White Rim Trail Suggestions?

[KneedVSwant]

My goddess and I are in the final stages of planning a 3 day White Rim Trail adventure and would appreciate any input from you all.

We'll spend Labor Day Week on the trail, overnighting at Hardscrabble Bottom B and White Crack in our stock '23 XR. We've been planning this since February and although we've been to Moab lots of times, we've never been anywhere near the White Rim Trail. I love photography and the goddess adds to my art and tolerates my obsessions.

I've done a ton of research (that's part of the fun, right?) but would love to hear tips and tricks from anyone who has run the trail. Should of's, would of's, could of's are what I am hoping to get!

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[Phred]

My goddess and I are in the final stages of planning a 3 day White Rim Trail adventure and would appreciate any input from you all.

We'll spend Labor Day Week on the trail, overnighting at Hardscrabble Bottom B and White Crack in our stock '23 XR. We've been planning this since February and although we've been to Moab lots of times, we've never been anywhere near the White Rim Trail. I love photography and the goddess adds to my art and tolerates my obsessions.

I've done a ton of research (that's part of the fun, right?) but would love to hear tips and tricks from anyone who has run the trail. Should of's, would of's, could of's are what I am hoping to get!

Try really hard not to do it at night after a rain.

 

[wibornz]

The White Rim trail is on my radar. Have tried three times to get the permit/reservation to run the trail will out success. I will need a full report and supporting photo documentations of your thee day adventure.

Motivate me to get back to Moab.

 

[ajn507]

My goddess and I are in the final stages of planning a 3 day White Rim Trail adventure and would appreciate any input from you all.

We'll spend Labor Day Week on the trail, overnighting at Hardscrabble Bottom B and White Crack in our stock '23 XR. We've been planning this since February and although we've been to Moab lots of times, we've never been anywhere near the White Rim Trail. I love photography and the goddess adds to my art and tolerates my obsessions.

I've done a ton of research (that's part of the fun, right?) but would love to hear tips and tricks from anyone who has run the trail. Should of's, would of's, could of's are what I am hoping to get!

I will be there about a week after you. Definetly post a report.

Alan

 

[orange01z28]

We ran it in reverse and camped at Labrynth, and then did the whole trail the next day. It was a long day (7a-5p), but we still had plenty of time to hang out.

Nothing about the trail in challenging, it's just a beautiful drive that's astonishing in its beauty. I will definitely go again

Make sure you air down just for comfort, watch out for mountain bikers, and take lots of pics

 

[orange01z28]

 

[SoK66]

I did it a few years ago in my F150. We took the truck as a support vehicle for a group of mountain bikers. The F150 walked the trail with no issues at all. I did feel a bit "big" in spots but as far a traction, etc., no worries.

 

[fourfa]

I’ve only done it on a bicycle. My girlfriend drove my old mild Tacoma as the support vehicle. She had nothing at all to report about the driving. It may be a challenge for a Civic, or some P-rated tires, but that’s all. I don’t think it needs much in the way of planning

 

[wibornz]

I’ve only done it on a bicycle. My girlfriend drove my old mild Tacoma as the support vehicle. She had nothing at all to report about the driving. It may be a challenge for a Civic, or some P-rated tires, but that’s all. I don’t think it needs much in the way of planning

The planning I think is being able to secure a registration during the time frame you have available.

 

[fourfa]

Great point. And I don’t mean to downplay it - it’s gotta be one of the most spectacularly beautiful places in the US, impossible to take a bad photo there, well worth driving across the country to do. Should be on everyone’s tick list

 

[Murphydog]

We went to Lathrop canyon and back. Scenery is amazing. Road is fine though in hindsight I should have aired down for a more comfortable ride

 

[KneedVSwant]

Thanks for the input all.

Yes, definitely planning to air down and not waste any scenery by running at night. The weather should be mild (a “cold front” is moving in so high temps will be in the 80s) but bringing shade, a full contingent of water and extra fuel.

It took me a year and a half to figure out the reservation system and get the spot at White Crack. I reserved Hardscabble a few weeks ago.

I’ll post a report and a few pics around Sept 9th

 

[west tex]

I did the WRT in my '86 Toyota 4WD pickup back in 1989. At that time, getting the permission slip from the park rangers wasn't as big a deal as it is currently. For me, it was a two day trip and I camped in a wide spot near the river bottom. A couple of guys doing it on bicycles shared the camp with me that night.

Spectacular scenery. Take lots of photos. It'll be a lifetime memory.

 

[KneedVSwant]

Post trip report...
Really, the only thing that comes to mind is EPIC. White Rim Road is truly something I think everyone with an adventurous soul should do. A couple of thoughts:
FUEL: We went counter-clockwise and filled up at the Chevron before turning onto Hwy 313. I tripped the computer once we turned onto Mineral Bottom Road and clocked it back to pavement at the Shaffer Switchbacks. Total was 105 miles (including Lathrop Canyon) and a little better than 10mpg. I burned about half a tank of fuel...granted, I didnt use 4WD except coming out of Lathrop Canyon. But, we did run into a group at Hardscrabble that was in desperate need of fuel (and an air compressor)...so extra fuel is a recommendation...if you dont need it, someone else will.
SHADE: I brought a tarp and poles which worked fine...but in hindsight I would have made room for a pop up. There was very little shade and a pop up would have been just EASIER and worth the space.
SOLITUDE: How cow. We stood at night on White Crack over looking 100's of miles of planet earth without seeing a single light from another camp. We stopped for an hour lunch both days and didnt get passed by another vehicle. Part of the epic-ness, is being in such ruggedly beautiful landscape and feeling like you are the few that get to do this...this includes driving on the edge of sheer cliffs, wondering how this is even allowed!
TIME: We spent 2.5 days on the WRR and the trip computer reported a drive time of 11 hours. The 24 miles from Road 313 to Hardscrabble was fast and easy. The 36 miles from Hardscrabble to White Crack and the 45 miles from White Crack to Lathrop to Island in the Sky were slow. We averaged over 6 hours of driving these days with lots of stops and photos.

 

[Murphydog]

We went to the Green River overlook up in the Island in Sky to see the night sky. We could see a few people who were camping on the white rim from their lights, and none of them were anywhere close to one another.

Did you encounter any animals? We saw 2 small groups of big horn sheep the day we were there

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