Plan Your Trip to Canyonlands National Park
This Canyonlands National Park travel guide helps you plan a first visit without spending hours figuring out what is actually worth your vacation time. Canyonlands is enormous, but you don’t need to see every corner of it on your first trip. Island in the Sky gives you the classic experience, with sheer canyon walls, distant mesas, winding rivers, Mesa Arch, and viewpoints that seem to stretch forever.
You will find what not to miss, where to stay, when to visit, and the practical details you need before you arrive. I’ve also included the experiences that make Canyonlands memorable, from watching the sunrise at Mesa Arch and looking down at the Shafer Trail switchbacks to hiking along the rim at Grand View Point and watching the sun drop over the Green River.
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Top 10 Things to Do in Canyonlands National Park
1. Watch the sunrise at Mesa Arch
2. Hike the Grand View Point Trail
3. Look down at the Shafer Trail switchbacks
4. Watch the sunset from Green River Overlook
5. Hike to White Rim Overlook
6. See the strange geology of Upheaval Dome
7. Drive the Island in the Sky scenic road
8. Stop at Buck Canyon Overlook
9. Mountain bike or drive the White Rim Road with the proper permit and vehicle
10. Stay after dark for stargazing
Canyonlands National Park Travel Guide
Where is Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands is located in southeastern Utah close to the city of Moab and Arches National Park. The closest major airport is Grand Junction, Colorado. Canyonlands is divided into four districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the rivers. Horseshoe Canyon is a separate unit northwest of The Maze. Canyonlands is spread out and remote; there are no roads connecting the regions and driving between them can take two to six hours. There is no public transportation inside Canyonlands.
Facts About Canyonlands National Park
- Canyonlands became a national park in 1964.
- The area is an archeological site with historical and cultural importance for American Indians.
- Canyonlands National Park is 337,598 acres, approximately the area of 172,121 football fields.
- Canyonlands rock originated from the Rocky and Appalachian Mountains.
- The canyon was formed by millions of years of erosion and was carved by the Colorado River and the Green River.
- Island in the Sky is a large mesa 1000 feet above the valley accessed by a narrow section of rock called the neck. The Neck will eventually erode away leaving the mesa isolated.
- The park is covered by living soil called the cryptobiotic crust.
- Robber’s Roost, a hideout of Butch Cassidy, is located in the Maze region.
- Canyonlands is an International Dark Sky Park.
Best Time of Year to Visit Canyonlands National Park
Summer is hot and crowded. Expect temperatures over 100 with little to no shade. Monsoons, flash floods, and severe lightning occur in the late summer months. Winter temperatures may be below freezing and snow is possible. Spring and fall bring moderate temperatures and fewer crowds.
Accommodation in Canyonlands National Park
There are two camping sites in Canyonlands: Squaw Flat and The Needles Campground. Individual campsites are first come first served. Backcountry camping is available by permit. There are additional campsites, hotels, and vacation rentals are located in Moab.
Canyonlands National Park Hiking Trails
- Walk .6-mile RT to Mesa Arch
- Check out Whale Rock on an easy .8-mile trail.
- Hike 1.8 miles to 2 overlooks of Upheaval Dome.
- Check out the Grand View Overlook (1.8 miles RT) or the White Rim Overlook (1.8 miles RT).
- Visit the granaries on the Aztec Butte Trail, 2 miles RT with scrambling and a steep climb.
- Take the Murphy Point Trail to a view of Candlestick Tower, 3.4 miles RT.
- Head into White Rim on the Gooseberry Trail (4.6 miles RT, strenuous).
- Backpack the 11-mile Chesler Park Loop through the Needles spires and buttes.
- Backpack 11 miles RT through deep sand to Druid Arch.
- Hike 0.6 mile round trip to the first Upheaval Dome Overlook, or continue to the second overlook for a longer hike.
- Hike the 23-mile Big Needles Loop.
Things to Do at Canyonlands National Park
- Check out the 10 overlooks and viewpoints along the Island in the Sky 34-mile scenic drive.
- Photograph the switchbacks from Shafer Trail Viewpoint.
- Kayak or canoe on the Colorado or Green River.
- White water raft through Cataract Canyon.
