Utah
General Information
Canyonlands may have been by far one of my favorite parks so far. Canyonlands is divided into three districts: Island in the Sky, The Maze, and The Needles districts. Island in the Sky is the most popular of the districts because it is the most accessible and is located close to Moab and Arches National Park. The Maze District is very inaccessible for the common traveler, and the National Park Service highly recommends that anyone entering be prepared for self-sufficiency and self-rescue. From the NPS description, the Maze is aptly named as visitors can easily spend up to a week inside the district. The Needles district is next up. GPS isn't known to be the most reliable in this district, but it is more accessible than the Maze. This area is definitely suited for longer hikes and backpacking trips and is still recommended to access with a four-wheel drive vehicle.
If you aren't into the backcountry and four-wheel drive, then Island in the Sky is exactly your cup of tea. There's a little bit of everything in here. There are short trails to scenic viewpoints, off-road trails, and backcountry hiking. Most importantly, there are easily accessible trails for difficulty levels. For off-roaders and bikers, there is the White Rim Road. This is a 100-mile road underneath the mesa that traverses across the entire district. There are technical portions along the road, and many campsites to stop at for unforgettable stays.
If you're looking to stay in the park without backpacking, you best plan long in advance. The Island in the Sky Campground/Willow Flat has 12 sites available on a first come first served basis. There is no water or electricity at these sites, but you can fill up on water outside of the visitor center. There is a restroom but it is vault style so bring toilet paper and hand sanitizer. RV's are allowed at this campground, but the maximum length is 28 feet. Not all sites are created equally. Not all are paved, not all are long, and not all are back-in. There are covered picnic tables and grills available for use as well.
Depending on your level of planning, swing by the nearby Arches National Park to see iconic views such as Balanced Rock and Delicate Arch. If you're looking for something a little more exhilarating, Moab is home to many adventure opportunities such as rock climbing, the Moab Rope Swing, and base jumping. And, if you're a fan of the night sky, Canyonlands is an International Dark Sky Park, so grab your red lights and blankets and get ready for some amazing stargazing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canyonlands National Park dog-friendly?
Dogs are not allowed on trails, but they are allowed at the campground and on paved scenic drives.
When is Canyonlands National Park open?
The park is open 24 hours a day year-round. This does not apply to the entrance stations and visitor center. The entrance station is manned during the day and the visitor center hours vary seasonally. The Island in the Sky visitor center is open year-round, but other districts have seasonal closures.
Where is Canyonlands National Park?
Canyonlands NP, specifically the Island in the Sky District, is located about four hours away from Salt Lake City Airport. If you're staying in Moab, it is forty-ish minutes from the city to the visitor center.
Is Canyonlands National Park a part of the Grand Canyon?
In short, no. The Grand Canyon and Canyonlands were both formed by the powerful currents of the Colorado River, but the Grand Canyon is entirely in Arizona, and the two are not connected at any point.
Does Canyonlands National Park require timed entry?
Unlike Arches, Canyonlands does not yet require a timed entry. Like any National Park, there are a lot of people and a lot of full parking lots, but the park does not experience the traffic and back-ups as seen in parks with timed entry.
When is the best time to visit Canyonlands National Park?
Spring and Fall are the best times to visit. Specifically, April and May, and September and October. Understand, though, that these are the busiest times inside the park. If you're a fan of the cold or aren't worried about a little sweat, I'd suggest planning for the weeks on either side of the peak seasons.
Hiking in Island in the Sky
As for hiking, there are many trails for all experiences and desired activity levels. It is important to keep in mind with any short easy hike, you are likely to run into increased crowds. In an area like Canyonlands, you really can't go wrong anywhere you stop and hike. For stunning views of the sheer massiveness of the canyon, there are two short and sweet hikes: White Rim Overlook and Grand View Point. Both of these hikes are relatively flat at under two miles, but will likely be packed with people. If you're looking for something a little longer, there are a few trails you could follow. Murphy Point Trail at 3.4 miles is a a gently sloped out-and-back trail that ends on the canyon rim. You could also choose to follow Lathrop to the canyon rim. This 5-mile out-and-back trail meanders through the mesa-top grasslands before dropping off to show how incredibly massive the canyon is.
My Experience
If you want to get down into the thick of it, be prepared for potentially over 1,300 feet of elevation loss and then gain on the way back out. Just about every trail down leads to the White Rim Road, and several connect to campsites. Personally, I would recommend heading down Murphy Loop via the Hogback. I did this trail on accident. I had seen Murphy Hogback on AllTrails and decided that it was the trail I was going to do that day. I followed a path on AllTrails that would lead me to my planned hike's starting point. I followed the trail, hiked to the rim, and when I looked down, I could see the trail's starting point was over 1,000 feet down into the canyon. I did choose to continue on and the views were amazing. This trail was rewarding in all the right ways. If you have the legs and time, I think a hike that gets you off of the mesa is one of the best ways to see the canyon and avoid the crowds.
On my trip down, I had my first solo experience of trail finding. Looking down the canyon wall, it was often easy enough to locate the trail because you could look down at it and see where you were supposed to go. There are occasional cairns which I found incredibly helpful on both the way down and the way back up. Once at the bottom, it was a very short distance before I found the trail marker for the Muphy Hogback and Murphy Wash trails. Once I got to this point, I was definitiely laughing at myself because I could see where I went wrong. AllTrails shows elevation contours, so if I had paid just a little attention I may have realized I had a 1,000-foot elevation change to get to my trailhead. Starting off on Murphy Hogback, there were a few miles of walking around the nook that I had come down in where it felt like I was walking in the Great Plains area. I could see for miles and there was nothing but short grass and the far-off mountain range to keep my eyes occupied. After a while though, I stopped following the canyon wall and started to turn away from it. Here, I could start to see the magic of Canyonlands National Park. All around me, I could see the work of the Green River carving out the canyon. It was quite hard to not spend way too long at each viewpoint on the hogback. At the end of this trail, there are a few campground locations as well as a vault toilet. As always, be prepared with your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer. I found that this was also the perfect spot for lunch (Cheez-Its, because I hadn't expected the trail).
Once I made it back to the canyon wall, I found it a little bit harder to find the trail, even though I had already taken it on the way down. What I did very quickly learn is that if it looks like it's blocking your path, it probably is and if you keep walking a few more steps on what you think is the right path, you will likely run into a marker. Another as always tip, download the AllTrails map and ensure you have a battery pack.
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