Off to canyonlands...or not?

We are planning on leaving for canyonlands first thing in the morning (7 hour drive) and camping around the white rim trail for 3 nights...at least that was the plan until I heard about the looming government shutdown (I never watch the news ) I called the visitor info line and they could not provide me any advice, they are working on a contingency plan but have no answers until this is decided Friday night.

So...what do you all think, should I stay or should go? and does anybody have any inside info/contacts that may be able to give me better answers? Thanks!

Even if there is a shutdown, there are plenty of wide-open spaces in that region that you could find plenty to keep you occupied. I say go for it!

I was just thinking about that too, what around there is non-national park?

I appreciate your frustration, David. We were in almost an identical situation during the last Fed shut down. We were leaving for Lake Powell. Had a houseboat rental for a week & couldn't get any feel for what would happen. We arrived early on the morning of the shut down. The official closure had not been announced yet, so we were told to get the boat out on the water ASAP. They wouldn't force us back in once we were out of the harbor. We had a fabulous week and never saw another boat on the lake for the entire week.

Have you been to the Top of the World overlook north of Moab?
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM50RZ_Top_of_the_World_Moab_Utah
It's well worth a sunset and overnight stay for sunrise.
Since you were planning the White Rim trail, I assume you will be in a 4WD.

I would definitely not stay home. If there is a closure, they may put up barriers on the White Rim entrances, however, none of them pass through an entrance station, so they just may leave the road "unofficially" open.

Dead Horse State Park which is close to the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands, for one.
Did you have reservations already for campsites on the White Rim?

The weather looks pretty spotty this week and weekend, so keep that in mind.

Thanks guys, I'll give it a shot just going in and see what they say. I hadn't seen top of the world before Bill, thanks for the tip. I think I can find some time to go out there on the way back.

I do have campsite reservations John, the weather is not looking nice for sure. Hope the clouds break up enough, could end up being great...trying to be optimistic

I spoke with my contact at the parks and she advised that if the government shuts down, the parks will also shut down but for a skeleton crew of LE rangers. As others have mentioned, there's plenty to see and photograph outside of the parks. Dead Horse Point SP is a great place to start. There's also 2.2 million acres of mostly pristine BLM land that's equally as pretty as anything you'll see in the parks. Have a great visit, David!

I agree with Bill- Top of the World is awesome! Been up there several times- will take your breath away. Camp out and do a sunrise and sunset from the top.

I'm planning a Utah trip this weekend, also. (Say hi if you see my brown-orange Vanagon avatar.) Somehow, I think they might not block the roads off. In any case, with the Vanagon, I can park and pop-the-top most anywhere.

Question: Is the top-of-the-world road hard-core 4WD, or can a VW make it. Old school VW bugs are actually quite good at rough roads, and the Vanagon is built on the same chassis... only a bit more top heavy.

Tom, this is a VERY ledgy road. LOTS of steps up sandstone beds. No dangerous drop-offs. You definitely want 4WD and clearance. Take lots of video if you try it with the Vanagon.

David - My advice: GO! There is an unlimited amount of places to photograph, hike, and see outside of the parks.

Tom - I have ridden TOW on my mountain bike. The trail has several shelves, one of them high enough that you need a LOT of clearance. I would NOT be able to make it in my 4WD Jeep. I would drive as far as you can, park, and hike/bike the rest of the way.

My chance for youtube immortality, if not a Darwin award!

I'll have to take my mtn bike and a camera backpack.