Scenic
- Island in the Sky
- The Island in the Sky mesa rests on sheer sandstone cliffs over 1,000 feet above the surrounding terrain. Every overlook offers a different perspective on Canyonlands? spectacular landscape. The
- Needles
- The Needles District forms the southeast corner of Canyonlands and was named for the colorful spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone that dominate the area. The district?s extensive trail system
- Maze
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Photo by Mike Hill
The Chocolate Drops
The Maze is the least accessible district of Canyonlands. Due to the district?s remoteness and the difficulty of roads and trails, travel to
- Horseshoe Canyon
- Horseshoe Canyon contains some of the most significant rock art in North America. The Great Gallery, the best known panel in Horseshoe Canyon, includes well-preserved, life-sized figures with intricate
- Cataract Canyon
- Cataract Canyon contains fourteen miles of rapids ranging in difficulty up to Class V. It is a particularly hazardous and isolated section of the Colorado River and is subject
Other
- The Colorado and Green rivers
- The Colorado and Green rivers wind through the heart of Canyonlands, cutting through layered sandstone to form two deep canyons. Both rivers are calm upstream of the Confluence, ideal
Off Road Vehicles
- White Rim Road
- The White Rim Road is a 100-mile track that leads along a bench between the Island in the Sky mesa top and the Colorado and Green
- Shafer Trail
- Shafer Trail Road and Mineral Road provide access from the main scenic drive atop the Island in the Sky mesa down to the White Rim Road. Shafer Trail Road
- Horse Canyon
- A permit is required for day and overnight use in this area. Roads travel along canyon bottoms where deep sand, deep water and quicksand are common. Too sandy for
- Lavender Canyon
- This four-wheel drive road begins along Davis Canyon Road two miles south of State Road 211. It parallels Indian Creek for two and a half miles before reaching an
- Elephant Hill
- One of the most technical four-wheel-drive roads in Utah, Elephant Hill presents drivers with steep grades, loose rock, stair-step drops, tight turns and backing. Over the hill, equally challenging
- Potash road
- Dinosaur tracks, American Indian rock-art sites and an arch (Jug Handle) on S.R. 279. Watch for the signs. The scenery from the terraces and benches high above the Colorado
- Lockhart Basin Road
- From serpentine Kane Creek Canyon to the vistas across Canyonlands, this is a red-rock adventure that will immerse you in the remote beauty of canyon country. This drive is
- Davis Canyon
- This four-wheel drive road begins along Davis Canyon Road two miles south of State Road 211. It parallels Indian Creek for two and a half miles before reaching an
- Colorado Overlook Road
- This four-wheel drive road begins from the main park road immediately west of the Needles Visitor Center. It leads northward for one and a quarter miles to Salt Creek.
Trail
- Lathrop Canyon
- Length: 17 mi/27 km round-trip to the Colorado River
Start: Lathrop Trailhead
After crossing grasslands on the mesa top, this trail descends via steep switchbacks to a boulder-strewn wash that leads
- Murphy Loop
- Length: 9 mi/14 km round-trip
Start: Murphy Point Trailhead
A few miles of hiking on the mesa top leads to a steep descent down a cliff face to a bench where
- Syncline Loop
- Length: 8 mi/13 km round-trip
Start: Upheaval Dome Trailhead
This strenuous trail follows the washes on either side of Upheaval Dome, forming a loop that provides access to both the crater
- Taylor Canyon
- Length: 20 mi/32 km round-trip
Start: Alcove Spring Trailhead
Trail descends via steep switchbacks to a rocky wash that leads into this broad, steep-walled canyon. Hikers can follow the four-wheel-drive road
- Aztec Butte Trail
- Length: 2 mi/3 km round-trip
Start: Aztec Butte parking area
Time: 1.5 hours
Elevation Change: 225 ft/69 m
This route leads one mile northeastward from the Upheaval Dome Road. The trail to Aztec
- Grand View Point Trail
- Length: 2 mi/3 km round trip
Start: Grand View Point
Time: 1 hour
An easy walk out to the very end of the Island in the Sky mesa. Panoramic views.
