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MOAB, UTAH

Canyonlands Scenic Drive

Canyonlands National Park, Utah: vast canyon formations with a winding river from an aerial perspective.

What is the Best Way to Explore Canyonlands?

Driving along paved roads is how most National Parks are accessed, and Canyonland's Island in the Sky district is the closest and most convenient to Moab, offering a paved, 34-mile scenic drive with panoramic overlooks of the Colorado and Green Rivers. Most visitors start from Moab, stopping at famous viewpoints like Mesa Arch, Green River Overlook, and Grand View Point. Allow 2–3 hours for sightseeing and photos. However, due to the vast size of the park, driving paved roads only gets you to a tiny fraction of the park. One hour Air Tours afford an extraordinary overview of Canyonlands, and many visitors combine this with the ultimate way to explore the heart of Canyonlands National Park, which is by river.

Driving Canyonlands in One Day: Island in the Sky District

  • Start: 11.2 miles north of downtown Moab – turn left onto UT-313 towards Island in the Sky and Dead Horse Point.
  • End: Grand View Point, Canyonlands National Park, about 23.6 mi from US-191; pavement ends here.
  • Distance: ~60 mi round-trip.
  • Time: 2–3 hours with brief stops at overlooks and points of interest.
  • Road Type: Smooth two-lane pavement, short graded dirt at the end. Restrooms available in National Park.
  • Highlights: Shafer Canyon Trail, Mesa Arch, Green River Overlook, Upheaval Dome and Grand View Point.
  • Best Light: Early morning or late afternoon
  • Route Map: View Route in Google Maps

Getting There

The turn off from U.S. Highway 191 to Utah Highway 313 is 14 minutes north of town where the Moab Giants Dinosaur Museum is located.

  1. Head north on US-191 out of Moab.
  2. Turn left onto UT-313 where you will see signs for Canyonlands Island in the Sky, Dead Horse Point and Moab Giants Museum.
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Top Stops Along Island in the Sky Scenic Drive

A Tyrannosaurus Rex statue with mouth open in a desert scene at sunset.

Mile 11 - Moab Giants Museum

Along the drive from Moab toward Canyonlands National Park, Moab Giants Dinosaur Park & Museum makes a perfect prehistoric pit stop. This open-air museum brings the Jurassic world to life with life-size dinosaur replicas set against real red-rock cliffs, interactive exhibits, a 3-D theater, and walking trails where ancient tracks were discovered—fun for kids and fossil-fans alike.

Red rock formations in a desert landscape with scrub vegetation under a clear blue sky.

Mile 15.5 - Monitor and Merrimac Buttes Overlook

Just off Highway 313 on the way to Canyonlands, the Monitor and Merrimac Buttes Overlook offers a quick pullout with big rewards. These twin sandstone mesas—named after Civil War ironclad ships—rise from the desert like fortress walls. In morning or late afternoon light, their golden cliffs glow brilliantly, framing a classic Moab panorama that’s easy to access yet impossible to forget.

Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah: Sunset illuminates red rock canyon and winding green river.

Mile 25.6 - Turnoff to Dead Horse Point State Park Overlook

About 25 miles from Moab, a well-marked junction on Highway 313 points the way to Dead Horse Point State Park. Just a short detour from the road to Canyonlands, this State Park overlook offers one of the most iconic views in the Southwest—where the Colorado River winds in emerald loops 2,000 feet below. It’s a must-stop for sunset photos and sweeping canyon vistas.

Island in the Sky Visitor Center at Canyonlands National Park, brown building with sign and windows.

Mile 32.4 - Park Visitor Center

Perched near the park entrance, the Island in the Sky Visitor Center is the perfect first stop before your scenic drive through Canyonlands. Rangers here share current conditions, maps, and insider tips on the best overlooks and short hikes. Step outside to a viewpoint that previews the vast canyons below—an awe-inspiring glimpse of the adventure ahead.

Winding dirt road descends into a desert canyon with red rock formations and sparse vegetation; sunny day.

Mile 33.3 - Shafer Canyon Overlook

The first major stop along the Island in the Sky Scenic Drive, Shafer Canyon Overlook delivers a jaw-dropping introduction to Canyonlands. From this rim-top viewpoint, you can peer straight down into the maze of switchbacks carved by the old Shafer Trail—once a cattle route, now a daring 4WD road. It’s the perfect place to grasp just how deep Canyonlands really goes.

Sunset through Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park. Orange and gold light illuminates the rock arch and distant canyons.

Mile 38.5 - Mesa Arch Trailhead

A short, easy loop hike from the main road leads to Mesa Arch, one of Utah’s most photographed landmarks. Perched dramatically on the canyon’s edge, the arch frames a sweeping view of the La Sal Mountains and Buck Canyon far below. At sunrise, the underside of the arch glows fiery orange—a breathtaking sight that defines the magic of Canyonlands.

