White Rim Road — White Crack Campsite Permit
Canyonlands National Park · Utah
Campsite permit for White Crack on the White Rim Road in Canyonlands.
Get an alert when a night opens on your White Crack dates.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on White Crack were gone within 10 minutes.
White Crack reservation dates
- Season
- Year-round
- route distance, loop
- 100mi
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a White Crack permit
As of September 2026, White Crack in Canyonlands National Park, Utah requires a permit issued via reservation. White Crack is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled White Crack permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for White Crack runs year-round. The White Crack 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.
White Crack 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.
- White Crack 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 4 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 White Crack: Live availability activityWhen White Crack permits open up
How much a White Crack permit costs
White Crack 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 White Crack hike
- Distance
- 100 miles
- Route Type
- Loop
- Duration
- 2-4 days
- Difficulty
- Moderate
White Crack landmarks
- 1Gooseberry camping area
The previous camps clockwise, two sites and one toilet
- 2White Crack campsite
A single campsite with one toilet at the end of a spur, 4 hours from the Island in the Sky Visitor Center
- 3Murphy Hogback
The next camping area clockwise and one of the five steep, exposed sections NPS names on the road
A single campsite at the end of its own spur road, mile 39 and four hours out, the most sought-after night on the White Rim.
About this permit
White Crack is a single campsite (the whole camping area is one site with one toilet), 39 miles and about 4 hours of driving clockwise from the Island in the Sky Visitor Center. The White Rim Road has 20 individual campsites arranged in 10 camping areas, and this is the one with no neighbours at all.
It sits at roughly the midpoint of the 100-mile loop, which NPS puts at two to three days by four-wheel drive and three to four by mountain bike. That position, plus a capacity of one party per night, is why White Crack is the hardest White Rim night to book and the one most worth a cancellation alert.
High-clearance four-wheel drive with low range is required, campfires are not permitted, pets are not allowed even in vehicles, and there is no potable water along the road. The site takes up to 15 people and 3 vehicles.
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
White Crack sits at mile 39 clockwise from the Island in the Sky Visitor Center, about 4 hours of driving, with exactly one campsite and one toilet. It is reached off a spur, which is why it stays quiet even on a full weekend. Clockwise from here the road climbs Murphy Hogback at mile 45, one of the five steep, exposed sections NPS names on the loop, then runs to Candlestick at mile 55 and down to the Green River at Potato Bottom by mile 66.
Why it matters
White Crack is one site. Not one of two, not one of four. The entire camping area is a single campsite with a single toilet, sitting at the far southern point of the loop. On a road where 20 campsites serve a 100-mile circuit, this is the scarcest inventory in Canyonlands' backcountry vehicle system, and it is roughly the midpoint of a three-day clockwise circuit, which is exactly where most parties want to be.
The feeling
You leave the main road and drive out a spur to get here, and that spur keeps it private: nobody passes through White Crack on their way to somewhere else. One party, at the end of a road, on a bench above the confluence country. After sunset there is no light anywhere and the sky does what it does over the Colorado Plateau.
White Crack hike highlights
- One campsite for the entire White Crack area, with one toilet
- 39 miles and about 4 hours of driving from the Island in the Sky Visitor Center, clockwise
- A spur road, so no through traffic past camp
- No potable water, no shade, no campfires and no generators
- A hard cap of 15 people and 3 vehicles on the site
- Murphy Hogback, one of the five steep exposed sections NPS names, waiting 6 miles further on
How hard the White Crack hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required3/5
- 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-route2/5
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 White Crack
Best time to visit
Spring and fall are the seasons the whole road is built around and the seasons NPS says sell out. For White Crack specifically the season matters less than the release moment: one site, one party, and a four-month-ahead window at 8 a.m. Mountain time. If you miss it, set a cancellation alert rather than switching seasons.
- 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
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
70°
57°
35%
Wed
80°
59°
Thu
82°
56°
Fri
85°
63°
Sat
86°
65°
Sun
86°
65°
Mon
83°
64°
White Crack 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 White Crack.
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 one party can be at White Crack 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
White Crack 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 White Crack 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 White Crack.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for White Crack · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
Some links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
White Crack FAQ
How do I reserve the White Crack 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 White Crack 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 White Crack 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 White Crack from the Island in the Sky Visitor Center?
39 miles travelling clockwise, which NPS estimates at 4 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 White Crack?
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.
White Crack trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions
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Alternatives to a White Crack 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.
Where to stay near White Crack
- Canyonlands National Park Needles District CampgroundCanyonlands National Park
- Indian Creek Falls Group SiteBears Ears National Monument
- Hamburger Rock CampgroundBears Ears National Monument
- All Utah campgrounds
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