Visitor Information
435-719-2313
Backcountry
- Mesa Arch
- Length: .5 mi/.8 km round trip
Start: Mesa Arch parking area
Time: 30 minutes
A mild walk out to an arch perched right on a cliff edge. A great sunrise hike.
Visitor Information
435-719-2313
Backcountry
- Upheaval Dome Overlook Trail
- Length (round-trip): 1 mi/1.5 km to first overlook
Start: Upheaval Dome parking area
Time: 30 minutes
Visitor Information
435-719-2313
Backcountry Information
435-259-4351
Elevation Change: 50 ft/15 m
Good view of a very intriguing rock formation. Hiking to
- Whale Rock Trail
- Length (round-trip): 1 mi/1.5 km to main overlook
Start: Near Upheaval Dome parking area
Time: 1 hour
Elevation Change: 100 ft/30 m
Handrails provided for the steep climb up Whale Rock. Good views
- Chesler Park Loop / Joint Trail
- Length: 11 mi/18 km round-trip
Start: Elephant Hill Trailhead
Hiking three miles along this trail brings visitors to a saddle overlooking Chesler Park, a scenic expanse of desert grasses and shrubs
- Elephant Canyon / Druid Arch
- Length: 11 mi/18 km round-trip
Start: Elephant Hill Trailhead
This trail offers one of the most spectacular views in the Needles. It follows the Chesler Park access trail to Elephant Canyon,
- Confluence Overlook
- Length: 11 mi/18 km round-trip
Start: Big Spring Canyon Overlook
Unlike other hikes in the district, this trail traverses mostly dry, open country along the northern edge of the geologic faults
- Big Spring Canyon Trail
- This four mile trail leads from an access road in Squaw Flat, immediately east of the campground, through Big Spring Canyon. It follows the canyon bottom southward from the
- Lower Red Lake Canyon
- Length: 18.8 mi/30 km round-trip
Start: Elephant Hill Trailhead
The hike from Elephant Hill to the Colorado River is very strenuous, with an elevation change of 1,400 feet. There is little
- Salt Creek Canyon
- Length: 22.5 mi/34 km one-way
Start: Peekaboo or Cathedral Butte
The trail follows the main drainage of the canyon past cottonwood groves, through thick brush, and down an old four-wheel-drive road.
- Cave Spring Trail
- Length (round-trip): .6 mi/1 km
Start: Cave Spring parking area
Time: 45 minutes
Trail features a historic cowboy line camp and prehistoric pictographs. Two wooden ladders must be climbed.
Length (round-trip): .6 mi/1
- Pothole Point Trail
- Length (round-trip): .6 mi/1 km
Start: Pothole Point parking area
Time: 40 minutes
Uneven slickrock surface. Trail leads to pothole communities and views of the Needles.
Visitor Information
435-719-2313
Backcountry
- Roadside Ruin Trail
- Length (round-trip): .3 mi/.5 km
Start: Roadside Ruin parking area
Time: 20 minutes
Trail features an ancestral Puebloan granary.
Visitor Information
435-719-2313
Backcountry
- Slickrock Trail
- Length (round-trip): 2.4 mi/4 km
Start: Near Big Spring Overlook
Time: 2 hours
Uneven slickrock surface. Several viewpoints and sometimes bighorn sheep.