Red rock canyons and mesas stretch to the horizon; a river winds through the landscape.

Mile 38.7 - Turnoff to Green River Overlook

A quick spur road off the main scenic drive leads to the Green River Overlook, one of the most expansive views in Canyonlands National Park. From this rim perch, the Green River winds through layered canyons carved over millions of years. It’s an ideal stop near midday, when sunlight reveals the incredible depth, color, and vast scale of the park’s landscape.

Panoramic view of canyonlands under a cloudy sky. The terrain is reddish-brown, lit by sunlight.

Mile 44.5 - Grand View Point

At the end of the Island in the Sky Scenic Drive, Grand View Point lives up to its name. From this broad overlook, the landscape seems to stretch forever—canyons within canyons, the Colorado and Green Rivers converging far below. A short trail follows the rim for even wider panoramas, making this the perfect finale to your Canyonlands adventure.

Canyonlands National Park Entrances: Where Paved Roads Meet Wild Spaces

Canyonlands National Park stretches across 337,000 acres of wild mesas, sculpted canyons, and converging rivers. With distances so vast, most visitors choose just one district to explore in a day — and each one feels like a different world. From Moab, the Island in the Sky District is the closest, most accessible, and the perfect first glimpse into the park’s grandeur, just 45 minutes from downtown along Highway 191 and UT-313. You can expect restrooms, a visitor center, and designated campgrounds and trailheads.


The Needles District, further from Moab and to the south offers a wilder, more intimate side of Canyonlands - but with the conveniences you expect in a National Park like restrooms, campgrounds and a even a second visitor center. Use the map to see how each district connects - and how far apart they truly are, separated by river and erosion.

Map of Canyonlands National Park showing major landmarks with roads and entrances.
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Districts of Canyonlands National Park

Sunrise through Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park, Utah. Orange rock formations, hazy light.

Island in the Sky District: The Closest and Most Iconic Drive from Moab

Just 32 miles (about 45 minutes) from Moab, Island in the Sky rises over 1,000 feet above the surrounding landscape, offering panoramic views that seem to stretch forever. The 34-mile round-trip scenic drive links together epic overlooks like Mesa Arch, Green River Overlook, and Grand View Point. It’s fully paved, perfect for standard vehicles, and the best way to see Canyonlands in just a few hours.

Canyonlands National Park: Brown sandstone rock formation with an arch against a blue sky with white clouds.

Needles District — Towers, Trails, and Time-Polished Stone

Venture south and you’ll find a maze of colorful sandstone spires that give this district its name. The Needles area invites exploration — short hikes, ancient rock art, and rugged 4x4 roads and hiking trails that lead deep into the wilderness. The scenic drive extends 6.5 miles beyond the visitor center and ends at Big Spring Canyon Overlook, with several viewpoints and picnic stops along the way.

Island in the Sky reflects on the Colorado River from a rafting trip view.

The River District: The Heart of Canyonlands

If Island in the Sky shows you Canyonlands from above, the rivers let you live it from within. The Colorado and Green Rivers carve through the park’s heart, offering serene flatwater floats and the legendary whitewater of Cataract Canyon. Wildlife, hidden beaches, and ancient rock layers line this remote stretch—best explored on a guided rafting expedition. Scenic flights over Canyonlands are part of the Cataract 4-Day Adventure.

Canyonlands National Park at sunset in the Doll's House in the Maze District.

The Maze District: Solitude at the Edge of Civilization

The Maze remains one of the most remote and challenging regions in the National Park system. Its labyrinthine canyons and towering buttes attract only the most prepared explorers. Multi-day 4x4 travel and complete self-sufficiency are required—but for those who go, it’s a true wilderness pilgrimage.

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Tours in Canyonlands National Park

A group of people are in a raft that says expeditions on it

2-Day Cataract Canyon & Canyonlands National Park

An epic, fast-paced, 2-day journey through Canyonlands National Park with roaring rapids, deep wilderness & star-filled nights on the Colorado River.

  • Duration: 2 Days
  • Departures: M, W, F
  • Season: May - Jul

ADULTS 16+

$995

YOUTH 12-15

$995
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A group of people in life jackets are rafting down a river

4-Day Cataract Canyon & Canyonlands National Park

Journey 100 miles through remote red rock canyons with roaring whitewater & star-filled nights on this all-inclusive expedition from Moab to Lake Powell.

  • Duration: 4 Days
  • Departures: Tue-Fri
  • Season: May - Sep

ADULTS 16+

$2,050

YOUTH 10-15

$1,500
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A man in a yellow shirt is sitting in the cockpit of an airplane

Canyonlands National Park Air Tour

Fly deep into the wild: Remote arches, endless canyons, and stunning views you can’t reach by road—all in just one epic hour from takeoff to landing.

  • Duration: ~1 hr
  • Departures: 9:00 AM
  • Season: Year Round

ADULTS 13+

$307

YOUTH 3-12

$307
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