Canyonlands National Park
Activities
Canyonlands is wild and rugged—an intriguing place to explore at any time of the year. Because it is a desert environ-ment, the spring and fall are usually long and pleasant, except for possible high winds in April or May. Winter is short, with little snow, although temperatures do drop below freezing at night. Summers bring a hot, dry heat. Most of the yearly rain falls during infrequent thunderstorms in late summer or early autumn.
There are several ways to explore the diverse terrain of Canyonlands. You can see a lot of the park from your automobile, but to get a closer look, leave your car behind. Commer-cial operators are licensed to conduct tours through the park, including 4-wheel-drive, mountain biking and river rafting tours. Or you can hike, camp, backpack, automobile tour, check out park interpretive exhibits, attend park ranger talks and programs, or bird- and animal-watch, all on your own.
Camping: Two frontcountry campgrounds, Squaw Flat and Willow Flat, and numerous primitive backcountry camping sites are open year-round. Reser-va-tions are not available for individual frontcountry campsites. For group site (11 or more per party) and backcountry camping information, call (435) 259-4351, or write the Backcountry Reservations Office, Canyonlands National Park, 2282 Southwest Resource Boulevard, Moab, UT 84532.
A backcountry permit can also be obtained in person from the visitor centers if space is available. Bring a camp stove and in summer, at least one gallon of water per person per day. Piped water is available near Squaw Flat Campground in the Needles District. No water is available at Island in the Sky or Willow Flat. Pets are allowed only on frontcountry roads and in frontcountry campgrounds, and must be leashed at all times (summer visitors are discouraged from bringing their pets because of the heat). Camp-grounds typically fill by midday March through October.
River Rafting: There is no vehicle admittance to boating takeout points in the park. Arrangements must be made prior to your trip to be taken back up-river by commercial (jet boat) tour companies. Most visitors who travel the rivers take commercial trips. Stop by information centers in Moab and Monticello, or contact the Moab Area Travel Council, PO Box 550, Moab, UT 84532; (800) 635-6622 for more information.
Limited numbers of individuals are allowed to run the white water of Cataract Canyon below the confluence. You must obtain an advance permit from park headquarters. There are no services along the rivers, so boaters must be fully prepared before embarking.
Walking & Hiking
Walks of less than one mile on the Island in the Sky and longer hikes in the Needles will take you to ruins, over-looks, arches and other geologic wonders. Longer, more strenuous trails penetrate wilder regions and are primitive, marked with groupings of rocks (cairns). Always carry a map and plenty of water and stay on the trails. Obtain a backcountry permit (fee charged) if you plan to camp. For more information, check at the visitor center. Times given below are round-trip.
Island in the Sky District: The Mesa Arch Trail is an easy, self-guiding walk that begins at the Mesa Arch parking lot. Midway along the loop is Mesa Arch, a cliff-hanging arch with a spectacular view of the canyons below. (0.5-mile, 30 minutes)
The trailhead for Neck Spring Trail is 0.4-mile south of the visitor center. The first part of this trail follows an old road built by early ranchers who used Neck Springs as a water source. (5.0-miles, 2 to 4 hours)
Needles District: Cave Spring Trail is 2.5 miles from the visitor center. This loop trail offers an easy entry to a cowboy camp and rock art. The trail ascends two wooden ladders to an upper slickrock bench with canyon views. (0.6-mile, 45 minutes)
Slickrock Foot Trail is seven miles past the visitor center, just before the Big Spring Canyon Overlook. The route runs along a rolling slickrock surface and is marked by cairns. The trail offers spectacular views of surrounding canyons and buttes. (2.5-miles, 2 to 3 hours)
Canyonlands In Depth
News from the Parks
Alexander Backs New Source of Funding for National Parks
July 3, 2008 - 9:38am
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today announced he will cosponsor bipartisan legislation to create a new source of funding for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and other national parks across the country as part of the “Centennial Challenge” celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Park System in 2016. “The Centennial Challenge could bring up to $4 million to the Smokies – the country’s most visited national park – and will go a long way toward improving park facilities, aiding conservation efforts, and helping build upon the excellent visitor services already offered. This 4th of July, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate our country’s birthday than backing legislation that will aid efforts to preserve and celebrate our national parks, one of America’s greatest treasures.”
