Schaffer’s Switchbacks to Potash

Schaffer’s Switchbacks to Potash is one of those routes that earns a permanent spot in your rotation. Running north to south from the rim of Canyonlands’ Island in the Sky district down to the Colorado River, this thing drops roughly 1,200 feet through some of the most exposed canyon country in the Southwest. It’s not technically brutal — but the exposure is real, the scenery is unreal, and it’s the kind of run where you stop talking because there’s nothing to say.

We ran it in the JLUR and the KTM 450 EXC-F 6-Days back to back. Two completely different experiences on the same road. The Jeep required patience and line selection on the steeper switchback sections. The KTM made it feel like a trail meant for two wheels. Both were right.

The Route

Start at the Shafer Trail Road trailhead off the main Island in the Sky park road, just past the Shafer Canyon Overlook. The first section runs along the rim before committing to the descent — you get a preview of what’s below before you drop in. The switchbacks themselves are tight, off-camber, and loose in spots. Some sections have significant exposure on the passenger side with no guardrail. Take your time.

Once you bottom out, you pick up Potash Road (UT-279) and run it south along the Colorado River back into Moab. The contrast is striking — you go from raw canyon walls to a riverside corridor with petroglyphs, rock climbers, and potash evaporation ponds. The last stretch is paved. Total run is roughly 25 miles point to point.

Surface and Conditions

The switchback section is dirt, rock, and loose shale. It can get slick after rain and the road is not maintained to any meaningful standard. Potash Road transitions from dirt to pavement about halfway to Moab. High clearance is required on the descent — low range is useful on the steeper pitches. Tire width matters on the narrower switchback sections if you’re running something wide.

The KTM had no complaints. The Rubicon handled it clean running 37s with front and rear lockers available when needed — we didn’t end up using the lockers, but there were a couple spots on the upper descent where it was reassuring to know they were there.

Logistics

This is a one-way route — you’re leaving a vehicle or arranging a shuttle. We staged both rigs at the Potash Road end and drove one vehicle up to the trailhead. No permit required for the Shafer Trail Road itself, but if you’re entering Canyonlands proper, the park fee applies (America the Beautiful pass works). Check the National Park Service site before you go — there have been closures after wet weather.

Water is limited. Moab is your last stop for fuel and supplies before the rim. Cell service is nonexistent once you drop into the canyon. Let someone know your plan.

Best Time to Run It

Late spring and fall are the windows. Summer in Moab is serious heat — canyon temps can hit 110°F and there’s no shade on the descent. We ran it in the fall and conditions were near perfect. Spring works too but verify the road is dry and open after winter closures. This is not a winter route.

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Run in a 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JLUR and a 2019 KTM 450 EXC-F 6-Days. Direction: north to south (Island in the Sky rim → Potash Road → Moab).