White Rim Road — Potato Bottom A Campsite Permit
Canyonlands National Park · Utah
Campsite permit for Potato Bottom A on the White Rim Road in Canyonlands.
Get an alert when a night opens on your Potato Bottom A dates.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Potato Bottom A were gone within 10 minutes.
Potato Bottom A reservation dates
- Season
- Year-round
- route distance, loop
- 100mi
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Potato Bottom A permit
As of September 2026, Potato Bottom A in Canyonlands National Park, Utah requires a permit issued via reservation. Potato Bottom A is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Potato Bottom A permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Potato Bottom A runs year-round. The Potato Bottom A route covers 100 miles, rated moderate.
- Type
- Overnight
- Location
- Colorado Plateau, UT
Step 1: Create a Recreation.gov account
Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
Step 2: Know the release schedule
Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.
Step 3: Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
Step 4: Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Potato Bottom A pro tips
- Set an alarm for 8 a.m. Mountain time on the release date four months before your season opens. That first minute is when spring and fall dates go.
- Potato Bottom A is one of only 20 campsites on a 100-mile road, so a cancellation alert is doing real work here. There is no overflow.
- Carry every drop of water you plan to drink. There is none on the road and no way to buy any.
- Budget 8.5 hours from the visitor center just to reach camp, before you factor in stops.
- If you are riding it, bring a four-wheel-drive support vehicle for water and gear. NPS recommends it directly.
- Check current road conditions before you commit. High water on the Green River can close the west side and turn the loop into an out-and-back.
- Cancel early if your plans change. The $5 per person per night fee is refunded for trips cancelled at least 3 days out, and someone else gets the night.
More on Potato Bottom A: Live availability activityWhen Potato Bottom A permits open up
How much a Potato Bottom A permit costs
Potato Bottom A permit fee: $36 non-refundable reservation fee per permit (includes the $6 Recreation.gov fee) plus $5 per person, per night. Park entrance fee is separate.
The Potato Bottom A hike
- Distance
- 100 miles
- Route Type
- Loop
- Duration
- 2-4 days
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Potato Bottom A landmarks
- 1Potato Bottom camping area
Three campsites and two toilets on the Green River, 8.5 hours from the Island in the Sky Visitor Center
- 2Hardscrabble Hill
One of the five steep, exposed sections NPS names on the road, just past Potato Bottom
- 3Mineral Bottom switchbacks
The climb out at the end of the clockwise loop, another of the five sections NPS singles out
Mile 66 and eight and a half hours in, down off the bench beside the Green River, and the camps most exposed to high water.
About this permit
Potato Bottom A is one of three campsites in the Potato Bottom camping area, 66 miles and about 8.5 hours of driving clockwise from the Island in the Sky Visitor Center, with two toilets serving the area. This is the west side of the loop, down along the Green River.
The river is scenery, not supply. NPS notes that obtaining drinking water from the Colorado or Green rivers is difficult because the water is very silty and hard to purify, and states plainly that there is no potable water along the White Rim Road. Everything you drink comes in with you, at a minimum of 1 gallon per person per day.
The west side is also the part of the road that floods. During high water on the Green River, sections here can be impassable and a complete loop impossible. Check current road conditions before you commit to a clockwise itinerary that has to pass through.
Canyonlands releases White Rim permits four months before each season starts, at 8 a.m. Mountain time on Recreation.gov, and NPS says outright that demand for overnight permits frequently exceeds the number available in spring and fall. The fee is a $36 non-refundable reservation charge plus $5 per person per night. Anything still unreserved becomes a walk-up, marked "W" on Recreation.gov and issued in person at a visitor center until 2:30 p.m. Mountain time.
The route
Potato Bottom is at mile 66 clockwise from the Island in the Sky Visitor Center, about 8.5 hours of driving, with three campsites (A, B and C) and two toilets. Potato Bottom A books as a named site. This is the west side of the loop, the stretch NPS says can flood in high water on the Green River. Ahead lie Hardscrabble Hill at mile 70, one of the five steep, exposed sections NPS names, then Labyrinth at 72, Taylor at 77, and the Mineral Bottom switchbacks to climb out.
Why it matters
Potato Bottom is where the White Rim Road leaves the bench and runs along the Green River, and it is the reason river levels matter to the whole loop. NPS warns that during high water conditions on the Green River, sections of road on the west side can flood and make a complete loop impossible, and these three sites sit in that stretch. Three campsites and two toilets make it the third-largest cluster on the road.
