*All photos are protected by copyright and the property of Briana Nickas unless they are stock photos or otherwise noted.
Canyonlandsโฆ sounds like an amusement park, doesnโt it? Well, it could be considered a type of natural amusement park for outdoor lovers. Canyonlands National Park in Utah has plenty to do including hiking, a scenic drive, and amazing overlooks of the canyon created by the Colorado River below.
Surprisingly, Canyonlands doesnโt get much credit compared to the other National Parks in Utah. But itโs definitely still worth seeing, especially since itโs practically right next to Arches National Park (one of my faves)!
With over 300,000 sprawling acres, Canyonlands National Park is divided up into 4 districts by the Colorado River and its tributaries. The districts are Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the rivers themselves. You can learn more about each of them here.
Most of the districts are challenging to reach. Island in the Sky is the closest to Moab, UT, and the most accessible. For these reasons, itโs the most popular district to visit.
With this 1-day itinerary for visiting the Island in the Sky District, youโre sure to have a full day of awesomeness hitting up the best things to do at Canyonlands National Park in Utah!
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Info for Canyonlands National Park in Utah
Canyonlands National Park is located about 40 miles southwest of I-70 making it easy to reach from the I-15 in Utah or from Utahโs eastern neighbor Colorado.
Just 30 miles northwest of Moab, UT, itโs also close to another one of the Utah National Parks โ Arches National Park. This makes Moab a perfect place to stay to visit both National Parks!
Location: Moab, UT
Entrance Fee: FREE with America the Beautiful Pass OR $30 for private vehicles and all passengers (15 or less) for 7 days
If youโre going to be RVing to Canyonlands National Park, hereโs the information for the RV park we stay at in Moab, UT when we visitโฆ
RV Park
Spanish Trail RV Park in Moab, UT
This is one of the few campgrounds with grass (period let alone at the RV site). Our dog likes her grass! It can get noisy from the highway, so try to get a site in the back.
You may also like: Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah: 1-Day Itinerary of the Best Things To Do
1-Day Itinerary of the Best Things To Do at Canyonlands National Park in Utah
Youโre going to need to wake up before the sun does to get a super early start to the day! This is because youโre going to want to be at Mesa Arch for sunrise. Itโs a must!
Mesa Arch
Watching Mesa Arch start to glow as the sun lights up the canyon below will be the highlight of your day in Canyonlands National Park. Youโll take a short easy trail to reach the arch.
Mesa Arch Trail
Distance: 0.5-mile roundtrip
Difficulty Level: Easy
Hiking Time: 30 minutes
Trail Access: Mesa Arch Trailhead
PRO TIP: Make sure you get to Mesa Arch early before sunrise so you can get a good viewing spot. It can get crazy crowded at dawn and you may be fighting for a view of the arch.
You may also like: Top 5 Best Hikes in Sedona, AZ You Wonโt Want to Miss
Scenic Drive
After spending some time taking in the view at Mesa Arch, go on a scenic drive of Canyonlands National Park. There are many pull-outs you can stop at along the way with dramatic views of the Park, including Green River Overlook, Buck Canyon Overlook, and Grand View Point Overlook.
Be sure to walk to Grand View Point for stunning panoramic views! Thereโs a short paved trail to the viewpoint. You can also continue past the viewpoint along the cliff edge for another mile to a second viewpoint.
Upheaval Dome
Then you can hike to Upheaval Dome. The first overlook is only 1-mile roundtrip, or you can keep hiking to the second overlook for another mile. You might also want to hike one of the other Island in the Sky Trails.
You may also like: Arches National Park in Utah: 2-Day Itinerary of the Best Things To Do
Bonus Tip
After youโre done exploring Canyonlands National Park, end the day at Dead Horse Point State Park for a gorgeous view of the sunset. From Dead Horse Point Overlook, youโll have a dramatic view of the Colorado River winding around the canyon below.
Even though Dead Horse Point State Park is not technically in Canyonlands National Park, itโs only about 20 minutes away (14.4 miles) and completely worth the short detour!
You may also like: Capitol Reef National Park in Utah: 1-Day Itinerary of the Best Things To Do
Wrapping Up Canyonlands National Park in Utah
Thereโs enough to do in the Island in the Sky district to keep you busy for an entire day in Canyonlands National Park:
- Starting early in the morning to watch the sunrise
- Taking in the views along the scenic drive
- Doing some hiking
- Catching the sunrise at the end of your day
Youโll be cramming a lot in and hitting all the highlights. Perfect if youโre short on time!
If youโre feeling more adventurous and havenโt gotten your fill of Canyonlands National Park, you may want to visit the other, more remote districts. Be aware though that there are no roads connecting the districts to one another.
So reaching the other areas will require 2-6 hours of driving. You can then explore the backcountry by backpacking, biking, or 4-wheel drive. NOTE: you may need a permit. You can figure out if youโll need a permit here.
Have you visited the different districts of Canyonlands National Park in Utah? Iโd love to hear about them! Tell me which one was your favorite and why in the comments below.
Are National Parks your jam? If your goal is to visit all 62 National Parks in the USA, be sure to grab your free U.S. National Parks Checklist to keep track of them!
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Nice post and nice view to visit.Thanks for this description.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the photos and information about Canyonlands National Park. ๐
Wonderful site you have here but I was curious if you knew of any user discussion forums that
cover the same topics talked about in this article?
Thanks, I really appreciate that! I’m not aware of any forums about Canyonlands National Park. But if you have any questions, feel free to post them here in the comments, and I’ll do my best to answer. ๐
Pleasing and refreshing. Thanks for taking me on a tour. Amazing Blog, amazing writing, and amazing content.
You just made my day, Sachin Singh! Really appreciate the positive feedback and am glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour of Canyonlands National Park. ๐