10 Unmissable Things to Do in Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park is one of our favourites in the US. This guide covers our top things to do in Canyonlands with tips for making the most of your visit.

It’s fair to say we absolutely loved Canyonlands.

Carved by the Green and Colorado Rivers, this vast landscape of deep canyons, towering mesas and isolated buttes delivered exactly the Southwest scenery we’d hoped to find on our US road trip.

What surprised us most was how easy much of it is to explore. Some of the most dramatic views are just a short walk from the road, while a handful of excellent hikes and rougher backcountry drives take you deeper into the landscape.

We’ve narrowed this guide down to 10 of our favourite things to do in Canyonlands, giving you a good mix of viewpoints, scenic drives, hikes and more adventurous experiences.

Most are very achievable, while a few require more effort. For each, we’ve explained what’s involved so you can quickly decide what’s right for your trip.

Is Canyonlands Worth Visiting?

Absolutely. Canyonlands was one of our favourite stops on our Utah road trip.

What makes it so impressive is the sheer scale of the landscape. From the rim at Island in the Sky, the land drops around 1,000 feet to the broad White Rim sandstone bench, before plunging again into the deeper canyons carved by the Green and Colorado Rivers.

The result is a vast, layered landscape of mesas, buttes, winding canyons and distant sandstone formations that seems to stretch forever.

We also loved how accessible it is. Some of the best views require little more than pulling into a roadside overlook, while hikes, 4WD trails and river trips offer plenty of ways to get deeper into the landscape.

If you’re visiting Utah’s national parks, we think Canyonlands is absolutely worth including.

Layout of Canyonlands National Park

The Green and Colorado Rivers naturally split Canyonlands National Park into four different districts. Each district offers a remarkably different experience. Unfortunately, you need to choose which to visit, as driving between them takes a long time.

• Island in the Sky: A well-paved road that winds around the top of the mesa with several breathtaking overlooks. This is the most popular and accessible section of the park.
• The Needles: An area deep in the canyon with some of the best hiking trails in Canyonlands.
• The Maze: Backcountry with almost no facilities and unpaved roads.
• Horseshoe Canyon: Contains a series of intriguing pictograph panels painted by the Ancient Pueblo People. It’s not as easy to get to as other parts of Canyonlands.

We spent some time in each area, but most of the things to do in our guide are in Island in the Sky. This is the best area to explore for first-time visitors; it has the most dramatic landscapes, and it’s the easiest to get to.

What to Do in Canyonlands

1. Drive the Island in the Sky Scenic Drive

Island in the Sky sits on a huge mesa more than 1,000 feet above the surrounding landscape. A 34-mile round-trip paved scenic drive crosses the mesa, with roadside overlooks providing some of the easiest-to-access and most expansive views in Canyonlands.

We were pretty blown away by just how many wonderful views there are on this one drive. It was one of the highlights of our US trip.

There are too many to mention, but this is what we would call the best viewpoints in Canyonlands. We have put our photos below in order so you can see what each viewpoint looks like.

1. Shafer Canyon Viewpoint – A dramatic viewpoint overlooking the Shafer Canyon and the dramatic switchbacks of the Shafer Trail as it descends around 1,400 feet from the mesa.
2. Green River Overlook – A superb view across the different layers of Canyonlands to the Green River, 1,300 feet below.
3. Buck Canyon – A quick roadside stop with sweeping views across Buck Canyon towards the Colorado River canyon and the distant La Sal Mountains.
4. Grand Viewpoints Overlook – The most expansive viewpoint with views across the White Rim towards The Needles and The Maze. The main overlook is a short walk from the parking area, but you can continue along the 1.8-mile round-trip Grand View Point Trail for more views along the canyon rim.
5. White Rim Overlook – A 1.8-mile round-trip trail leads to an east-facing overlook across Monument Basin towards the Colorado River and La Sal Mountains. We spent about 1.5 hours on this, and parking at the trailhead is limited, so try to arrive early.

2. Go to Mesa Arch for Sunrise

Mesa Arch is the classic sunrise spot in Canyonlands. As the sun rises, it lights up the underside of the arch while framing the canyon and the La Sal Mountains in the distance.

There is a dedicated Mesa Arch trailhead parking lot directly off Grand View Point Road in Islands in the Sky. From the parking lot, it’s an easy 0.6-mile (1-kilometre) loop to get to the arch.