The feeling
After 66 miles of dry sandstone bench, there is a river. Cottonwoods, moving water, a completely different soundscape from every camp behind you. You get the sound of the river and the shade. Bring your water: the river is silty and hard to purify.
Potato Bottom A hike highlights
- Three campsites (A, B and C) at Potato Bottom, served by two toilets
- 66 miles and about 8.5 hours of driving from the Island in the Sky Visitor Center, clockwise
- A position on the Green River, on the section of road that can flood in high water
- No potable water: river water is very silty and difficult to purify
- A hard cap of 15 people and 3 vehicles on the site
- Hardscrabble Hill 4 miles ahead, one of the five steep exposed sections NPS names
How hard the Potato Bottom A hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required4/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills3/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential3/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity1/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route4/5
Best for: Drivers with a true low-range four-wheel-drive vehicle, and cyclists who have a support vehicle carrying water. NPS highly recommends a four-wheel-drive support vehicle for mountain bike trips.
Recommended experience: Comfort on steep, exposed, unpaved switchbacks and enough self-recovery skill to deal with a stuck vehicle 40 miles from pavement.
Not recommended for: Anyone in an all-wheel-drive crossover, anyone bringing a dog, anyone over 8 feet wide or 9.5 feet tall, and anyone hoping to buy water along the way.
When to hike Potato Bottom A
Best time to visit
Spring and fall are the peak road seasons and the ones NPS says sell out, but spring is also when the Green River runs highest. The same runoff that makes the desert pleasant is what closes this stretch. Check current road conditions before booking Potato Bottom as a through-night in a big snow year.
- Peak
- March through May and September through October
- Shoulder
- November through February
Spring
The busiest season on the road and the reason permits sell out. Warm days, cold nights, and the highest chance of a full loop being drivable.
Crowd level · extreme
- Advantage: Comfortable daytime temperatures for riding or driving
- Advantage: Long enough days for the big mileage between camps
- Advantage: Every camp in the loop is usually reachable
- Challenge: NPS says demand for overnight permits frequently exceeds the number available in spring
- Challenge: Green River high water can close west-side sections
- Challenge: Cold nights on an exposed bench
Summer
Hot and unshaded. The bench holds heat and there is no water on the road.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: The easiest season to actually get a permit
- Advantage: Long daylight for the longer driving days
- Advantage: Afternoon storms bring the only real color changes on the bench
- Challenge: Heat with no shade and no water source
- Challenge: Afternoon thunderstorms make the steep sections dangerous
- Challenge: Sand is at its softest and deepest
Fall
The other peak season. Stable weather, cool nights, and the same permit pressure as spring.
Crowd level · extreme
- Advantage: Best combination of temperature and stable weather
- Advantage: Low river levels usually keep the west side open
- Advantage: Clear air for the long views off the bench
- Challenge: NPS names fall alongside spring as the season when demand exceeds supply
- Challenge: Daylight shortens fast through October
- Challenge: Nights get cold quickly once the sun drops below the rim
Winter
Cold, quiet, and the season with real availability. Snow and ice change the calculus on the steep sections.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Permits are easier to get
- Advantage: Snow on red rock is the rarest photograph out here
- Advantage: You may not see another vehicle all day
- Challenge: Ice on the Shafer, Murphy Hogback, Hardscrabble and Mineral Bottom grades
- Challenge: Short days against long driving times between camps
- Challenge: Nothing on the bench is heated and nothing is close
Potato Bottom A photography guide
Golden Hour
First and last light on the White Rim bench, when the low sun rakes across the sandstone and the shadows separate the benches from the canyon below Potato Bottom.
Best Light
Night. This is one of the darkest corners of the Colorado Plateau, and the Milky Way over the bench is the shot people drive out here for.
Beat the Crowds
Only 3 parties can be at Potato Bottom on any given night, so once the day traffic clears the road you have it to yourself.