July 3, 2008 - 9:38am
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today announced he will cosponsor bipartisan legislation to create a new source of funding for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and other national parks across the country as part of the “Centennial Challenge” celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Park System in 2016. “The Centennial Challenge could bring up to $4 million to the Smokies – the country’s most visited national park – and will go a long way toward improving park facilities, aiding conservation efforts, and helping build upon the excellent visitor services already offered. This 4th of July, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate our country’s birthday than backing legislation that will aid efforts to preserve and celebrate our national parks, one of America’s greatest treasures.”
EPA's Pollution Plan Slammed
July 3, 2008 - 9:35am
City officials and business leaders here Wednesday warned that a federal proposal to relax air quality standards for the nation's national parks will ultimately be bad for business. Simply put, they said during a news conference at the entrance to Zion National Park, lower air standards being proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hurt this gateway city economically if fewer tourists visit the park. "Air pollution could damage the stars, vistas and clean air we enjoy," Springdale Mayor Pat Cluff said. "Some places deserve to be preserved and it is my responsibility to preserve [the park] for those who come here."
July 3, 2008 - 9:35am
City officials and business leaders here Wednesday warned that a federal proposal to relax air quality standards for the nation's national parks will ultimately be bad for business. Simply put, they said during a news conference at the entrance to Zion National Park, lower air standards being proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hurt this gateway city economically if fewer tourists visit the park. "Air pollution could damage the stars, vistas and clean air we enjoy," Springdale Mayor Pat Cluff said. "Some places deserve to be preserved and it is my responsibility to preserve [the park] for those who come here."
Dinosaur Fossils In Utah Inspire 'Jr. Paleontologists'
July 2, 2008 - 9:57am
Millions of years ago, northeastern Utah was a hot spot for dinosaurs. Today, people travel to the Dinosaur National Monument located on the borders of Colorado and Utah to see the leftover dinosaur bones. Visitors can see as many as 1,500 Jurassic-era fossils exposed on the cliff face of the Douglass Quarry.
July 2, 2008 - 9:57am
Millions of years ago, northeastern Utah was a hot spot for dinosaurs. Today, people travel to the Dinosaur National Monument located on the borders of Colorado and Utah to see the leftover dinosaur bones. Visitors can see as many as 1,500 Jurassic-era fossils exposed on the cliff face of the Douglass Quarry.
A Paiute Take On Bryce Canyon's Hoodoos
July 2, 2008 - 9:56am
The red spindly rock formations that make up the views at Bryce Canyon National Park are called hoodoos. Geologists say they were formed by erosion, but Kevin Poe, chief of interpretation at Bryce, shares his take on the Paiute legend about hoodoos.
July 2, 2008 - 9:56am
The red spindly rock formations that make up the views at Bryce Canyon National Park are called hoodoos. Geologists say they were formed by erosion, but Kevin Poe, chief of interpretation at Bryce, shares his take on the Paiute legend about hoodoos.
Can The Everglades Be Saved?
July 2, 2008 - 9:55am
Environmentalists have been issuing dire warnings about the deterioration of the Florida Everglades for years, saying these wetlands have to be restored in order to revive fragile ecosystems and increase scarce fresh water supplies. Over half of the Everglades are gone, irreversibly converted to urban or agricultural development. But this week, in an attempt to save what's left, the state of Florida announced a plan to buy nearly 200,000 acres of former wetlands from a sugar cane producer. Advocates say the plan is the largest restoration project in American history.
July 2, 2008 - 9:55am
Environmentalists have been issuing dire warnings about the deterioration of the Florida Everglades for years, saying these wetlands have to be restored in order to revive fragile ecosystems and increase scarce fresh water supplies. Over half of the Everglades are gone, irreversibly converted to urban or agricultural development. But this week, in an attempt to save what's left, the state of Florida announced a plan to buy nearly 200,000 acres of former wetlands from a sugar cane producer. Advocates say the plan is the largest restoration project in American history.
