Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park preserves some of the wildest desert landscapes in the country. As the lesser visited of the two national parks associated with the Moab region, its relative inaccessibility convinces people to spend more time in its counterpart of Arches National Park. Exponentially larger though, this leaves numerous hikes and landscapes potentially void of people. The park is split into three different districts, each accessed via different entrances. The Island in the Sky district is the most popular, being the closest to Moab, while the Needles and Maze districts are accessed farther south of Moab by traveling through the Indian Creek area of Bears Ears National Monument. Even less visited are the remote access points through lengthy dirt roads that keep the casual tourists away. Regardless of how you access it, there’s something for everyone in Canyonlands National Park.

Must Do Hikes
Easy: Mesa Arch
Moderate: Upheaval Dome Overlook
Strenuous: Murphy Loop

White Rim Overlook

Canyon Below White Rim Overlook

The White Rim Overlook Trail is an easy 0.9 mile out and back hike in the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park, bringing hikers to panoramic views overlooking the deep chasms surrounding the point.

Whale Rock

Whale Rock Winding Into the Distance

Whale Rock is a moderate 0.4 mile hike in the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park, bringing hikers to the top of a sandstone fin with 360 degree panoramic views.

Mesa Arch

Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park

The Mesa Arch Trail in Canyonlands National Park is an easy 0.75 mile hike to a classic vista under a sandstone arch in the Island in the Sky District.

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