Lathrop Canyon

Rugged side trip descends to Colorado River from White Rim Trail.

This fun route allows you to sample the White Rim, Trail #56, in a single-day adventure. Once in Lathrop Canyon, you’ll descend more difficult terrain all the way down to the Colorado River. Here you’ll find a toilet and picnic tables, but camping is not allowed. Fee to enter park. Free day-use permit is required. Available online 24 hours in advance. No fires or pets (even if left in vehicle). No ATVs or UTVs (licensed or not). Licensed dirt bikes are allowed.

Narrow and steep at the top. Farther down, the road follows a sandy canyon wash bottom and is usually well tracked and easy to see. However, after a heavy rainstorm, tracks are often washed away. Route-finding and conditions can be more challenging. You may encounter high sandy river banks if you are the first to drive through after a storm. Aggressive, highclearance 4x4 SUVs can usually get through. For this trip, we rode with a friend in a stock Toyota 4-Runner and had no problems.