As I sat through an impossibly long slew of meetings today, I thought about what to do this evening. Since reaching Wyoming, I’ve hiked 55 miles, so I decided to take a night off and make the Xterra do the work. I am in Moab after all. There are a lot of trails, but traveling solo with minimal recovery gear, I searched for something easy yet gorgeous. Then I remembered something.
On the Alcan Warmup, I took the Celica to Canyonlands National Park for a hot minute to watch the sunset at the Grand Viewpoint beyond Islands of the Sky Visitor Center. Beneath this photo, I wrote, “I made a silent promise to Xterra the Younger that one day, we will return together and drive whatever the hell that is, because yes!“
So obviously I did that.
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/islands-in-the-sky-visitor-center-to-moab-via-shafer-and-potash-b448d82 Could not Embed
The first half of the route was Shafer Trail, a very approachable unpaved road that descends the canyon along a wide shelf road and some tight switchbacks. Though not difficult, it was entirely stunning. In truth, given what the Celica demonstrated both at Salmon Glacier and the Denali Highway, I think my arthritic convertible would have actually be able to descend Shafer without too much trouble.
The switchbacks reminded me a lot of Burr Trail that we took down into Capitol Reef in 2017. From there, Potash Road ran from the end of Shafer along the Colorado River to the Potash Evaporation Ponds where the paved scenic byway of the same name finished the run back to US 191 just outside downtown Moab. That was a rougher with washboard and rocky sections, but not too bad. I am sad I didn’t load the ice chest for a longer picnic along the river. Sunset over the canyon walls was magical.
Good times. This was definitely enough to make me want to do more substantial trails out here when I can get the guys to join me. And it was fun to come back to a landmark stop from the last trip. I’ve busted out the Celica Soundtrack again, though it’s on USB now.
I’m sad to leave Moab tomorrow, but I’m glad I got the chance to sample more of what’s here. I think I’ll split off from the Alcan Warmup route tomorrow evening and squeeze one last National Park in before I head home.