Mountain bikers and four-wheel-drive enthusiasts with permits to ride the White Rim Trail will have to change their plans after a huge storm caused severe damage to the switchbacks at Mineral Bottom. The storm hit Canyonlands National Park on Friday, August 20, dropping enough heavy rain to create a flood that cut out a giant swath through the road that allows access to the White Rim Trail and the put-in/take-out for boats at Mineral Bottom.
According to park officials, the White Rim Trail and Shafer Switchbacks are undamaged and will remain open. But Mineral Bottom will probably be closed for several weeks for major road repair.
This will put a damper on plans for mountain bikers on the White Rim who rely on the switchbacks to return to their vehicles after completing the 100-mile long loop, and boaters who use Mineral Bottom as a take out and put in for rafts and kayaks.
For more information, contact the National Park Service at Canyonlands.
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