Canyonlands is Utah's largest national park: a wilderness of canyons, mesas and buttes carved by the Colorado and Green rivers, which divide it into four districts: Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze and the rivers themselves.
Island in the Sky — the one to start with
A mesa 1,000 feet above the surrounding land, about 40 minutes from Moab. A paved road leads to its overlooks:
Mesa Arch
a short loop to an arch on the cliff's edge, famous at sunrise when the sun lights its underside.
Grand View Point
the end of the road, and the widest view over the canyons.
Green River Overlook
and Upheaval Dome — the Green River's canyon, and a crater-like formation geologists still debate.
Shafer Trail
a dirt road of switchbacks down the cliff, for high-clearance 4x4s or a guided tour.
The Needles and the Maze
The Needles, about an hour and a half south of Moab, is the place for longer hikes among banded sandstone spires. The Maze is among the most remote places in the Lower 48 — high-clearance 4x4 roads and long days; go with a guide.
Seeing it from above or the river
Scenic flights cover all three districts in about an hour, and rafting trips run the Colorado on the park's edge from spring to fall. Flights and tours.
Next door to Island in the Sky, don't miss Dead Horse Point State Park. For a private guide into the backcountry, ask our concierge.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Canyonlands from Moab?
Island in the Sky's visitor center is about 32 miles from Moab, around 40 minutes. The Needles is about an hour and a half south.
Can I see Canyonlands and Arches in one day?
Yes, the highlights of both: Arches in the morning, Island in the Sky in the afternoon, or the other way round for Mesa Arch at sunrise.