Classic Shots
- The rim wall above camp catching the first sun while the bench is still in shadow
- Your vehicle small against the bench, for scale
- The Island in the Sky mesa top a thousand feet above, seen from below
- Star trails over the canyon rim from camp
Potato Bottom A rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- All your water. There is none on the road, and 1 gallon per person per day is the NPS floor
- A high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle with low range. This is a requirement, not a recommendation
- Full recovery kit and a spare: shovel, traction boards, air compressor, tire plugs
- A camp stove. Fires are not permitted at any White Rim campsite
- Shade you bring yourself, such as a tarp or awning; there is almost none on the bench
- Printed maps. Cell service is unreliable below the mesa rim
Rules & regulations
- 01Each campsite accommodates up to 15 people and 3 vehicles; motorbikes and trailers count as vehicles for that limit
- 02Keep all camp activities within the posts that mark the campsite boundaries
- 03Campfires are not permitted anywhere along the White Rim Road, and generators are not allowed
- 04Pets are not permitted, even inside vehicles
- 05Your vehicle must have high-clearance, four-wheel drive with low range
- 06ATVs, UTVs and OHVs are not permitted even if street legal; drones and other unmanned aircraft are prohibited
- 07All vehicles and bikes must remain on designated roads
- 08You may stay a maximum of three consecutive nights at a camping area before having to relocate, and an overnight permit runs up to 14 consecutive nights
- 09Climbing, scrambling, walking or standing upon, or rappelling off any arch is prohibited parkwide
- 10Recreation.gov books Potato Bottom as a named campsite, not a zone. You are reserving this exact site for the night
Hazards & considerations
- No potable water anywhere along the road. NPS asks for at least 1 gallon (4 L) per person per day, more if you will be active
- Long rocky stretches, deep sand and little shade; NPS says to plan on a minimum of 10 to 12 hours of driving or cycling for the loop
- The steep, exposed sections at Shafer Trail, Lathrop Canyon Road, Murphy Hogback, Hardscrabble Hill and the Mineral Bottom switchbacks demand extreme caution in bad weather
- High water on the Green River can flood sections of road on the west side and make a complete loop impossible
- A disabled vehicle out here is expensive: NPS warns of towing fees in excess of $1,000
- Summer heat on an unshaded sandstone bench, with no water and no quick way out
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Potato Bottom A.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Potato Bottom A · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Potato Bottom A FAQ
How do I reserve the Potato Bottom A campsite on the White Rim Road?
Through Recreation.gov, on Canyonlands' seasonal release schedule. Permits open four months before the start of the season at 8 a.m. Mountain time: spring dates (March 10 to June 9) on November 10, summer (June 10 to September 9) on February 10, fall (September 10 to December 9) on May 10, and winter (December 10 to March 9) on August 10.
How many people can stay at the Potato Bottom A campsite?
Fifteen. NPS states that each White Rim campsite accommodates up to 15 people and 3 vehicles, and motorbikes and trailers count as vehicles against that limit.
Is there water at the Potato Bottom A campsite?
No. NPS is explicit that there is no potable water along the White Rim Road, so every drop comes in with you. The park asks for at least 1 gallon (4 L) per person per day, and more if you will be active. For bike trips it highly recommends a four-wheel-drive support vehicle to carry water and equipment.
How far is Potato Bottom A from the Island in the Sky Visitor Center?
66 miles travelling clockwise, which NPS estimates at 8.5 hours of driving. The full White Rim Road loop is 100 miles, and NPS says four-wheel-drive trips usually take two to three days and mountain bike trips three to four.
Can I have a campfire at Potato Bottom A?
No. Campfires are not permitted anywhere on the White Rim Road, and generators are not allowed either. Bring a camp stove.
Do I need a day-use permit as well as an overnight permit for the White Rim Road?
No. All vehicles, motorbikes and bicyclists need a day-use permit for single-day trips on the White Rim, but overnight trips do not need an additional day-use permit.
What happens to White Rim campsites that nobody reserves?
They go to walk-up. Any campsite that remains unreserved shows on Recreation.gov as "W" and is issued in person at a visitor center, seven days a week, until 2:30 p.m. Mountain time each day.
Potato Bottom A trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions
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Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a Potato Bottom A permit
- Same AreaPermit required
White Rim Road (whole-loop permit)
The parent White Rim Road page, covering the full 100-mile loop and all ten camping areas.
Tradeoffs
Useful when any camp will do and you just want the trip. An alert on one named site is narrower but more precise.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Canyonlands Needles backpacking
Designated backpacking campsites in the Needles District, on the same Recreation.gov permit and the same seasonal release.
Tradeoffs
On foot rather than four wheels, and capped at 7 people instead of 15, but the same booking window and often easier to land.
- Easier AlternativePermit required
Dead Horse Point Wingate hike-in sites
Tent sites on the rim at Dead Horse Point State Park, looking down on the same gooseneck of the Colorado River.
Tradeoffs
A drive-up state park with water and toilets instead of a backcountry bench, and a different reservation system.
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