Bike the Parks

Watch the rides / Canyonlands

White Rim Road: Shafer Trail to Mineral Bottom

The desert classic below Island in the Sky, usually ridden over three or four days.

0.0 mi – ft 0% grade 0.0 mph 0m 0 W
Ride it at home

1234 0 mi 79.7 mi 5,909 ft 3,944 ft 1234 0 mi 79.7 mi 5,909 ft 3,944 ft
  • Easy (under 3%)
  • Moderate (3–6%)
  • Hard (6–9%)
  • Very steep (9% and up)

Ride it at home

Pair a smart trainer and ride this route from home. The resistance follows the climbs, the dot moves at your speed, and the park's warnings pop up as you reach them.

Difficulty sets how steep the climbs feel on the trainer: 100% is the real grade. Your speed on the map always uses the real grade and your weight.

Power
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Cadence
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Speed
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Time
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Distance
0.0 of 79.7 mi

Watch-outs on this ride

Numbered on the map and the profile. Park notes come from Canyonlands's own NPS pages; steep sections are measured from the elevation data.

  1. Permits and water

    Day-use and overnight permits are required. There is no water on the route; most groups bring a support vehicle.

    Park note, mile 0.0

  2. Steep descent: 14% for 1.4 mi

    A sustained steep pitch from the elevation data. Control your speed and brake before the corners.

    From the elevation data, mile 4.2

  3. Steep climb: 10% for 0.6 mi

    A sustained steep pitch from the elevation data. Shift down early and pace it.

    From the elevation data, mile 44.5

  4. Mineral Bottom

    From here the Mineral Bottom Road switchbacks climb back to the mesa top.

    Park note, mile 79.7

Route traced on OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL); elevation from Mapzen/AWS Terrain Tiles. Grades are worked out over about 200 m from public elevation data and can be off by a percent or two, more on tight switchbacks. Check the Canyonlands guide and the park's own page for current rules and closures before you ride.

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