Visitor Information
435-719-2313
Backcountry
- Alcove Spring Trail
- The Alcove Spring Trail leads from the mesa top, immediately east of Upheaval Dome, into Trail Canyon. The route descends through Trail Canyon for several miles to meet Taylor
- Deadman's Trail
- Deadmans Trail leads northward from the eastern rim of Horseshoe Canyon to the canyon bottom. The route is dry and steep, but there is usually water on the floor
- Devils Kitchen Trail
- This route leads almost two and a half miles northward then westward from Chesler Park. It parallels Elephant Canyon as it winds through spires and around fins along the
- Fort Bottom Ruin Trail
- The Fort Bottom Ruin Trail is a moderately difficult trail that descends two miles to the Colorado River from White Rim Road. The destination of this route, abend in
- Gooseberry Trail
- This route leads northeastward from the mesa top at Grand View Point three miles to Gooseberry Camp. The route descends steeply through the various layers of the canyon to
- Gooseneck Trail
- The Gooseneck Trail begins from the eastern portion of White Rim Road slightly more than one mile west of the Potash/White Rim Road junction. It leads one half mile
- Lost Canyon Trail
- This route leads from Squaw Canyon Trail southward over a slickrock pass then descends into the Lost Canyon drainage. The track connects Squaw Canyon Trail with Peekaboo Trail. It
- Moses and Zeus Trail
- This route can be accessed from Alcove Spring Trail at the confluence of Trail and Taylor Canyons. Follow Alcove Spring Trail northward from Upheaval Dome Road. The trail descends
- Murphy Point Trail
- This short, easy trail leads visitors on a level trek to Murphy Point for expansive views to the west, north and south. This trail leads to the only area
- Neck Spring Trail
- The Neck Spring Trail forms an irregular loop that passes the springs at the head of Taylor Canyon. The loop begins along the Main Island Road approximately one half
- North Canyon Trail
- This route leads eastward into and through North Trail Canyon. It begins approximately two and a half miles east of the Hans Flat Ranger Station on North Point Road.
- Peekaboo Trail
- The Peekaboo Trail lies east of Chesler Park and crosses three drainages to reach Peekaboo Camp. There is a lot of up and down hiking from one drainage to
- Spanish Bottom Trail
- This trail begins in the Dollhouse area of the Maze and leads one and a half miles eastward to the Colorado River. The trail descends 1,200 feet into Cataract
- Squaw Canyon Trail
- This route leads southward from Squaw Flat Loop A Trailhead through Squaw Canyon. It is a relatively easy hike through a winding canyon. There are three trail junctions along
- Surprise Valley Overlook Trail
- This route leads one and a half miles from the Dollhouse to an overlook of Surprise Valley. The valley lies between the canyon top and Cataract Canyon at approximately
- The Golden Stairs Trail
- This route descends a steep cliff face losing 720 feet in two miles. The trail begins at the end of the Golden Stairs spur of Flint Trail and ends
- Wilhite Trail
- The Wilhite Trail leads westward five miles from Upheaval Dome Road to White Rim Road. The route leads along the mesa top for a mile before beginning a steep
- Devils Pocket Trail
- Location: In the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park
Difficulty: Intermediate
Length: 5 mile loop
Elevation: 250 feet
Time to Allow: 3 hours
Camping Info: Dispersed camping allowed
Season: Year round, but best Apr.-May and
- Grays Pasture Trail
- Location: Off the main scenic drive in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park
Difficulty: Difficult
Length: 11 mile roundtrip
Elevation: 1600 feet
Time to Allow: 5 to 7 hours
Camping
- Hogback Trail
- Location: Off the main scenic drive in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park
Difficulty: Difficult
Length: 9.75 mi. semi-loop
Elevation: 1400 feet
Time to Allow: 5 to 7 hours
Camping
- Holeman Spring Trail
- Location: Off the main scenic drive in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park
Difficulty: Difficult
Length: 12 mile roundtrip
Elevation: 1700 feet
Time to Allow: 6 to 8 hours
Camping
Campground
- Squaw Flat Campground
- Located in the Needles, Squaw Flat Campground is an ideal base camp for day hikes to popular destinations like Chesler Park, Druid Arch and the Joint Trail. There are
- Willow Flat Campground
- Located at the Island in the Sky, the Willow Flat Campground is a short walk from one of the finest sunset spots in the park: Green River Overlook. Twelve
