Potash Road Scenic Drive

Mile 4.2 – Jaycee Park Campground & Portal Overlook Trail

This shaded picnic area and campground offer one of the area’s top hikes. The challenging Portal Overlook Trail climbs roughly 1.5 miles to a breathtaking overlook and about 2.5 miles further if you want to keep exploring. The elevation gain is about 1,000 to 1,300 feet, depending on your turnaround point.

Mile 4.3 – Wall Street Climbing Area

For the next mile, you’ll drive between a thousand-foot sandstone wall and the river. This is Wall Street, Moab’s most famous roadside climbing zone. Pull into one of the paved bays, roll down the windows, and watch climbers inch up routes with names like Knapping with the Alien, Morning Thunder, Dead Sea Route, and 30 Seconds Over Potash. This stunning location is where you can take our Introduction to Rock Climbing tours.

Mile 5.0 – Potash Road Petroglyphs

Look for the brown “Indian Writing” sign and small pullout. On the dark, varnished cliff are dozens of ancient carvings. You'll see bighorn sheep, hunters, spirals, and mysterious patterns. This is one of those places where it's worth turning off the car, standing quietly for a minute, and thinking about the people who were traveling this same river corridor long before there was a highway here.

Mile 5.9 – Poison Spider Trailhead & Dinosaur Tracks Viewpoint

Even if you’re not driving the 4×4 trail, stop here to see fossilized dinosaur tracks. They're just a short walk up from the restrooms on the right side of the parking lot. The three-toed prints belong to Jurassic-era dinosaurs. You can also see them on the Bow & Arrow Canyon Canyoneering Adventure, along with petroglyphs and a visit to Long Bow Arch, a hidden gem in the canyons above.

Mile 10 - Corona Arch Trailhead

One of Moab’s signature hikes, this 3-mile round-trip trail leads to Corona Arch, an enormous sandstone span rivaling those in Arches National Park. The hike takes 1.5–2 hours to complete and offers incredible photo opportunities, plus fun chain ladders along the way. This is a great reminder that some of Moab's most interesting places are outside the national parks.

Mile 17 - Potash Boat Ramp

Here, the paved road ends and opens onto a wide river bend used by rafting outfitters. It’s the staging area for legendary multi-day Cataract Canyon trips, where the Colorado River cuts deep through Canyonlands. Even if you’re not departing on a river trip, it’s a peaceful place to rest and enjoy the canyon silence and the peaceful flow of the river.

Mile 18 - Shafer Trail Connection (4x4 Vehicles Only)

Beyond the boat ramp, the road turns to graded dirt and connects to the Shafer Trail, a steep, switchbacking 4×4 route climbing into Canyonlands’ Island in the Sky District. If you rent a Jeep at Moab Adventure Center, you can tackle trails like the Shafer Trail. We recommend starting from the top via Highway 313 and finishing your drive with Potash Road.