A mind-boggling glimpse into layers upon layers of Earth’s planetary past, Canyonlands National Park is Utah’s largest – and least visited – national park, despite its proximity to the town of Moab.
Canyonlands’ meandering cliffsides are stacked with thousands of feet of tie-dye-colored rocks that reach so far down, their sheer vertical walls make it difficult to see their powerful aquatic creators: the serpentine Colorado and Green Rivers. Overlooks into this grand expanse are accompanied by even more natural wonders: curious needles of rock emerging from the desert floor and geological anomalies that scientists have yet to fully figure out, as well as beauty created by the human hand in the form of ancient structures and Native petroglyphs.
The Colorado and Green Rivers form a Y-shape that divides Canyonlands National Park into four separate districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze and the rivers themselves. The three land-based districts are inaccessible to one another from within the park, meaning that long drives are required to see each of them. Island in the Sky is the most visited district because of its proximity to Moab and the entrance to Arches National Park, both about 30 miles from the visitor center.
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Ready to explore Utah’s wild side? Here’s a first-timer’s guide for making the most of your visit to Canyonlands National Park.
Note that the National Park System has experienced staffing cuts in 2025, leading to fewer amenities and trail closures. Visitors should factor this into their travel plans and preparation.
When should I go to Canyonlands National Park?
Spring and fall are the best times to visit Canyonlands National Park, but these seasons are also the busiest – though that’s a relative term compared with the other Mighty 5 national parks in Utah. May is generally the busiest month at Canyonlands (particularly over Memorial Day weekend at the end of the month), followed by April and October.
Temperatures in this national park vary wildly – even as much as 40ºF in a single day. Canyonlands has few trees and little shade, so visiting in summer can be dangerously hot. During these arid months, the thermometer often rises past 100ºF by the afternoon, so it’s best to set off on hikes as early as you can. Winters are extreme in the opposite direction, and the temperature can plunge far below freezing. January is the least busy month at Canyonlands.
How much time should I spend at Canyonlands National Park?
At a push, Canyonlands’ Island in the Sky district can be seen in half a day, but it’s worth dedicating far more time to this awesome park. If you have only a day to spare, you could whizz through Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park from Moab, spending half a day at each.
Start at the Island in the Sky Visitor Center and weave your way along the mesa-top scenic drive, pausing at viewpoints along the way. Worthy stops include Shafer Canyon Overlook, where you can watch Jeeps crawl down the switchbacks of Shafer Trail; Mesa Arch Trail, an easy half-mile round-trip hike to a 27ft-long rock arch on a cliff edge; and the too-humbly-named Grand View Point, one of the Southwest’s most sweeping views, where the road ends.
If you want to visit the other districts of Canyonlands National Park, you’ll need more time. From Island in the Sky, it’s a two-hour drive south to The Needles through Moab – and that’s just enough time to arrive, not to explore. The Maze district is the most remote and requires a 4WD vehicle and self-sufficiency. Many travelers stay in this area for a minimum of three days. Rafting on the rivers is also a multi-day adventure, best arranged with adventure tour operators in Moab.
Is it easy to get to and around Canyonlands National Park?
Yes, it is easy to get to and around some parts of Canyonlands National Park – if you have a car. None of Canyonlands’ districts have public transportation or shuttle services.
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Island in the Sky district is easiest to reach because of its proximity to Moab – about 33 miles away – but you’ll need a high-clearance 4WD vehicle to explore off the paved roads.
The Needles district is also easy to reach, but it receives only half as many visitors as Island in the Sky because it’s further from the interstate – but still only about 75 miles from Moab – and there are fewer roadside attractions, though most are well worth the hike. The town of Monticello (which itself is 54 miles south of Moab), is about 45 miles from The Needles.
The Maze district is the most remote area of Canyonlands National Park – about 170 miles from Moab – and requires self-sufficiency, navigational know-how and a suitable 4WD high-clearance vehicle to explore. Capitol Reef National Park is a bit closer to The Maze at 125 miles away. Look for supplies and accommodations in Green River (110 miles north) and Hanksville (89 miles west) or stock up in bigger cities on the way in.
