Moab, Utah » Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park preserves a colorful landscape of sedimentary sandstones eroded into countless canyons, mesas and buttes by the Colorado River and its tributaries. The Colorado and Green rivers divide the park into four districts: the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze and the rivers themselves. While the districts share a primitive desert atmosphere, each retains its own character and offers different opportunities for exploration and learning. |
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| » Tours in Canyonlands | » National Park Contact Information |
| » Hiking Trails in Canyonlands | » Canyonlands Photo Gallery |
| » Nature and Science | » National Park Contact Information |
| » History and Culture |
Tours in Canyonlands National Park
Because of the enormity of Canyonlands National Park,
a scenic flight over all 3 districts or a river trip through the heart
of Canyonlands is often the best and easiest way to see the park.
| National Park Tours » | |
|---|---|
Canyonlands Scenic FlightSee all 3 districts of Canyonlands National Park in just 1 hour! Soar over Dead Horse Point, the Confluence, and Angel Arch. (1 hour) |
Rates:Adult: $150Youth: $150 Book Now » |
Cataract Canyon - 2 Day ExpressDiscover areas of Canyonlands National Park that are accessible only by river. Experience the fun of some of the most exciting whitewater on the Colorado River. |
See rates & availability » |
Cataract Canyon - 4 DaysDiscover areas of Canyonlands National Park that are accessible only by river. Experience the fun of some of the most exciting whitewater on the Colorado River. |
See rates & availability » |
Cataract River & RanchTour the La Sal Mountains, explore Canyonlands National Park through Cataract Canyon and stay at luxurious Sorrel River Ranch. |
See rates & availability » |
Hiking Trails in Canyonlands National Park
Utah's
largest park, Canyonlands National Park provides ample hiking opportunities.
From sheer cliffs in The Island in the Sky district to Elephant Hill,
hikers may enjoy the beautiful sandstone landscape of Utah throughout
the park's hiking trails. But a word of warning, the three districts of
Canyonlands are very large within themselves and do not have connecting
roads. Therefore, hiking trails in all three districts within a short
amount of time is impossible. Island District
| TRAILS | MILES/KM | AVG TIME | DIFFICULTY | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aztec Butte Trail | 2 mi/ 3 km | 1.5 hours | Easy | Slickrock view/Ancestral granary |
| Grand View Point | 2 mi/ 3 km | 1 hour | Easy | Panoramic View |
| Mesa Arch | .5 mi/ 8 km | 30 min | Easy | Arch, Sunrise hike |
| Murphy Loop | 1.3 mi/ 1.9 km | 1 hour | Easy | Panoramic View |
| White Rim Overlook | 1.5 mi/ 3 km | 1 hour | Easy | View of White Rim Formations |
| Gooseneck | 1 mi/ 1.5 km | 30 min | Easy | View of Taylor Canyon |
| Moses and Zeus | 1 mi/ 1.5 km | 1 hour | Easy | View of Taylor Canyon |
| Upheaval Dome Overlook | 1 mi/ 1.5km | 30 min | Moderate | Crater, Upheaval Canyon |
| Upheaval Dome Second Overlook | 2 mi/ 3 km | 45 min | Moderate | Upheaval dome area |
| Whale Rock Trail | 1 mi/ 1.5 km | 1 hour | Moderate | Upheaval dome area |
| Neck Spring | 5 mi/ 8 km | 3-4 hours | Moderate | Springs |
| Fort Bottom Ruin | 4 mi/4 km | 2 hours | Moderate | Tower ruin of ancient times |
| Lathrop Canyon to Colorado River | 17 mi/ 27 km | Overnight | Strenuous | River Access, Cottonwoods |
| Lathrop Canyon to White Rim Road | 10 mi/ 16 km | 5-7 hours | Strenuous | View of Colorado River and La Sal Mountains |
| Syncline Loop | 8 mi/ 13 km | 5-7 hours | Strenuous | Mesa |
| Syncline Loop Upheaval Canyon | 3 mi/ 4 km | 2 hours | Strenuous | Scenic |
| Syncline Loop Upheaval Crater | 6 mi/ 10 km | 2-3 hours | Strenuous | Scenic |
| Murphy Loop | 9 mi/14 km | 5-7 hours | Strenuous | View of White Rim formations |
| Taylor Canyon | 20 mi/32 km | Overnight | Strenuous | Scenic |
| Gooseberry | 6 mi/ 10 km | 4-6 hours | Strenuous | View of cliffs and La Sal Mountains |
