There is something about Canyonlands National park that draws you into a place of relaxation. I’m not talking about the crazy hiking trails, or the extreme heat. It’s the endless views of canyons, wrapping rivers and the silence. Yes, you will find crowds here but most people are so struck by the amazing scenery, everyone is left speechless. Only have a day to visit? Here is not what to miss in Canyonlands National Park.
Canyonlands National Park location and entrance
Canyonlands National Park is located near Moab, Utah about 30 minutes away. From Salt Lake City Utah it’s about a 4 hour drive. It has home to hundreds of miles of trails. To get here you will need to the 191 to the 211 or 313. To get in you will need to buy a day pass, a week pass or the National Park Annual pass
- Private vehicle – 30.00 non commercial up to 15 people, admits all people.
- Motorcycle – 25.00 private, non-commercial, all occupants.
- Per person – 15.00 this is for those coming on foot, hikers and bicycles
If you are planning to do more than one National Park I would suggest getting the annual pass for 80.00. This can be bought online or at your first park. We purchased one at Zion National Park for our road trip and saved over 100.00 that week.
Where to stay
Moab is the closet town to Canyonlands National Park. From there the park is only 35 minutes away. We stayed at the River Canyon Lodge and it was really nice. The pool was refreshing after a hot day in the sun. The coffee was delicious and rooms were comfy. The front desk staff were so friendly and accommodating. I would put this hotel at an average rate for the night. If you are looking for camping there are lots in Moab.
What to bring
Water and snacks. Water is a must, no matter how short your hike is. You are at high elevations and the air is very dry. Be sure to bring a lot of water or a hydration pack. Sunscreen and a hat are a must as well, you will be in the sun a lot. Snacks are a great item as well. You will be burning those calories so bring some pepperoni sticks and some energy bars. If you are planning to be here for the day bring lunch with you. Proper foot wear is a must if you are planning to do any trails. Toilet paper and hand sanitizer is also a must. The restrooms are clean but they can run out of those things so best to bring your own. Don’t forget your camera to capture those amazing views!
Places to visit
To drive around the whole park would take you about 2 days, maybe even 3. Canyonlands National Park is divided into 4 sections by the Colorado River, Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the rivers themselves. If you don’t have that much time on your visit, here are the top places to see in 1 day. We went to the Island in the Sky district. There are so many places to stop and check out the scenery.
Mesa Arch
Probably one of the most popular places to visit in Canyonlands National Park is Mesa Arch. This is a bucket list spot for photographers during sunrise. People will arrive to Mesa Arch hours before sun peaks her head, just to get that perfect signature lens flare. Even if you don’t have that thousand dollar camera Mesa Arch is still a beauty to catch with your phone camera. Please be respectful of the photographers around you.
Mesa Arch trail is 0.6 mile round trip loop. From the top you can see for miles overlooking white rim. The small hike is considered easy but the ground is uneven in areas and a little steep for those with walking issues. It is also a place to keep a close eye on your kids, the drop down from the arch is steep and long.
It is a busy trail and there will be crowds no matter the time of day so if you want to capture a really nice shot you will need to have patience. Another reason to be here at sunrise, you will get to all the other places earlier than everyone else. To the left of the arch you will find a path to take you above the arch. The view from here is stunning. Please do not stand on Mesa Arch
Don’t forget to check out Arches National Park
Grand View Point Overlook
Grand View Point Overlook in Canyonlands National Park is the last stop and definitely recommend coming here. The views are spectacular from each area here. We park on the east side of the lot along the road and took a small dirt path away from the normal viewing areas. Here you will get full view of the White Rim.
After you leave Mesa Arch in the morning hours, I would suggest have this as your next stop. Head straight to the end and you can work your way back through the park. Here you will find White Rim Overlook trail that is 0.9 round trip in and out trail.
White Rim Overlook
Not far from Grand View Point Overlook you will come to White Rim Overlook. Here you will find 2 small hiking trails. White Rim Trail at 0.9 miles and Gooseberry Trail at 2.3 miles. This has another stunning view over what looks like a massive crack in the earth. There are washrooms here as well as a picnic area.
Buck Canyon Overlook
Another great place to pull over and have a gander at is the Buck Canyon Overlook. There are no restrooms here but has some really nice views
Shafer Trail Viewpoint
This stop was one of my favorites in Canyonlands National Park. The viewpoint has you on a small uneven trail so you should walk with caution. From here you will find fantastic views on Shafer Canyon. The dirt road below is a great adventure if you have the vehicle for it. We had a small rental car and I wouldn’t take it on these as I didn’t trust the car to make it. If I did however have a 4×4 I would have.
Once you make your way down to the right is the off road trail curving its way up the cliffs. We did see a jeep having some difficulties making its way up which is why I didn’t risk our little car.
This area is a very well known area of the park. A long time ago Natives used this area to travel from the Colorado River to Mesa. It was the area for mining, which is where these roads came from. Then in 1964 it became Canyonlands National Park and there was no more ranching or mining.
The view points here are spectacular. To the left you can sit down on a small rock and watch the cars, jeeps and trucks make their way up the trail road.
Maybe you are looking for that perfect spot for that Instagram shot. Well here you will find that! If you have nerves of steel, which I did not, at the point you will find a skinny trail wrapping to the left of the cliff. The view is beautiful and the amazing shot you will get from here is worth it. Thanks to my girl Jodi I was able to capture that moment.
Dead Horse Point
Now you can get to this point inside the park. However, that crazy dirt road I just talked to you about, well that’s the road. You will see the Dead Horse Point Overlook but from a different view, the other side of it. You do not need to take that road to see it but you will have to leave the park and enter another park (pay admission, totally worth it). See below for more info on Dead Horse Point.
More trails and places to check out
So those are the places we went to in a half day. There are so many others to see and cannot wait to go back to check them out
The needles district
- Pothole Point
- Elephant Hill
- Wooden Shoe Arch Overlook
- Roadside Ruin
- Druid Arch – which looks like an opening for time travel
The Maze distract is completely remote and you will need an off road 4×4 vehicle for this area. Trust me, when I get back here it will not be with some little car, I will venture to this area.
Before you leave
There is one more spot I mentioned before, Dead Horse Point Overlook. As I said, you can get here from inside the park down a dirt road or you can leave Canyonlands National Park and head to Dead Horse Point State Park. There is a 10.00 entrance fee and this is not part of the National Park Pass. It is however worth every dollar.
How it got its name is still not completely clear. I have seen articles that it got the name because cowboys back in the day would wrangle wild horses here to the point and one day they left them with no water and they died. Too sad for me to think about.
Now there’s no one doing that here and the views are so pretty. Looking down thousands of feet to the Colorado River as it wraps its way through the canyons.
There are a couple trails you can take while here. The short path to the point is paved and has a really nice shelter to keep you out of the sun. You can go left or right, I would suggest both as there are amazing views all around.
And there are more than a few Instagram worthy spots here as well. Either way, before you leave this area be sure to stop here and see the panoramic views.
Final thoughts
I cannot wait to come back here. One day is really not enough to explore here. Next time I will come for at least 3 days to check out all sections. The park is family friendly, has fantastic views and is worth the trip, even if it’s just for a day.
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