Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is one of the most underrated national parks in the USA. It’s also one of our favorites.
This sprawling national park preserves the canyons, buttes, mesas, and arches that have been carved out by the Colorado and Green Rivers. It also contains the rock art of the Ancient Puebloan peoples.
From the overlooks on Island in the Sky, enjoy sweeping views across the rugged desert landscapes. Journey below the mesa for an epic scenic drive on the White Rim Road. In The Needles, zebra-striped rock formations create stunning landscapes and a unique hiking destination. If you really crave adventure, explore The Maze in a 4×4 or go rafting in Cataract Canyon.
This national park may not win the popularity award in Utah (it’s both Utah’s largest and least visited national park), but for those who want to venture off-the-beaten-path, it’s hard to beat some of the experiences you can have in this park.
Canyonlands National Park Stats
Founded: September 12, 1964
Annual Visitors: 800,00 in 2023
Size: 338,000 acres
Location: Utah
Entrance Fee: $30 per vehicle, valid for 7 days
Overview of Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is enormous. Over 330,000 acres are filled with canyons, arches, buttes, mesas, dirt roads, hiking trails, campgrounds, and overlooks. There are five districts in Canyonlands National Park.
ISLAND IN THE SKY: This is the most visited section of Canyonlands National Park. Filled with stunning overlooks and a nice mix of easy and difficult hiking trails, the Island in the Sky district gives visitors a nice overview of the park.
THE NEEDLES: Uniquely shaped sandstone rock formations create stunning landscapes. Go here for great hikes, more scenic views, and to escape the crowds that flood Island in the Sky.
THE MAZE: The Maze is a remote area of Canyonlands that is only accessible by 4×4. To explore this area of the park, backcountry experience and self-sufficiency is a must.
COLORADO & GREEN RIVERS: The Colorado and Green Rivers carved out the canyons of Canyonlands National Park. You can canoe or kayak the rivers north of Confluence. Both rivers merge at the Confluence and below this, you can go white water rafting in Cataract Canyon.
HORSESHOE CANYON: Horseshoe Canyon is a very small section of the park. It is here that you can see the rock art of the Ancient Puebloan peoples.
Top Ten Experiences in Canyonlands
Visit the Overlooks at Island in the Sky. For panoramic views over Canyonlands National Park, visit the overlooks on the Island in the Sky mesa. These are quick and easy to visit, making this one of the top experiences for first time visitors to this park.
Watch the Sunrise at Mesa Arch. Mesa Arch is one of the most photographed sights in the park and the best time to be here is at sunrise. For roughly one hour, the rising sun illuminates the bottom of the arch, creating a spectacular view.
Go Hiking in Island of the Sky. There are several short hiking trails that take you to unique viewpoints. On this list are White Rim Overlook, Whale Rock, the Grand View Point Trail, Aztec Butte, and Upheaval Dome.
Hike Below the Rim of the Island in the Sky Mesa. It’s an awesome experience, to be on top of the Island in the Sky mesa, looking out at the canyons and basins. But there is something extra special about hiking from the mesa down onto the White Rim. There are several trails to choose from and the Gooseberry Trail is our favorite.
Drive Shafer Canyon Road. If you like scenic drives and white-knuckle roads, this is a good one. From the top of the mesa, Shafer Canyon Road rapidly descends to the White Rim. It’s tons of fun and the views are incredible. You can extend the experience by adding on the White Rim Road or Potash Road.
Explore The Needles. This part of the park is small and easy to visit. It also looks dramatically different from Island in the Sky. You can take your pick from several short trails (we really liked the Slickrock Trail). Or go farther, hiking to Chesler Park or to Druid Arch.
Hike the Chesler Park Loop. If you want to get an up-close look at the “Needles,” the sandstone spires that make the Needles district of Canyonlands National Park so uniquely beautiful, put this hike on your list. This hike ranges from 6 to 11 miles, depending on how far you go.
Explore the Maze District. This is the least accessible part of Canyonlands National Park. This area is rugged, remote, and some of the roads are extremely difficult to drive. Prior experience on rough 4×4 roads is a must if you plan to visit The Maze. You will also need to have at least 2 to 3 days of time, since this area is large and it takes quite a bit of time to get around.
Go Rafting on the Green or Colorado River. Go canoeing or kayaking above the Confluence of these two rivers, where the water is calm. Below the Confluence, you can go rafting on Class III to V whitewater.
See the Rock Art at Horseshoe Canyon. This is one of the best places to see Rock Art in North America. The Great Gallery contains life-sized figures and petroglyphs that are very well-preserved. Some of this artwork is over a thousand years old.