Top things to do at Canyonlands National Park
Take in the views at Island in the Sky
Standing on this 6000ft-high mesa that drops precipitously on all sides, you’ll comprehend distance in new ways and experience some of the most captivating vistas in the US. Island in the Sky has a few worthwhile hikes, including seeing Mesa Arch at sunrise, which makes it glow a fiery red. Upheaval Dome is a must for geology nerds; scientists still aren’t quite sure what caused this crater. For drivers with high-clearance 4WD vehicles, the scenic Shafer Trail and Potash Road make classic Canyonlands adventures. Nearby Dead Horse Point State Park, on the same highway that heads to the national park, is another spectacular place to survey the scene.
Hike into more awe-inspiring geology
The Needles district – named for the spires of orange and white sandstone that appear to grow from the desert – is so different from Island in the Sky that it’s hard to believe they’re part of the same national park. Get among these bizarre formations by hiking the Chesler Park Loop, an 11-mile route across grasslands, past towering red-and-white-striped pinnacles and through slot canyons, some only 2ft across.
Explore pictographs, artifacts, and potholes
If you don’t have time for a full-day hike, check out cowboy artifacts and historic Native pictographs on the Cave Spring Trail or see if you can spot tiny water organisms in the small, rain-filled pools on the Pothole Point Trail.
Head off road in The Maze
Exploring The Maze is all about getting off-grid, and rafting the Colorado and Green Rivers promises another beautiful perspective on the remote corners of Canyonlands National Park. Again, the National Park Service recommends only those who are experienced 4WD explorers and back-country hikers enter this section of the park.
My favorite thing to do at Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands boggles the mind with its unending vistas from Island in the Sky, but on my most recent trip to this national park, I wanted to feel closer to the canyons and understand more of this land’s Native history. Horseshoe Canyon is nicknamed the “Louvre of the Southwest” for its huge panels of pictographs painted many millennia ago, and it’s one of the most impressive collections of rock art in North America.
The highlight is the 200ft-long Great Gallery, where an astonishing 80 human figures were painted in brown, red and white on a huge rock wall between 2000 BCE and 500 CE, though they might be older. I gasped when I spotted the haunting 7ft-tall figure at the center of the scene, known as the Holy Ghost. This type of art is called Barrier Canyon style (the former name of Horseshoe Canyon), and the meaning of the figures isn’t fully known. Similarly styled clay sculptures found in the area date back more than 7000 years, meaning that this rock art could be twice as old as the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.
The Horseshoe Canyon hike – and the drive to get to the trailhead – aren’t for the faint of heart. Reaching the start of the hike requires driving for at least an hour on dirt roads that can be extremely rutted and washboarded. If the weather has been good (i.e., not rainy), you can usually make it in a standard sedan – I did it in a Nissan Altima – but find out about road conditions before you set off. My car wasn’t particularly pleased with the journey, and the undercarriage got a sand bath for several miles.
The Great Gallery lies at the end of a 7-mile round-trip hiking trail that descends 780ft from a dirt road, built by the Phillips Petroleum Company in 1929 to supply its oil wells. Plan on six hours. National park rangers lead guided hikes most weekends in April, May, September and October, but otherwise no park rangers are present on site. Check Canyonlands’ online park calendar for specifics.
Horseshoe Canyon is possible to visit as a long day trip from Moab, but it means spending at least five hours in the car to get there and back. The towns of Green River and Hanksville are closer to Horseshoe Canyon than Moab, but they are both still more than an hour’s drive.
How much money do I need for Canyonlands National Park?
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Standard Canyonlands National Park entrance pass: $30 per vehicle (valid for seven days)
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America the Beautiful pass: $80 (valid for a year at all national parks and federal recreation land across the country for one vehicle or four per-person entry fees)
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Island in the Sky campground: $15 per night
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The Needles campground: $20 per night
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Backcountry permits for all areas: $36 for the permit, plus $5 per person per night (permits are bookable online, are bought up far in advance in the busy spring and fall seasons)
Where’s the best place to stay near Canyonlands National Park?
If you don’t want to camp, you’ll find cozy places to stay in the gateway towns near the entrances to Canyonlands National Park. For the Island in the Sky district, stay in Moab, which has lots of hotels lining its main street. Field Station is a favorite spot in town for its motel-turned-minimalist-mod vibes and adventure ethos.
Staying in Green River slightly shortens the journey to Horseshoe Canyon. Skyfall Guestrooms offers just three waterside spots next to the town’s namesake river, and the interior decor is inspired by natural formations nearby: Goblin Valley, Book Cliffs and Crystal Geyser.