White Crack Gear Checklist
White Crack is the single campsite at the end of a short spur on the southern tip of the White Rim loop, 39 miles from the visitor center. People who stayed or stopped describe a private site with views of the Needles, the Maze and the Island in the Sky mesa, plus wind and a bumpy sandy road in. The best first-hand gear story comes from a December 2013 trip that arrived in the dark, woke to snow flakes, and then walked an old mining route below the rim with a satellite phone and a turnaround time.
What shapes your gear on White Crack Campsite
- Where it sits
- The park lists White Crack at mile 39 from the visitor center, about 4 hours of driving, with one site and one toilet. Earth Trekkers says the site sits at the tip of a peninsula. Fox in the Forest calls it the southern apex of the loop.
From National Park Service, Earth Trekkers and Fox in the Forest
- The spur road
- Writers disagree on its length. Fox in the Forest says 1.20 miles, while Lolo and AZ Hikeaholics both say 1.4 miles one way, and AZ credits that figure to the park. Fox calls the road bumpy and sandy and tells drivers to take it slowly.
From Fox in the Forest, Lolo and Herb's RV and The AZ Hikeaholics
- One site, taken fast
- Only one party can camp here. Fox in the Forest says it fills almost at once when permits open and that a one-day push to reach it would be a burly day, so start early. Earth Trekkers suggests it, Gooseberry or Murphy Hogback as the halfway camp on a two-day drive.
From Fox in the Forest and Earth Trekkers
- Views from camp
- Lolo sees the Needles District southward, the Maze District westward, and Junction Butte plus Grand View Point looking north. Earth Trekkers names the Needles, the Maze and the Island in the Sky mesa.
From Lolo and Herb's RV and Earth Trekkers
- Wind
- A 2008 forum poster on MTBR calls White Crack secluded and scenic but windy at times. Fox in the Forest says the Murphy Hogback camps, the next ones along, have little wind shelter beyond a few tiny junipers.
From MTBR forums and Fox in the Forest
- A lunch stop for people camped elsewhere
- Lolo and AZ Hikeaholics both drove the spur on their second day and ate lunch at the viewpoint. AZ Hikeaholics covered a little over 28 miles that day, including the spur, and averaged about 5.5 mph.
From Lolo and Herb's RV and The AZ Hikeaholics
- An old mining route below the rim
- In December 2013 one driver walked down from White Crack along an old mining road. He reached an abandoned miner's camp about 1:45 pm and counted 15 miles walked for the day. He says the route is little documented, that the park does not promote it, and that reaching the confluence overlook would make roughly a 20-mile day.
From Backcountry Post
What the agency requires on White Crack Campsite
An overnight permit for this one site
Bikers and drivers must hold a permit for a designated campsite. White Crack has one site and one toilet. Each campsite holds up to 15 people and 3 vehicles.
All your water
There is no drinking water on the White Rim Road. The park asks for at least 1 gallon (4 liters) per person per day.
High-clearance 4WD with low range
The road requires it, and towing from the backcountry can cost more than $1,000. Campfires are not permitted.
What hikers carry on White Crack Campsite
Spare fuel, a full-size spare tire and a hi-lift jack
The driver of the 2013 trip took all three in a lightly modified street-car wagon, and the rough going still got him to White Crack after dark. Earth Trekkers says one tank of gas is enough for the whole loop and its detours, so the extra fuel is a margin.
From Backcountry Post and Earth Trekkers
Extra food and water as a hike-out plan
The same driver told two cyclists he had extra food and water and would hike out if he got stuck. Fox in the Forest says no reliable water exists anywhere on the loop.
From Backcountry Post and Fox in the Forest
A satellite phone or messenger and a GPS track
He called his mother by satellite phone on his hike below the rim, and his parents followed his track from a handheld tracker. AZ Hikeaholics downloaded offline maps before leaving the pavement, since service is little to none once you leave it.
From Backcountry Post and The AZ Hikeaholics
A winter-ready sleep setup
He rolled out a bed in the back of the car, then woke to a cold gray morning with light snow flakes drifting out of low clouds. Storms were sweeping up from the south that day, so he stopped to consider canceling his hike.
From Backcountry Post
A lunch for the viewpoint
Lolo packed a picnic and AZ Hikeaholics made lunch at the viewpoint on their drive through. Fox in the Forest calls the spot an excellent lunch stop even if you are not staying.
From Lolo and Herb's RV, The AZ Hikeaholics and Fox in the Forest
A plan for wind at the tent site
A forum poster calls White Crack windy at times, and AZ Hikeaholics had a windy evening and night at Gooseberry, the camp just before it. None of these writers names a specific shelter, so treat this as a reason to site the tent with care.
From MTBR forums and The AZ Hikeaholics
15 people can go on one permit. Split this list between them so nobody carries two stoves.
Plan a trip hereWhat hikers regret or leave behind on White Crack Campsite
Arriving after dark
The 2013 driver reached the spur at night under a moonless, cloud-covered sky. He found it hard to judge the road past the headlights, and he felt a bit motion sick from the ups and downs.
From Backcountry Post
Leaving the backpacking gear in the car
From the flat above the miner's camp he was about 2 miles from the confluence overlook. With backpacking gear he says he could have camped there, but it was back in the car, so he turned around and the climb back up finished at dark.
From Backcountry Post
A street car in winter
He says the trip proved a street car can make the loop, and he would not recommend it. Earth Trekkers notes the park requires a true 4WD with high clearance, not all-wheel drive.
From Backcountry Post and Earth Trekkers
Gear questions for White Crack Campsite
How long is the road to White Crack Campsite?
Sources differ. Lolo and AZ Hikeaholics put the spur at 1.4 miles one way, and AZ credits that to the park. Fox in the Forest says 1.20 miles. All three treat it as a side trip off the main loop, and Fox adds that it is bumpy and sandy.
From Lolo and Herb's RV, The AZ Hikeaholics and Fox in the Forest
How many people can camp at White Crack Campsite?
One party, up to 15 people and 3 vehicles. The park lists one site and one toilet. Earth Trekkers praises the privacy for that reason.
From National Park Service and Earth Trekkers
Is White Crack Campsite windy?
A 2008 MTBR poster says it can be. Other writers describe heavy wind at nearby camps, so plan for it even if the day starts calm.
From MTBR forums, The AZ Hikeaholics and Fox in the Forest
Can you hike from White Crack Campsite?
One driver walked an old mining road below the rim in December 2013 and covered about 15 miles in a day without reaching the confluence overlook. He says a confluence round trip would be near 20 miles, a hard day in short winter light.
From Backcountry Post
Sources
- White Rim Road, Canyonlands National Park · National Park Service · Agency
- White Rim in a wagon · Backcountry Post, ashergrey · Trip report
- White Rim Road Guide · Earth Trekkers · Blog
- White Rim Trail guide · Fox in the Forest, Meg Atteberry · Blog
- White Rim Road · The AZ Hikeaholics, Lauren and Owen · Blog
- White Rim Trail (Canyonlands National Park), 2021 Utah Off-Roading · Lolo and Herb's RV, Lolo · Trip report
- White Rim campsites · MTBR forums · Forum thread