White Crack sits along the White Rim Road in Canyonlands National Park's Island in the Sky district, accessible only by high-clearance 4x4 vehicles or by mountain bike and foot. The road is rough, with steep climbs, loose rock, and sections that run close to canyon edges. No cell service. Campers must obtain a permit from the Island in the Sky visitor center before driving in. The namesake feature, a large crack through white-capped mushroom rock formations, is a short walk from the campsites themselves. September through October and spring months see more manageable temperatures than the triple-digit summer heat reported by multiple visitors. Campers wanting a different configuration along the same route can consider Murphy Hogback Backcountry Campsite roughly five miles to the northwest, or browse campsites around Canyonlands National Park for the full range of options within the park.
Description
You must have an overnight permit for all overnight trips along the White Rim. Obtain permits here: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675315
This is a large site with spectacular views of the Needles and Maze districts of the park. It consists mostly of sand and packed dirt with large patches of slickrock. There are shade trees nearby, but not in the campsite. There is no shade or shelter from the wind. White Crack is the most requested site on the White Rim Road and fills quickly. A marked trail guides you to the southern-most point on the White Rim level of the Island in the Sky district for a nearly 360-degree panoramic view. Broad expanses of slickrock allow easy walking along the canyon rim in all directions for more spectacular scenery.
Limits: 15 people and 3 vehicles
Toilets: The site has a private toilet.
River Access: The site has no river access.
The 100-mile White Rim Road loops around and below the Island in the Sky mesa top and provides expansive views of the surrounding area. Four-wheel-drive trips usually take two to three days, and mountain bike trips usually take three to four days.
Under favorable weather conditions, the White Rim Road is moderately difficult for high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicles. The steep, exposed sections of the Shafer Trail, Lathrop Canyon Road, Murphy Hogback, Hardscrabble Hill, and the Mineral Bottom switchbacks make the White Rim loop a challenging mountain bike ride, and require extreme caution for both vehicles and bikes during periods of inclement weather. During high water conditions on the Green River, sections of road on the west side can flood, making a complete loop impossible.
No potable water is available along the White Rim Road. For mountain bike trips, a four-wheel-drive support vehicle to carry water and equipment is highly recommended.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsWhite Crack Backcountry Campsites is located in Utah near Canyonlands National Park
Coordinates
38.2572309 N
109.86571497 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage
VerizonLTESome Coverage
AT&T5GExcellent Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonLTESome Coverage
- AT&T5GExcellent Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Toilets
Drive Time
- 7 hrs 54 min from Grand Junction, CO
- 9 hrs 19 min from Provo, UT
- 9 hrs 47 min from Farmington, NM
- 9 hrs 50 min from Salt Lake City, UT
