All About Canyonlands National Park in Utah
Canyonlands National Park, in Southern Utah, is over 500 square miles of canyons and buttes carved by the Colorado River.
Two main rivers run through Canyonlands National Park which helped form the colorful canyons in the park. Visitors have the option to raft or kayak in the Green River or the Colorado Rivers cold clear waters.
Canyonlands National Park is divided into three districts: the Island in the Sky District, the Needles District, and the Maze District with the rivers dividing the space.
What to do at Canyonlands National Park
The Best Trails and Best Hikes at Canyonlands
Islands in the Sky
- Mesa Arch
- Upheaval Dome
- Grand View Point
- Whale Rock
- Murphy Point
- White Rim Overlook
Needles
- Porthole Point
- Cave Spring
- Slickrock
- Big Spring Canyon
- Peekaboo
- Stone Storehouse
Maze
- Horseshoe Canyon
- Maze Overlook
Things to do at Canyonlands National Park
- Take a guided walk through Horseshoe Canyon in the Maze District.
- Stargaze in the International Dark Sky Park.
- Raft or float down one of the rivers in the park.
What to see at Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands Visitor Centers
Islands in the Sky Visitor Center
Island in the Sky Visitor Center is open year-round. The only time it closes is if the roads are impassable due to snow and ice. At the visitor center, you can talk with the park rangers, get a Junior Ranger book, visit the bookstore, get a Passport Book stamp, acquire backcountry permits, and watch the park orientation video.
Passport Book Stamp Location
Needles Visitor Center
The Needles Visitor Center is open daily from spring through fall but the hours vary based on the season. The visitor center in Needles offers the same things as the Island in the Sky Center.
Passport Book Stamp Location
Hans Flat Ranger Station
In the Maze District, there isn’t a formal visitor center but you’ll find the Hans Flat Ranger Station. It’s open daily from 8AM to 3PM. There are rangers available for emergencies and a small area with books and maps. You won’t find any other services, food, gas, or water in the area so prepare ahead of time.
Passport Book Stamp Location
National Park Passport Book Stamp Locations
- Canyonlands Backcountry Office (at the park administration building in Moab)
- Hans Flat Ranger Station (The Mazes section)
- Island in the Sky Visitor Center
- The Needles Visitor Center
Mesa Arch
Winding roads through the canyon
Island in the Sky section
Canyonlands National Park Basics
2282 SW Resource Blvd.
Moab, UT 84532
$30 per vehicle
Valid for 7 days
Mountain
September 12, 1964
Location, Phone Number, and Address
The park is in Southeastern Utah near the city of Moab, Utah.
You can reach the park by phone at 435-719-2313.
What are the Entrance Fees for Canyonlands?
When visiting Canyonlands, three options determine your entrance fee.
A Standard Pass is perfect for those visiting Canyonlands for less than a week. A private vehicle is $30, a motorcycle is $25, and a pedestrian walking or biking into the park is $15. These passes are good for 7 days from the date of purchase.
If you live near Canyonlands, you can purchase an annual pass to the park for $55. Otherwise, for those going to other parks, such as nearby Arches National Park, you can purchase the America the Beautiful annual national park pass.
Current as of July 2024
What Time Zone is Canyonlands National Park in?
The park is in the Mountain Time Zone.
When is the Best Time to Visit?
Due to the high temperatures in the summer months and the low temperatures in the winter months, the best time to visit is in the spring and fall. Ideally, the months of April, May, September, October, and November are the best months for the park.
When did Canyonlands become a National Park?
Canyonlands National Park joined the National Park Service on September 12, 1964. It was established by President Lyndon B. Johnson after several years of debate regarding the area.
How Big is Canyonlands National Park?
Canyonlands is the largest National Park in the state of Utah. The park encompasses 337,598 acres which is about 527 square miles of the Colorado Plateau with a primitive desert atmosphere.
Park Website
Always check the official park site for the most up-to-date information, hours, prices, and conditions.
Travel Tips for Canyonlands National Park
Driving Through Canyonlands?
Visiting Canyonlands requires your own vehicle as there are no connections between the three districts within the park.
Within each section, the amount of roadways varies, along with the condition of each road.
Make sure to research the roads in Canyonlands before visiting the park.
Where are the National Park Entrances?
Island in the Sky
The Island in the Sky is the most accessible area within the park and sees over 75% of the park visitors. This is accessed through the north side of the park via UT 313.
The Needles
Needles District receives about 20% of the visitors to the park. You can get to this area from the east via UT 211.
The Maze
Maze District is only accessible via a gravel and dirt road. Only about 1.5% of visitors come in through this park entrance because you need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to get through.
What is the Nearest City to Canyonlands?
Moab, Utah, is just outside the Islands of the Sky district. Monticello, Utah, is the nearest city to the Needles District. Hite and White Canyon, Utah, are closest to the Maze District.
What is the Nearest Airport to Canyonlands?
Two small airports service the area: Canyonlands Field (CNY) which is about 16 miles from Moab and Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT) which is about 100 miles from Moab. The closest major airport is Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) which is 237 miles from Moab.
Itineraries including Canyonlands National Park
Lodging Near Canyonlands National Park
Where to Stay
The only option for staying inside the park is to camp. For lodging options, you’ll want to look in the towns nearest the entrance you plan to use most of the time. If you’re going to Island in the Sky, look for lodging in the town of Moab or further in Green River. Monticello has the closest lodging to The Needles. And if you’re going to trek The Maze, look for lodging in Green River or Hansville.
Campgrounds in the Area
Within the park boundaries, there are two front-country campgrounds. Willow Flat Campground is in Island in the Sky and is on a first-come-first-served basis. Or you can stay at The Needles Campground which takes reservations spring through fall and is first-come-first-served in the winter.
Backcountry camping is available in many areas in the park and is the most popular way of camping at Canyonlands. Make sure to plan extensively before setting out to make sure you have enough water, are prepared for extreme temperatures, and have extensive navigation skills as many of the trails are not well marked.
What are the Closest National Parks to Canyonlands National Park?
Mesa Verde
150 miles • 3 hour drive
Facts about Canyonlands National Park
The Plants and Animals of Canyonlands
The immense desert wilderness of Canyonlands is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. There are 20 species of moss, 11 cactus species, grasses, wildflowers, trees, and shrubs throughout the park.
There is an astounding number of animals that call Canyonlands home. Some of the big mammals include black bears, coyotes, skunks, elk, foxes, desert bighorn sheep, and mule deer. There are over 273 species of birds including a variety of hawks and eagles. You can also find several reptiles, snakes, and amphibians around the park.
What is the Highest Point? What is the Lowest Point?
The highest elevation in Canyonlands National Park is at Cathedral Point in the Needles District which is at 7,120 feet above sea level.
The Big Drop Rapids section in Cataract Canyon on the Colorado River is the lowest at 3,700 feet above sea level.
Canyonlands Fun Facts
- There are 11 cactus species in Canyonlands.
- The Robber's Roost hideout of Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch gang was in Canyonlands near the Maze District.
- The movies "Thelma & Louise" and "127 Hours" were filmed above the Colorado River and in the Maze District in Canyonlands National Park.