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Canyonlands National Park Description
Area: 527sq.mi/1,366sq.km.

Established: 1964

The National Park is open throughout the year. It is best, however, to avoid the hot summer and visit it in spring or autumn.

Situation and topography

The Canyonlands National Park lies in the dry, hot and relatively remote southeast of Utah. The Colorado River and its tributary the Green River have in the course of some 300 million years carved out of the sandstone of the Colorado Plateau a basin some 45mi/70km across and 2000ft/600m deep with fantastic rock formations, narrow gorges and rugged cliffs.

Rock drawings discovered by archaeologists (e.g. in the Great Gallery in Horseshoe Canyon, All American Man in the southern part of the National Park) show
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Hobbies & Activities category: National park;  Hiking opportunity
Canyonlands National Park Highlights

Island in the Sky

The plateau to the north of Canyonlands National Park, dissected by numerous streams, is known as the Island in the Sky.

There are a number of overlooks some more than 1,000 ft/305m that are
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Grandview Overlook

From Grandview Point (6,650ft/1,860m) there are spectacular panoramic views.

The easy 2.0mi/3.2km trail to the overlook is one of the most popular hikes in the Canyonlands National Park. The trail is well maintained and gains only 170ft/51.8m.

Island in the Sky Visitor Center

The Island in the Sky Visitor Center in Canyonlands National Park is open year-round. It is located at the north entrance to the park and has information for visitors and displays of park history.

Mesa Arch Loop Trail

The Mesa Arch Loop Trail is located in the eastern part of the Island in the Sky in Canyonlands National Park. The easy 0.5mi/0.8km hike provides a beautiful view of the La Sal Mountains.

Neck Spring Loop Trail

The 5mi/8km Neck Spring Loop Trail in Canyonlands National Park begins near the Island in the Sky Visitor Center and has great views of the area. The moderately difficult route passes some old cattle ranching ruins.

Upheaval Dome

Upheaval Dome is 1,500ft/457m deep and believed to be either a collapsed salt dome or an impact crater from a meteorite. There are excellent views from the Upheaval Dome Overlook Trail which is an
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White Rim Road

Island in the Sky is bounded by the White Rim (up to 4,800ft/1,460m), which falls down almost 1,000ft/300m to the valleys of the Green River (Stillwater Canyon) and the Colorado River. There is a
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Needles District

To the is the Needles District, south of the junction of the Green and Colorado Rivers with a profusion of rock pinnacles, buttresses and battlements.

The Needles is the most developed area of the
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Angel Arch Backcountry Trail

The Angel Arch Backcountry Trail is an easy 1.2-mile hike to one of the best-known features of Canyonlands National Park. The Angel Arch is 150 feet high and is located in a side canyon in the southeast corner of the park.

Cave Spring

The Cave Spring Trail in Canyonlands National Park begins near the Needles District Visitor Center. It is an easy 0.6mi/1.0km route past interesting vegetation and cattle-ranching ruins. It shows
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Chesler Park Trail

The 3.0mi/4.8km Chesler Park Trail in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park begins at the Elephant Hill Trailhead. The moderately strenuous route takes about 3-4 hours to complete, and leads to a grassy 960-acre meadow.

Confluence Overlook

As does the Maze District, the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park has a trail leading to a view of the place where the Green and Colorado Rivers converge. The moderately difficult route is 5.5mi/8.9km long.

Druid Arch Trail

The Druid Arch Trail is one of the most popular and best day hikes in Canyonlands National Park. The moderately strenuous 5.4mi/8.7km route begins at the Elephant Hill Trailhead and leads to the Druid Arch, often referred to as Utah's Stonehenge.

Lower Red Lake

The Lower Red Lake Trail is a difficult overnight hike in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. The route is 9.4mi/15km long, with an elevation change of 1,400ft/427m, and begins at the Elephant Hill Trailhead.

Needles Visitor Center

Like the Island in the Sky, the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park has a Visitor Center that is open all year and features exhibits and information on the park.

Pothole Point Trail

The Pothole Point Trail in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park is an easy 0.5mi/0.8km walk over the slickrock, where various potholes have formed. The rock was formed by sand that was deposited by wind and the ocean.

Slickrock Foot Trail

The Slickrock Foot Trail begins near the Needles Visitor Center in the Canyonlands National Park. The easy round trip route is 3mi/5km long and provides panoramic views with little elevation gain. It is a great hike for families with young children.

The Maze

To the west of the Green and Colorado Rivers is the Maze, a landscape of rock faces banded red and yellow, gorges, fissures and spurs of rock.

The Maze is in the most remote part of Canyonlands
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Colorado and Green River Overlook Trail

The Colorado and Green River Overlook Trail in the Maze in Canyonlands National Park leads to a view of the confluence of the park's two major rivers. The total hiking distance is 8.9mi/14.3km.

Horseshoe Canyon

Horseshoe Canyon has major Native American rock art that dates back 2000 years. The Great Gallery features excellent large figures with delicate designs. The 6.5mi/10.5km round trip hike can take a full day.

North Trail Canyon

There are excellent views of the Maze from North Trail Canyon which is a full day hike of 12mi/19m. Hikers with transportation can also hike 6mi/9km one way.

Spanish Bottom Trail

The Spanish Bottoms Trail is a steep 2.8mi/4.5km round trip hike that descends to the banks of the Colorado River above the Cataract Canyon.
Address
Canyonlands National Park
2282 Southwest Resource Boulevard
Moab, UT 84532-8000
United States
Map Canyonlands National Park
Phone 1 (435) 719-2100
Fax 1 (435) 719-2300
http://www.nps.gov/cany
Cost
Adult$5.00
Vehicle plus all occupants$10.00
Tips
Entrance permits are good for seven days.
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