# Shafer Trail

**Location:** Moab, UT | **Difficulty:** Hard | **Length:** 18 miles

**GPS:** 38.4726, -109.8112

**Vehicle requirements:** 4WD with low range and rear locker, 33"+ mud-terrain tires, 2–3" lift, rock sliders, and recovery gear required.

**Best season:** March - November

The most photographed switchbacks in off-roading. This exposed shelf road descends 1,200 feet from Island in the Sky to the canyon floor via tight, dramatic switchbacks carved into sheer cliffs.

**Region:** Southwest • **Trail type:** Trail • **Rating:** 4.8/5

**Highlights:** Dramatic switchbacks, Cliff exposure, Photo opportunities, Moab classic, Canyon views

**Nearby campgrounds:**
- [Island in the Sky (Willow Flat) Campground (Moab, Utah)](https://4x4playground.com/camping/utah/island-in-the-sky-willow-flat-campground)
- [The Needles Campground (Moab, Utah)](https://4x4playground.com/camping/utah/the-needles-campground)
- [The Needles District Group Campsites (Moab, Utah)](https://4x4playground.com/camping/utah/the-needles-district-group-campsites)
- [Devils Garden Campground (Moab, Utah)](https://4x4playground.com/camping/utah/devils-garden-campground)

Canonical page: https://4x4playground.com/overlanding/trails/shafer-trail