Canyonlands National Park
You came for Arches. Canyonlands stole the show.
Plan Your Visit
Canyonlands National Park is the largest national park in Utah, spanning 337,598 acres (about 527 square miles). It’s split into three land districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, and The Maze; plus the River district, which encompasses the Colorado and Green rivers that flow through the park.
The Island in the Sky district is closest to Moab — about a 40 minute drive from town — and is named because of the mesa you’ll stand atop as you explore. It’s bounded by the Colorado River to the east and the Green River to the West: From lofty viewpoints like Mesa Arch and Grand View Point, visitors can often see over 100 miles (161 km) in any direction.
Hiking trails in this district range from accessible overlooks to overnight adventures that will test your trail finding capabilities. If you make time, the park’s backcountry is worth exploring. Off-roaders can take on the steep Shafer Trail; mountain bikers can test their skills on the White Rim. And if you’re looking for longer backpacking trips, plan to spend at least a few days in The Needles district of the park south of Moab.
Hire a guide in Moab to really experience the heart of Canyonlands. Guides can take you to truly off-the-beaten-path trails in the Island in the Sky district; on longer overnight excursions through the rugged, 4WD-only Maze district; or on multi-day, high-adventure trips on the Colorado River through Cataract Canyon.
Distance from Moab
Island in the Sky: 32 miles (51.5 km)
The Needles: 74 miles (119 km)
The Maze: 162 miles (260 km)
Park Hours
Open year-round, 24 hours a day.
Entrance Fee
$30/vehicle (good for 7 days), or use your America the Beautiful pass
More information
nps.gov/cany
Canyonlands National Park Itinerary
HALF-DAY
Drive the park’s main road, stopping at short hikes and overlooks like Mesa Arch, Grand View Point Overlook, and Shafer Trail Viewpoint.
FULL-DAY
Start with a scenic drive to get your bearings, then add the trails you’ll need a little more time to hike, like Aztec Butte, Whale Rock, and the White Rim Overlook Trail. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at your favorite viewpoint.
MULTIPLE DAYS
Orient yourself with the full-day itinerary above, then spend another day completing the iconic Shafer Trail with a local guide company (you can take your own vehicle if you’ve got high clearance 4WD, and the driving skills to match). If you’d really like to immerse yourself, consider a multi-day river trip on Cataract Canyon or multi-day mountain biking trip on the White Rim.
PAIR IT WITH
Atop the same mesa is Dead Horse Point State Park. Rent e-bikes (either in town or in the park, depending on the season) to explore most of the park’s trails.
Green River Overlook
The Green River meanders beneath the Island in the Sky, as seen from the Green River Overlook. A paved walkway leads right up to the overlook.
Mesa Arch
A great hike for families with small children, the .5 mi (.8 km) round trip hike to Mesa Arch rewards visitors with a naturally framed view of canyon country.
Shafer Trail
The Shafer Trail descends from the Island in the Sky to the White Rim. A high clearance vehicle is strongly recommended. For current conditions check at the visitor center or call 435-259-4351.
Cataract Canyon
Located in Canyonlands National Park, Cataract Canyon contains fourteen miles of rapids ranging in difficulty up to Class V.
Spring Wildflowers
Indian Paintbrush are just one of the many wildflowers that populate the Island in the Sky in the Spring (April-June).
Night Sky
Canyonlands National Park, which contains some of the darkest night skies in North America, is a popular destination for stargazers. Click here for the latest sunrise/sunset and moon phase information for Moab.
Biking
Canyonlands is famous for its mountain biking terrain, particularly for the 100-mile White Rim Road at the Island in the Sky. The Maze also offers some multi-day trip possibilities, though the logistics and roads are more difficult (for the support vehicles, not the bikes).
The Rivers
The Colorado and Green rivers wind through the heart of Canyonlands, cutting through layered sandstone to form two deep canyons. Both rivers are calm upstream of the Confluence, ideal for canoes, kayaks and other shallow water craft. Below the Confluence, the combined flow of both rivers spills down Cataract Canyon with remarkable speed and power, creating a world-class stretch of white water.
The desert is alive! And you can protect it.
The crusty sand you see next to the trail is actually alive! It’s “biocrust”, a living skin of microorganisms like lichen and fungi that bind sand together and retain moisture. Those little guys are the reason why many of our plants can thrive in the desert.
Help protect the desert: this soil crust is exceptionally delicate, and can be crushed easily. Please stay on designated roads and trails while exploring in Moab.
Canyonlands National Park Recommended Hikes
Island in the Sky District
Biking
With hundreds of miles of four-wheel-drive roads, Canyonlands offers ideal terrain for multi-night bike trips. Most groups travel with vehicle support to haul water and gear since there are few reliable water sources along these roads. For the truly adventurous, self-supported trips with panniers and trailers are also possible. Bikes must remain on designated roads: there are no single-track trails in the park. Find our recommended gravel loop through Canyonlands here.
Things to Know
- Overnight Trips: You must have a permit for all overnight trips.
- Day Trips: You must have a permit for day trips on White Rim, Elephant Hill, Lavender Canyon, and Peekaboo/Horse Canyon roads.
Groups must camp in designated sites.
- Reservations for White Rim campsites are very competitive. You may have to make a reservation up to four months in advance.
Where Can I Ride My Bike?
You can ride a bicycle on any public roadway in the park. Some roads are better for cycling than others. Check at visitor centers for recommendations and road conditions.
Paved Roads
You can ride on paved roads at the Island in the Sky. You must must ride single file. There are no road shoulders or bike lanes; please be aware of passing vehicles.
Backcountry Roads
Canyonlands is famous for its mountain biking terrain, particularly for the 100-mile White Rim Road at Island in the Sky. The 100-mile White Rim Road loops around and below the Island in the Sky mesa top and provides expansive views of the surrounding area. Bicycle trips usually take three to four days. Overnight and day-use permits are required.
Photography
Canyonlands is a paradise for photographers. Under conditions of constantly changing light, the varicolored landscape provides limitless photographic opportunities. Often, the difference between an average photograph and an exceptional photograph is good lighting. Low sun angles at sunrise and sunset can add brilliant color to the rock. Scattered clouds can also add depth to an image and a passing storm can provide extremely dramatic lighting.
Nonprofit Park Partners
Canyonlands Natural History Association
Canyonlands Natural History Association (CNHA) is a nonprofit organization assisting the National Park Service in its educational, interpretive and scientific programs throughout southeast Utah. Known as a "cooperating association," CNHA’s goals include enhancing visitors’ understanding and appreciation of public lands by providing a selection of quality, educational materials for sale in many vistor centers. Twenty percent of these sales is returned to the National Park Service and other federal land management agencies.
CNHA operates the bookstore at Arches Visitor Center.
Friends of Arches and Canyonlands Parks
The Friends of Arches and Canyonlands Parks: Bates Wilson Legacy Fund provides direct support to Arches and Canyonlands national parks and Natural Bridges and Hovenweep national monuments in order to enhance existing projects in these spectacular areas, and to conserve the land and its cultural treasures for present and future generations to enjoy.
This mission honors the legendary work of Superintendent Bates Wilson, who came to Arches in 1949, inspiring and leading the effort that resulted in the establishment of Canyonlands National Park in 1964. The Friends Group offices are in the Rock House behind Arches Visitor Center, where Bates once lived with his family.