Being a famous spot and easy to get to, Mesa Arch was packed on our visit. We arrived around 30 minutes before sunrise, which probably wasn’t early enough. By that time, there was already a large crowd taking their positions waiting for sunrise.

It wasn’t too much of a problem; we were still able to get the shot you can see below. But we did have to be patient and wait for our chance to get an unobstructive view.

3. Hike to Upheaval Dome

The best views in Islands in the Sky are on the scenic drive as mentioned above. However, there’s one short walk we think is worth the effort: Upheaval Dome.

While most of Canyonlands is layers of sedimentary deposits laid down by ancient seas and shaped by rivers and wind, Upheaval Dome is different. Here the rocks have been pushed up into a circular structure forming a dome.

Geologists believe it may be the impact crater left by a meteorite that struck around 60 million years ago.

There are two viewpoints on the hike. The first is a 0.6-mile round trip; the second makes it a 1.2-mile round trip. It took us about 1.5 hours to do both.

4. See the Iconic Views from Dead Horse Point

Dead Horse State Park is not officially in Canyonlands, but it’s just outside it, and it has one of the best views in the area, so we’re including it.

From Dead Horse Point Overlook, sheer cliffs drop around 2,000 feet to a huge bend in the Colorado River below. We thought this view was absolutely incredible and it took no effort at all.

You might recognise it from the famous final scene from Thelma & Louise.

Dead Horse State Park is a Utah State Park, so your Canyonlands entrance permit and your America the Beautiful pass are not valid here. But entrance is only $20 per vehicle for up to 8 passengers and we think it’s worth it.

5. Drive Shafer Trail & Potash Road

Driving Shafer Trail and Potash Road between Canyonlands and Moab was our favourite off-road adventure in the area.

Starting from Islands in the Sky, the route descends around 1,500 feet via the spectacular Shafer switchbacks, before turning onto Potash Road and continuing along the Colorado River towards Moab.

The route passes Gooseneck Overlook and Thelma and Louise Point, both of which are worth experiencing.

A permit is not required for either road.

The National Park Service recommends a high-clearance 4WD or AWD. If you don’t have one, you can rent a jeep from Moab Adventure Center for the day.

8. Drive the Us Route 211 Viewpoints in the Needles

The Needles section of Canyonlands is set below the canyon rim but above the two rivers. You get there via Route 211, which is one of the best drives in the country.

The route heads beneath the outer canyon walls, past a series of needles, buttes and mesas. The views from the road are magnificent, but here are a few to keep an eye out for.

• Wooden Shoe Arch Overlook – This spot overlooks a unique rock formation that really does look like a wooden clog.
• Big Spring Canyon Overlook – Among rocky spires and white, pink, and red sandstone layers, a spring has enabled a sliver of green in the otherwise desolate Big Spring Canyon. Beautiful!
• Confluence Overlook – An outstanding viewpoint looking over the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers. The 5.5-mile drive from the Visitor Centre took us over an hour! The last 1.5 miles is the worst part of the road, so we parked and drove from there.

We did Route 211 on our Southwest USA Road Trip and on our detour to Monument Valley.

9. Hike Chelser Park Loop in the Needles

After we did this hike, we spent a bit of time discussing whether it was, in fact, the best hike we’ve ever done. Having hiked a lot in Europe and England, this was a really different trail for us, and we loved it.

This wonderful day hike goes into the Needles, where colourful sandstone spires rise around the open grasslands of Chesler Park. One of the highlights is the Joint Trail, which squeezes through a series of deep, narrow fractures between towering sandstone walls.

The full Chesler Park Loop / Joint Trail is 10.7 miles (17.2 kilometres) and is rated strenuous by the National Park Service. Allow 5–7 hours; it took us around 7 hours including a lunch stop.

The hike starts at Elephant Hill Trailhead. The final 3 miles to the trailhead are on an unpaved road, but we had no issues getting there in AWD car. A permit is not required to reach the trailhead.

We’ve created a map you can download and follow along.

10. Take an Organised Tour in Canyonlands

It’s easy to explore Islands in the Sky and The Needles independently. It’s the way we did it, and it’s the way we always travel, unless there’s a good reason to take an organised tour.

And there are a few good reasons to do an organised tour in Canyonlands.

Firstly, if you don’t want the hassle or cost of hiring a 4×4 but you want to see some of the backcountry, an organised tour is a great way to do it. There are also some unique experiences that are worth doing in Canyonlands, such as seeing these amazing landscapes from the air or taking to the rivers.