ULTIMATE ADVENTURE
For the ultimate adventure in Canyonlands National Park, drive or mountain bike White Rim Road. The White Rim Road is a 100-mile dirt road that makes a loop around the Island in the Sky mesa. Trips by 4×4 take two to three days and for those who prefer to bike the White Rim Road, expect the journey to take between three and five days. Advance planning and permits are necessary to drive and camp overnight on the White Rim Road.
Learn More About Canyonlands
10 Best Things to Do in Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is a sprawling park that is located near Moab, Utah. This national park is made up of five sections and each of them offer a very different experience. In this post about the best things to do in Canyonlands, we cover the top experiences for all five areas of the park. Most […]
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Canyonlands is an enormous National Park. Over 330,000 acres are filled with arches, buttes, mesas, canyons, hiking trails, dirt roads, campgrounds, and overlooks. It would take days, weeks even, to fully explore all that Canyonlands has to offer. However, if you only have one day in Canyonlands, you have just enough time to visit the […]
The Ultimate Arches and Canyonlands One Day Itinerary
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Island in the Sky
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Canyonlands National Park is an underrated park located near Moab, Utah. Compared to its smaller and more popular neighbor Arches National Park, Canyonlands feels more rugged, more remote, and a whole lot larger. Island in the Sky, the most popular section of Canyonlands, is filled with jaw-dropping vistas and short but sweet hiking trails. Here […]
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Hiking the Gooseberry Trail in Canyonlands National Park
There are a number of hikes in Canyonlands National Park that offer sweeping views over the White Rim. Grand View Point Trail and White Rim Overlook both fit into this category. However, if you want to journey below the level of the mesa and hike onto the White Rim, the Gooseberry Trail is a great […]
The Needles
12 Amazing Things to Do in The Needles, Canyonlands National Park
The Needles is an often overlooked section of Canyonlands National Park. But those who take the time to visit the Needles are rewarded with thrilling, unique hiking trails, low crowds, and jaw-dropping views of Canyonlands National Park. In this post, we cover the 12 best things to do in the Needles…12 great reasons why this […]
How to Hike the Chesler Park Loop Trail in the Needles | Canyonlands National Park
If you want to get an up-close look at the “Needles,” the sandstone spires that make the Needles district of Canyonlands National Park so uniquely beautiful, put Chesler Park on your list. It is possible to hike out and back to Chesler Park on a short day hike. But if you don’t mind going farther, […]
White Rim Road
How to Drive the White Rim Road: Map, Photos & Driving Tips
Driving the White Rim Road is the experience of a lifetime. If you are looking for adventure, solitude, incredible views, and a totally different way to experience Canyonlands National Park, put this drive on your list. Along the drive, you will gaze up at the Island in the Sky mesa and peer down into the […]
White Rim Road: Detailed Planning Guide and Checklist
Driving the White Rim Road is a bucket list adventure. Over the course of 100 miles, you will circle around the Island in the Sky mesa. Along the way, you will drive along cliff edges, past canyons carved out by the Colorado and Green Rivers, and to viewpoints that will take your breath away. Once […]
How to Drive the White Rim Road in One Day
Driving the White Rim Road is one of the best experiences in Canyonlands National Park. For 100 miles, this road circles around the Island in the Sky mesa, taking you past canyons, buttes, and the Colorado and Green Rivers. This drive takes most people two to three days. If you have less time, it is […]
How Many Days Should You Spend in Canyonlands?
Ideally, you need at least two days in Canyonlands National Park.
With two days, you can visit both Island in the Sky and The Needles.
Each additional day you add gives you more time for some epic adventures, such as the White Rim Road, white water rafting, backpacking in The Needles, or exploring The Maze.
One Day in Canyonlands
With one day in Canyonlands, visit the overlooks on Island in the Sky and hike one or more of the trails. You can return to Moab by driving Shafer Canyon Road to Potash Road or stop by Dead Horse Point State Park on the drive.
When To Visit Canyonlands National Park
The spring and fall months are the best times to visit Canyonlands National Park. Weather conditions are pleasant and you can avoid the big crowds that flood the park in the summer.
During the summer months, expect soaring temperatures, large crowds, and difficulty finding parking at many viewpoints.
During the winter months, it is much less crowded, but temperatures get below freezing and snow is likely.
Our favorite time to visit Utah is in October, with great weather and lower crowds than you typically see in the summer months. If you want decent weather and low crowds, November and March are also good times to visit Canyonlands National Park.
Canyonlands National Park appears in our Best US National Parks Month-By-Month series as a great park to visit in March, April, November, and December.
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Canyonlands National Park Map
Canyonlands National Park Photos
Places to Visit Near Canyonlands
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US National Parks List
In our US National Parks List, get information on all of the US national parks, including interesting facts, the most and least visited national parks, and a FREE printable national parks checklist with map.
Ultimate US National Parks List for 2024 (+ Printable Checklist)
