...after hiking all morning on a ranger-led hike through the Fiery Furnace of Arches NP, we headed for nearby Canyonlands NP and a camping date along the White Rim Trail.



We had to drive to the visitor center atop Island in the Sky to get our camping permit for Gooseberry. We noticed that the weather was looking to be less than ideal.



Heading down the Shafer Trail. This is one of my most favorite roads on the planet.



Along the White Rim.



Along the White Rim, near Airport Tower.



We camped at Gooseberry, and the rainclouds we saw earlier were nowhere to be seen.



Our campsite the next morning.



I've wanted to see Monument Basin up close for about 30 years, since I first heard about it from a PBS documentary. The view from Island in the Sky is nice, but this is better.



Monument Basin below, Island in the Sky above.



The long finger in the background is the Totem Pole, at about 300 feet tall.



Up Murphy Hogback, one of two steep, rocky sections along the western side of the White Rim Trail (Hardscrabble being the other, further north). The ranger who gave us our camping permit took special note that we were driving a Liberty, and had concerns that we might not make it over these two obstacles.



The view north, towards Candlestick Butte.



Near the Green River, approaching Hardscrabble.



Up Hardscrabble, after waiting a while for a bike tour support truck to slowly make its way down.



Near the summit of Hardscrabble Hill.



Crossing a muddy stream that drains Upheaval Dome.



Coming back up to the Island in the Sky on the Horsethief Canyon switchbacks.



We stopped back at the visitor center to tell our skeptical ranger friend that our Liberty did just fine. Good thing it did, as a commercial recovery from the White Rim Trail can run $1200 to $1500.

Coming soon to a Jeep forum near you, Day One of the Ouray Jeep Jamboree. Stay tuned.

_________________
Ranger Joe, Defender of Bunnies
Feed the rangers, not the wildlife

Respect the Liberty!
'06 Liberty Sport
Mopar skids and hooks
Frankenlift II and Jeepin by Al's UCAs
Rock Lizard Skink Sliders
245/75R16 Goodyear Duratracs
Smittybilt XRC-8 winch on a Detours Backbone
OEM grocery hooks

Awesome pictures. I was there at the end of August. We camped at White Crack. One of the reasons we went was to see all of those amazing stars at night that you have pictured. Unfortunately, it was cloudy all night. Looks like you had a great time.

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'03 Sport
Grand Cherokee TCM, Skids, Superwinch EPi 9.0 in cradle mount with 125' 5/16 Viking Trail Line, Mopar Rock Rails, Trac-Loc Diff, Frankenlift in front and Skyjacker/JBA springs out back, Monroe Reflex Shocks in rear, JBA Gen 4.5 Upper Control Arms, Moog LBJ's, 245/75/16 Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs.

Looks like a blast! Thanks for sharing.

_________________
My Jeep Build ----> Big Black

That is an absolutely beautiful area. I would love to go on a trip like that.

Nice pics.

_________________
I'm right 97% of the time. Who cares about the other 4%.

What if the Hokey Pokey is what it's all about?

2005 Jeep Liberty Limited - Bright Silver Metallic

Great pics one of my favorite trails. I will be going back in late spring 2010.

_________________
2003 KJ Renegade, 5 speed, frankenlifted,Al's a Arms 4.5,Moabs 245/75/16 BFG KM2's, custom rock rails, full Mopar skids, Hella ff220 lights,Hd cooling,Front DTT,Riddler diff cover,Rola safari rack,Cobra 29 peaked & tuned.

Pastafari Alum, Pink shovel recipient

Great pictures! We, too were there in July ith yellocoyote and kskj - it was a blast! We're planning on going back next year.

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-Vicki-
'02 Renegade - "Forest Ops" Edition Locked, not stock and ready to roll.
ARB bumper, Super Skink Sliders, OME/Rancho lift, Treadwright Wardens 245/75/16, Skid Row engine skid, Mopar Skids, JBA 4.5 UCAs, 4.10s and Detroit lockers Coming soon: new winch, ?????

The starry night photo is unbelievable!!! I never heard of that area but it looks like it would be a blast. The obstacles didnt look too bad. Did the libby walk right through?

_________________
Anyone wanna buy a Jeep? One Owner, One Gear, ONE DOLLAR
Installed-Frankenlifted II Premie w/ daystar spacer in rear, Tow hooks, Mopar skids, Dura-Tracs on Soft 8's, amsoil lubricants in everything, weather tech mats, RRO UCA's, RRO rock rails(bought but not installed...YET). I know I am missing something...

This looks like a really fun excursion! I am putting it down on my places to go list. Great way to show some KJ pride.

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2013 Jeep JK Unlimited
2004 Jeep KJ Limited
1988 Jeep MJ Comanche

Pretty much. It's all a matter of tire placement. I don't think we even smacked the skid plate on either Murphy Hogback or Hardscrabble. Better tires helped gain traction. This was a good "training ground" for the Jeep Jamboree (pics coming soon to a Jeep forum near you.)

_________________
Ranger Joe, Defender of Bunnies
Feed the rangers, not the wildlife

Respect the Liberty!
'06 Liberty Sport
Mopar skids and hooks
Frankenlift II and Jeepin by Al's UCAs
Rock Lizard Skink Sliders
245/75R16 Goodyear Duratracs
Smittybilt XRC-8 winch on a Detours Backbone
OEM grocery hooks

Great photos! The ones on your website are even better! I so would love to hit those trails with my Jeep...too bad I'm 2,059 miles away.

Someday...

_________________
2002 KJ Sport 4x4, 3.7L NV3550
Cardomain Page
http://www.cnyjeep.org

Those are some AMAZING photos! Some of those roads are a little sketchy. I would have been a little nervous. I was there as well in my Jeep but didnt go off road. Wish I did now...I didn't have very much time at Canyonlands and couldn't really see much at all from where I went. Also hiked all through Arches NP! Its a beautiful place!