Canyonlands Half Day 4×4 Tour | ⭐ 4.9 – This well-rated tour includes the Shafer Switchbacks, Gooseneck Overlook, and Thelma & Louise Point over an exciting half day. It’s a great option if you want to explore the backcountry without driving yourself.

Canyonlands Scenic Flight | ⭐ 4.7 – This one-hour flight gives you a completely different perspective on the scale of Canyonlands and allows you to see remote landscapes that are difficult to reach by road.

Multi-Day Rafting | ⭐ 4.7 – For a bigger adventure, these 2- or 4-day trips allow you to experience the Green and Colorado Rivers, including Cataract Canyon, a 14-mile stretch of Class III–V whitewater

Professional Stargazing Tour | ⭐ 4.5 – Canyonlands is an International Dark Sky Park, with very little artificial light and exceptionally dark skies. If you’re staying until after sunset, spend some time stargazing before driving back to Moab. On a clear, moonless night, the Milky Way can be spectacular.

Practical Information & Tips

Where to Stay to Visit Canyonlands

We stayed in Moab to visit Canyonlands, which is also very convenient to get to Arches, which we did as a day trip. You can read our Arches National Park Day Trip see what we did.

From Moab, it is a 40-minute drive to Island in the Sky and 1 hour and 30 minutes to The Needles.

MainStay Suites Moab 💲💲 – One of the better-value options in central Moab, with spacious rooms and suites, many with kitchen facilities. There’s also free breakfast and parking, a seasonal outdoor pool, a hot tub, and a fitness centre.

Moab Springs Ranch 💲💲💲 – A more peaceful option at the northern end of Moab, with stylish bungalows and larger townhouses set around a private park. Facilities include a seasonal heated pool, hot tub and the excellent Horsethief Coffee shop.

Gravity Haus Moab 💲💲 – A smart, modern hotel on Main Street with spacious rooms, an outdoor pool and hot tubs, and an on-site café. It’s within walking distance of Moab’s restaurants and shops and makes an excellent base for exploring Canyonlands and Arches.

Hoodoo Moab, Curio Collection by Hilton 💲💲💲💲 – One of Moab’s more polished hotels, just a block from Main Street. It has a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, full-service spa and restaurant, with contemporary interiors inspired by the surrounding desert landscape.

Canyonlands Entrance Fees & Permits

Canyonlands National Park costs $30 per private vehicle or $25 per motorcycle, valid for 7 days. No timed-entry reservation is required.

If you’re visiting several US national parks, the America the Beautiful Pass could be a good option.

In 2026, the annual pass costs $80 for US residents and $250 for non-US residents and covers entrance fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. Canyonlands does not charge the additional $100 non-resident fee that applies at some US national parks.

For a standard visit to Island in the Sky or The Needles, including day hikes and scenic drives on paved roads, you don’t need a permit. You also don’t need one to drive Shafer Trail or Potash Road.

Permits are required for:

• Day use: White Rim Road and the Elephant Hill, Lavender Canyon and Peekaboo/Horse Canyon 4WD roads.
• Overnight trips: All overnight stays in the Canyonlands backcountry.
• River trips: Day and overnight trips on the Green and Colorado rivers.

Most permits are managed through Day-use permits for the restricted 4WD roads are released from 8 AM Mountain Time the day before travel, while popular overnight backcountry permits should be booked well in advance.

Canyonlands Visitor Centres

There are visitor centres at Island in the Sky and The Needles, with maps, ranger information, toilets and drinking water.

Island in the Sky Visitor Center is generally open year-round, with shorter hours in winter. The Needles Visitor Center operates from spring to late autumn and normally closes for part of the winter. Opening hours vary throughout the year, so check the National Park Service website before visiting.

Best Time to Visit Canyonlands

The best time to visit Canyonlands is spring (April–May) and autumn (mid-September–October), when daytime temperatures generally average between 60°F and 80°F (15°C–26°C) and conditions are much better for hiking.

Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F (37°C), making strenuous hikes difficult. Late summer also brings monsoon storms, which can cause flash flooding and rapidly change backcountry road conditions.

Winter is quieter but cold, with daytime highs typically between 30°F and 50°F (-1°C–10°C). Even small amounts of snow or ice can make hiking trails hazardous and unpaved 4WD roads impassable.

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