Lathrop Trail - 12.2 Miles Round-Trip

The Lathrop Trail runs 6.1 miles from Grays Pasture to White Rim Road in Canyonlands National Park. This strenuous trail is part of the only marked route from the mesa top to Colorado River. 

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

While the descent off the mesa is similar to others in the district in terms of elevation loss (Wilhite, Murphy, Syncline), the Lathrop Trail arguably offers the most varied terrain and best views.  

After 1.35 miles in open grasslands, the trail follows wavy slickrock and contours of the canyon rim another 1.65 miles before diving down. These first three miles distinguish Lathrop from others, and are worthwhile even if not completing the hike.

Once in open desert travel moderates to White Rim Road, where you can pick up Lathrop Canyon Road (a designated bike path) and continue down to the Colorado River.

Distance Note: Park signs and various maps differ on distance, ranging from 10 – 13.8 miles roundtrip. These disparities can in part be attributed to GPS signal loss on the descent, which makes distances difficult to verify.

In all cases, plan for challenging conditions and anticipate a long, exposed climb back to the trailhead as temperatures rise and storms may be rolling in:

The Lathrop Trail heads southeast through Grays Pasture, a sprawling grassland that supports deer, badger and coyote. It rises nominally to a crest with a glimpse of the canyon (1.05 miles : 6,095’), and levels to the edge of open slickrock (1.37 miles : 6,077’).

Cairns lead past a group of Navajo Sandstone domes, a relative rarity in Island In The Sky.  It continues through intervals of slickrock and blackbrush flats with expanding views of the canyon.

This attractive section alone is worth the visit, but pay close attention - though well-marked and easy to follow, it moves in non-linear fashion across open rock and can be difficult to reclaim once off track.

The trail wraps to the canyon rim and along its outer contours with exceptional views at every turn (2.0 miles : 5,955’).  It winds just below the rim to 3.0 miles (5,775’), where it drops 880' in just .95 miles on very steep, rugged switchbacks.

The trail follows a smart, seemingly improbably route down vertical Wingate Sandstone walls typical of this district. Though physically demanding views are simply fantastic, and the path is fairly easy to read (compared to sections of Syncline and Wilhite).

Travel eases considerably past 3.95 miles (4,895’) at the base of the cliffs, where a packed dirt path begins a long ‘hook’ to reach the far side of the cul de sac you’ve dropped in to.

Look for an arch high up on the canyon walls, and avoid side trails that lead to archeological study areas. The trail wraps to the south side of the cul de sac and crosses a wash (4.55 miles : 4,652’), then straightens out on a fast, level track.

Travel moderates on the transition to open desert with views of archetypal walls, spires and towers that shape the Island Mesa (5.0 miles : 4,645’).

Anticipate some faint sections and sporadic cairns leading across (5.5 miles) and into a shallow wash (5.55 miles : 4,510’), which you’ll remain in to White Rim Road (6.1 miles : 4,420’).

From here you can turn south (right) on White Rim Road to pick up the Lathrop Canyon Bike Trail, which runs approximately 4 miles down to a popular day-use area on the Colorado River. The bike trail-road can be seen from the trail terminus on White Rim Road.

LATHROP TRAIL ELEVATION PROFILE