- Mountain bike the White Rim, permit required.
- Check out the Great Gallery of lifesize pictographs in Horseshoe Canyon.
- Go back-country backpacking in the Needles.
- Drive the scenic Potash Road to Thelma and Louise Point, a high-clearance vehicle is required.
- Watch the sunset from Green River Overlook, Grand View Point, or Dead Horse Point.
- Splurge on the nearby Sound and Light Show on the Colorado River.
- Check the Canyonlands National Park Service for current events.
One Day in Canyonlands National Park
Sunrise: Mesa Arch
Start early at Mesa Arch. The short 0.6-mile round-trip trail leads to one of the park’s best-known views, with the arch framing the canyon and distant mountains.
Morning: Grand View Point
Drive to Grand View Point and hike the 1.8-mile round-trip trail along the canyon rim. Give yourself time to stop and look down at the maze of canyons and the White Rim far below.
Late Morning: White Rim Overlook
Hike the 1.8-mile round-trip White Rim Overlook Trail for another view across the Colorado River side of Island in the Sky.
Lunch: Picnic in the Park
Bring lunch and plenty of water. There are no restaurants inside Canyonlands, so this isn’t the day to count on finding food along the way.
Early Afternoon: Buck Canyon and Green River Overlooks
Stop at Buck Canyon Overlook, then continue toward Green River Overlook for a completely different view across the park.
Afternoon: Upheaval Dome
Hike the 0.6-mile round trip to the first Upheaval Dome Overlook. Continue to the second overlook if you have enough time and energy.
Late Afternoon: Shafer Canyon
Stop at Shafer Canyon Overlook and the viewpoints near the visitor center to look down at the switchbacks twisting toward the White Rim.
Sunset: Green River Overlook
Return to Green River Overlook for sunset, or stay at another viewpoint that caught your attention earlier in the day.
If you have extra time: Add Dead Horse Point State Park, but don’t cut your Canyonlands visit short just to squeeze it in.
Return to Moab for the Sound and Light Show with Dinner
Tips for Visiting Canyonlands National Park
- Arrive early to avoid crowds, Canyonlands is busiest between 10 am and 4 pm.
- Bring a picnic lunch, there are no restaurants in the park.
- Drink at least 1 gallon of water per day in the desert climate.
- Cell service is inconsistent, download offline maps.
- Grand View Point, Green River, and Buck Canyon Overlooks are wheelchair accessible.
- Wear layers, temperatures change quickly in the desert.
- There are no services in Canyonlands, get gas in Moab.
- The soil is alive. Stay on trails, and do not destroy the area’s cryptobiotic crust.
- Pets are not allowed on trails or in the backcountry.
- Be alert for rattlesnakes.
- Be watchful for quicksand in Horse Canyon, Lavender Canyon, and Peekaboo Canyon.
- Walking on top of Mesa Arch is prohibited.
- Allow 2 hours to drive between Islands in the Sky and the Needles.
- The Maze is remote and requires a 4-wheel drive vehicle to visit.
- Many Island in the Sky hiking trails are on slick rock and are marked by cairns (small rock piles). Never build your own cairns.
- Day-use permits are available for river trips, backpacking, mountain bikes, e-bikes, and motorcycles.
- Check the Park Calendar for Ranger-Led Programs.
- Practice Leave No Trace Principles.
- Purchase an America the Beautiful Pass and keep exploring National Parks.
A Note About Dead Horse Point State Park
Dead Horse Point State Park is a peninsula that extends from Canyonlands National Park’s Island in the Sky. It is known for its view of the gooseneck bend of the Colorado River 2000 feet below and is one of the most photographed vistas in the world. This park has an eight-mile trail system with several hiking spurs and 8 overlooks. Many hikes are over slick rock and marked by cairns. There is also a 16.6 mountain biking track. Dead Horse Point is a great place to watch the sunset and see the Milky Way. Across the canyon from Dead Horse Point is the set of the final scene in the 1991 film Thelma and Louise where they drove off the cliff into the Grand Canyon. It is possible to visit Thelma and Louise Point if you have a high-clearance vehicle.
Bookmark and Pin Canyonlands National Park Travel Guide
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