Half the White Rim Trail

IntrepidXJ

ADVENTR
Joined
Jan 17, 2012
Messages
3,479
September 10-11, 2011

The Original Trip Report on ADVENTR.CO

The White Rim Trail seems to be the one I just can’t complete. I’ve been wanting to for years, but it just never seems to happen. The first big issue for me is getting a permit to camp along the trail (yes, I know I could probably get around the full trail in a day if I wanted, but I would prefer to enjoy it and not rush through it). I dislike planning my weekend trips too far in advance, so in the past I have always just never bothered to try to get a permit. Finally, last year I decided I really was going to try and get a permit so that I could drive the trail near the end of the year. Unfortunately, a storm managed to wash out the Mineral Bottom switchbacks making a complete loop impossible for a while. Once they repaired the switchbacks earlier this year I actually managed to reserve a permit for September. Who knew that the Green River would flood for much of the spring and summer and the road would again be closed? I was hoping Canyonlands would open the road right before our trip this last weekend, but thanks to another storm causing some damage to the switchbacks again on Friday, it just wasn’t in the cards this time. We decided to drive to our campsite at Murphy Hogback on Saturday and then drive back out the same way on Sunday. Even though we didn’t get to complete the full loop, we had a great time and am glad we still went. I guess there’s always next year to try again! On a side note, the park opened up the complete loop again on Tuesday…..we were just a few days too early….oh well!

Maybe you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find out that there is not going to be any rock art photos in this trip report! It was actually kind of nice to get back into taking photos of the landscape and my Jeep. Enjoy the photos!

A few of the switchbacks on the Shafer Trail that take you down to the White Rim from the Island in the Sky.


Shafer Trail by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

We stopped at the Colorado River Overlook across from the The Gooseneck.


Colorado River Overlook by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

My Jeep on the White Rim Trail headed towards the Island in the Sky.


White Rim Trail by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Following the road down towards Airport Tower.


Descending Towards the Airport by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

This road would be much shorter if it didn’t have to avoid many deep canyons along the route. Here it loops around the head of Lathrop Canyon.


Head of Lathrop by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

We took the side trip down Lathrop Canyon to the Colorado River. We saw no one on the river while we were there. I’d love to float this section of the river in the future!


Colorado River by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Back at the signed intersection for Lathrop Canyon and the White Rim.


Lathrop Canyon Intersection by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Skirting around another deep canyon cut into the White Rim. Washer Woman Arch and Monster Tower can be seen in the distance. We also spotted Mesa Arch from the trail (not visible in any photos I have posted) which looked tiny from below.


On the Edge by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

View down into a deep chasm with the Island in the Sky in the background.


White Rim View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

After we got up to our campsite on Murphy Hogback and setup camp we still had plenty of daylight left, so we decided to continue driving to the Candlestick campsite and then turned around. Looking ahead in this photo you can see the top of the Turks Head which is in a meander of the Green River.


Rubicon by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

On our way back to camp again. Nice lighting on the Island in the Sky in the background.


Island in the Sky by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

How do you know when you’ve found a great campsite?


Great Campsite by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Another view of the rainbow over the Island in the Sky.


Rainbow Over the Island by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A view from Murphy Hogback from near our campsite.


Murphy View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A view of the Green River peeking out from between the canyon walls as the sun sets.


Green River View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The sun dips below the horizon over the Green River.


Green River Sunset by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The weather was perfect overnight. I slept great! The following morning I got up just in time to catch the sun rise over the Island in the Sky.


White Rim Sunrise by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The Murphy Hogback in early morning light. The Maze in the distance. We were able to see Standing Rock and Chimney Rock over in the Maze District which reminded me of our great trip in April over there. I need to get back soon!


Murphy Hogback by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Heading down off the hogback and starting our way back home.


Off the Hogback by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The intersection that heads to the White Crack. We had driven out there on Saturday and hiked out to the end.


White Crack by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Just another photo of my Jeep on the White Rim.


Jeep On the White Rim by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The long road back home.


Headed Back by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

>> Half the White Rim Trail Photo Gallery
 
Excellent TR! Really bums me out that the Shafer trail was closed when I was there earlier this month. I also thought it was awesome how visible some of the landmarks in The Maze were now that I've been there. Chimney Rock looks particularly awesome from so far away.
 
Sweet sun burst, or whatever it called, on the sunset pic!
 