| Alcove Spring | 10 mi/ 16 km | 6-7 hours | Strenuous | View of Taylor Canyon |
Needles District
| TRAILS | MILES/KM | AVG TIME | DIFFICULTY | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roadside Ruin | .3 mi/ .5km | 20 min | Easy | Puebloan granary |
| Cave Spring | .6 mi/ 1km | 45 min | Easy | Historic cowboy camp, pictographs |
| Pothole Point | .6 mi/ 1km | 45 min | Easy | Slickrock, panoramic view |
| Elephant Hill Chesler Viewpoint | 6 mi/10km | 3-4 hours | Moderate | Scenic overlook, sandstone spires |
| Elephant Hill Chesler Loop | 11 mi/18 km | 5+ hours | Strenuous | Needles formations |
| Confluence Overlook | 11 mi/18 km | 5-7 hours | Strenuous | Overlooking Colorado and Green Rivers |
| Druid Arch | 11 mi/18 km | 5+ hours | Strenuous | Arch |
| Big Spring-Squaw | 7.5 mi/12 km | 3-4 hours | Moderate | Routes between canyons |
| Big Spring-Elephant | 10.8 mi/ 17km | 4-6 hours | Strenuous | Slickrock, mesa, rock formations |
| Squaw-Lost | 8.7 mi/ 14km | 4-6 hours | Moderate | Scenic, plentiful wildlife |
| Peekaboo | 10 mi/ 16.5km | 5-6 hours | Strenuous | Scenic views, petroglyphs |
| Lower Lake Red Canyon | 18.8 mi/ 30km | Overnight | Strenuous | Elephant Hill, Colorado River |
| Salt Creek Canyon | 45 mi/ 68km | Overnight | Strenuous | Cathedral Butte, arches |
| Slickrock Trail | 2.4 mi/ 4 km | 2-3 hours | Easy | Slickrock, panoramic view |
Nature & Science
Canyonlands National Park preserves one of the last, relatively undisturbed areas of the Colorado Plateau, a geological province that encompasses much of the Colorado River and its tributaries. Carved out of vast sedimentary rock deposits, this landscape of canyons, mesas, and deep river gorges possesses remarkable natural features that are part of a unique desert ecosystem.The foundation of Canyonlands' ecology is its remarkable geology, which is visible everywhere in cliff profiles that reveal millions of years of deposition and erosion. These rock layers continue to shape life in Canyonlands today, as their erosion influences elemental features like soil chemistry and where water flows when it rains.
Known as a "high desert," with elevations ranging from 3,700 to 7,200 feet above sea level, Canyonlands experiences very hot summers, cold winters and less than ten inches of rain each year. Even on a daily basis, temperatures may fluctuate as much as 50 degrees.
The plants and animals in Canyonlands have many adaptations that enable them to survive these conditions. Some species are found only in this area. The diversity of organisms reflects the variety of available habitat, which includes lush riparian areas, swift rivers, ephemeral pools, dry arroyos, mixed grasslands and large expanses of bare rock.
History & Culture
People have visited what is now Canyonlands National Park for over 10,000 years. Over time, many different groups have moved in and out of the area in concert with the availability of natural resources and the technology for exploiting those resources.
Preserve Your Heritage
Cultural sites and artifacts are irreplaceable. Please observe the following guidelines when visiting sites in Canyonlands and other National Parks.View sites from a distance. Ancient walls crumble easily. Never enter structures or human-made enclosures as your movements may damage the foundation or other structural elements.
Leave things where they lie. Resist the temptation to collect artifacts and allow future visitors the joy of discovery. Also, archeologists can determine a great deal from the presence and location of artifacts.
Enjoy rock art with your eyes only. Pictographs
and petroglyphs should not be touched as the oils in human skin will
destroy them. Never spoil cultural sites or natural features with modern
graffiti.
Contact Information
| Island in the Sky Visitor Info 8:00am–4:30pm Daily Closed Christmas Day |
Needles Visitor Center 8:00am–4:30pm Daily Closed Christmas Day |
Maze Ranger Station 8:00am–4:30pm Daily Closed Christmas Day |
Information on Canyonlands National Park courtesy of the National Park Service.
