertaining us with stories and jokes throughout the day. We came away with a much better appreciation of the park—it’s SO much more interesting when you get down in there!!
So much fun without the stress of driving rugged roads is a rental car! Greg, our guide, showed us Canyonlands in an informative way
Thank you for the review! We’re so glad Greg made your Canyonlands adventure both fun and stress-free—it’s always better to relax and enjoy the ride without worrying about rugged roads. Great to hear you found the tour informative and enjoyable!
Our guide Cody was amazing! He was so knowledgeable about the tour and gave us so much information about the canyon! We had a great lunch and the views were spectacular! He helped me with my fear of going up Shafer Road!
We had a blast on our Canyonlands White Rim Trail ride by 4WD. The driver was very experienced in driving the canyons. He was very informative about the area both historical and natural knowing the names of the different rock formation and plants. He kept us well entertained and made us a delicious lunch!
Went with our tour guide Charolette to Canyonlands West Rim 4x4 experience. She has over 8 years of experience in The Canyonalnds park. We had a jeep rental but decided to take this guided tour. She took us to places we would not find on our own. She was an expert driver and we felt very safe with her especially on the sullivan trail switchback road!
Cody was our tour guide. He was absolutely wonderful. If I could’ve given 10 stars I would’ve. It is a long day, but it was great and we got to see so much of the canyonlands. Had a wonderful lunch included. EXCELLENT!!!
!We had an incredible day exploring the stunning White Rim Road in Canyonlands with Navtec in Moab, Utah. From start to finish, the experience was top-tier, and that’s all thanks to our amazing guides, Ron and Ben. These two were the perfect combination of knowledgeable, attentive, safe, and incredibly fun. They took the time to share the fascinating geology, history, and unique stories of the Canyonlands area—answering all our questions with passion and patience. You could tell they truly love what they do, and it made the whole day feel even more special. Whether navigating tricky terrain or pointing out hidden gems, Ron and Ben made us feel completely comfortable and engaged. Their kindness, humor, and respect for the land set the tone for an unforgettable adventure. We can’t recommend Navtec enough. If you’re considering a tour in the area—don’t miss this. 10/10, would go again in a heartbeat!
My wife and I did this expedition in late October of 2024 and it was absolutely incredible. From start to finish, everything was perfect. I initially considered renting a 4x4 and driving the road myself. After taking the tour, I'm glad I let the professionals handle it. If you are not an experienced off-road driver, don't do it. Spend your time enjoying the ride and taking in the sights instead. Our guide Seth was friendly, a responsible and highly capable driver, incredibly knowledgeable about the area, a great conversationalist, and more than willing to take as many photos as we might request (hint: It was more than a few!). You will see so much on this tour and the day will just blow by. Some examples: 1. Petroglyphs 2. Jug Handle Arch 3. Thelma & Louise Point 4. Musselman Arch 5. Lathrop Canyon 6. White Rim Road 7. Shafer Trail Road There is SO much to see here, and all of it is beautiful. We took literally hundreds of photos. We even got lucky enough to run into a small group of Bighorn Sheep grazing just beside the road. Even the lunch was fantastic. We had a chicken wrap, which was cold and delicious, along with fruit and a small dessert, next to the Colorado River in Lathrop Canyon. Navtec is very mindful of safety and the needs of passengers. There were plenty of bathroom breaks, and snacks and water were readily available at all times. Our guide Seth was trained in remote medical emergency procedures, and the 4x4 was equipped with spare tire, medical kit and other emergency supplies should we need them (we didn't). We wrapped up the day with a drive up the Shafer Trail Road. You can see this road from the top down at the Canyonlands visitor center. It was a completely different experience driving up it. This tour was unquestionably a highlight of our trip to Arches and Canyonlands (and we had a LOT of great experiences). Navtec was highly professional and our guide Seth was exceptional. I cannot recommend this tour enough! Mike