Very nice. I'd love to bike/4x4 the white rim someday.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
balzaccom Lightning on Half Dome--what??? Hiking & Camping 4
TractorDoc Yellowstone's Wrangler Lake, Bog Creek, Joseph's Coat Springs, Broad Creek, Wapiti Lake, Hot Springs Basin, and Pelican Valley. The Second Half. Backpacking 15
P Shoshone Geyser Basin, Yellowstonne 2022, 2nd half Backpacking 4
Bob Death Hollow - Top Half a revist..... Backpacking 0
G Zion (half) traverse in April '21? Trip Planning 31
Miya Half Dome: Bobbie's Love and Miya's Dread Backpacking 20
Pianomover Trump administration Tuesday proposed allowing logging on more than half of Alaska’s 16.7 million-acre Tongass National Forest, the largest intact tem General Discussion 0
Dave Hells Half and Honaker, Spring 2018 On The Water 9
Brian Skibbe Yosemite half-dome hike, October 2016 Hiking & Camping 3
blueeyes Lava Trail on Hell's Half Acre, Idaho Hiking & Camping 6
Ross 11 days of canyons in Springdale to Page area (second half) Hiking & Camping 1
klank Documentary: Mile.. Mile & Half Photography 2
uintahiker Thurston Peak in half an afternoon Hiking & Camping 3
steve Mile Mile and a Half General Discussion 31
Bill Half Dome Cables General Discussion 16
Writhdar Day hikes in the White Clouds and Lost River Range Hiking & Camping 1
rhubarrbb White Pocket - Lone Tree Road / Southern Road Trip Planning 3
LarryBoy Is there anything technical in White Canyon above the Black Hole? Trip Planning 16
Janice Vermillion Cliffs Trip - Part 2 - White Pocket & Coyote Buttes South Hiking & Camping 7
Janice The Wave - and SO MUCH MORE! (Coyote Buttes North, South, White Pocket, Buckskin, Condors, Bighorns...) - Part 1 Hiking & Camping 14
NorthwestWanderer Backpacking Idaho's Cecil D. Andrus-White Clouds Wilderness : O'Calkens Lake & Bighorn Basin Backpacking 2
D White Rim Road Off Road 2
Parma White Rim Road FKT General Discussion 4
IntrepidXJ Diane’s Birthday Ride on the White Rim Trail Everything Else 3
Dhuff3243 Robbers Roost/White Roost Trip Planning 1
Nick Who wants to have 2 nights at White Crack in March? General Discussion 0
J Great to be here! Heading to White Pocket next month... Noobs: Introduce yourself! 8
Parma Idaho's White Cloud Mountains - Boulder Chain Lakes - Chamberlain Basin Backpacking 8
misSOULa Six days in the Bob Marshall Wilderness: The Chinese Wall and White River Backpacking 15
Ugly Another Friday Night... White Winter Sports 7
fossana solo white rim day trip on the dual sport Off Road 11
S Two weeks in the White Clouds, Idaho, July 2018 Backpacking 6
MVS White Rim Side Roads Trip Planning 4
D South Coyote Buttes. We are going to put in at Lone Tree Reservoir because we don't have 4wd but we want to make it to White Pocket. Trip Planning 30
RyanP White Rim Road vehicle/difficulty questions Trip Planning 8
Ugly Saturday in Black and White, with a smudge of Green Hiking & Camping 3
J White Cloud Route. 2018 June 22 Trip Planning 3
Glasterpiece White Sands NM General Discussion 9
Vegan.Hiker White Mountain National Forest (Eisenhower, Pierce, Jackson) - May 2018 Backpacking 15
Ugly Mill D - Fresh White Milkshake Covered Desolation Winter Sports 15
pixie1339 White Pocket, South Coyote Buttes Advice Trip Planning 11
MVS White Rim General Discussion 10
Nanda White rim in March Trip Planning 3
Nick White Canyon Tributaries Trip Planning 3
George_Washington_Hayduke White Roost Canyons (east and west forks) & North Fork of Robbers Roost Canyon Canyoneering 3
powderglut Toadstools and Hoodoos in the White Rock Valley Hiking & Camping 8
Rockskipper White moose in Sweden General Discussion 2
S White Cloud route, Big Boulder Lakes to Boulder Chain Lakes Trip Planning 3
P Invite White Pocket mid August Meet Up (Members Only) 4
Eugene Paria Canyon from White House to Big Spring Backpacking 3

Similar threads

Back
Top