Canyonlands National Park
Visitor Services
To reach Island in the Sky, the northernmost district of the park, drive north on U.S. 191 from Arches and then go 25 miles west on Route 313. A turn-off leads to Dead Horse Point State Park. From this vantage point, you have a panoramic view of the Colorado River and the terrain of Canyon-lands. To enter the park at the Needles District, drive south from Moab on U.S. 191 then west on Route 211, or north from Monticello on U.S. 191 14 miles, then approximately 32 miles on Route 211.
Park Fees: Entrance to Canyonlands is $10 per car and $5 per pedestrian or bicyclist (good for seven days). Fees are subject to change.
Visitor Centers: Information offices are in Moab and Monticello, Utah. Visitor centers are located in the Island in the Sky District, 35 miles from Moab, and Needles District, 50 miles northwest of Monticello. They are open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. Hours vary with the season. A ranger station is located in the Maze District, 86 miles south of Green River.
Camping: Please see page 76.
Groceries: A small store with limited supplies is open intermittently at the Needles Outpost. There are no restaurants in the park. For a complete list of dining services in the area, check at the visitor center or contact either the Moab Area Travel Council, PO Box 550, Moab, UT 84532, (800) 635-6622 or the Utah's Canyon Country Visitor Services, P.O. Box 490, Monticello, UT 84535, (800) 574-4386; www.utahscanyoncountry.com.
Food, water, gasoline, tools and emergency supplies are available outside the park in Moab, Monticello, Green River or Hanksville.
Guided and Self-Guiding Tours: Enjoy the park's truly remarkable scenery on 4-wheel-drive tours, hiking trips, mountain biking tours and river rafting trips operated by commercial tour guides. Most tours require reservations. A list of tour companies is available by contacting the park.
Exploring on your own also offers many options. See Canyonlands either by driv-ing on paved roads or, if you have a 4-wheel-drive vehicle, from more rugged, remote roads. Trips can be as short as a day or longer than a week. Primitive campsites are located along many roads; backcountry permits, available at the visitor centers, are required, and reservations (fee charged) are recommended. For more information, please write the Backcountry Reservations Office, 2282 Southwest Resource Boulevard, Moab, UT 84532; (435) 259-4351.
Always carry plenty of food, fuel, water, tools and first-aid supplies. In remote areas it is advisable to travel with another party in a second vehicle. Contact the park for permit information and current road conditions when planning a trip on 4-wheel-drive roads. Please see "Activities" on pages 76—78 for more information.
Hiking: Please see page 78 for more information.
Lodging and Other Services: Accommo-dations, laundry facilities, gas stations, and bank-ing, postal and religious services, and other traveler amenities are available in Moab, Monticello and Green River.
Medical Emergencies: Emergency first aid is available at visitor centers located in the Needles and the Island in the Sky districts. Hospital facilities are in Moab and Monticello.
Park Programs: You can enjoy ranger-led talks and campfire programs from May through September. Self-guiding trails are also popular.
RV Facilities: Private campgrounds with utility hookups are located in Moab and Monticello, Green River and Hanksville.
Special Services: - The Moab Information Center and Southeast Utah Welcome Center in Monticello are wheelchair-accessible.
Weather Information: The park's desert climate is characterized by hot summers (100°F/38°C), a pleasant spring and autumn, and cool winters. Low humidity tempers the heat of the summer. Limited rainfall generally occurs in late summer to early fall. Light snowfall is the rule in winter. Winter visits require layered clothing.
Park Address: For more information, please contact Canyonlands National Park, 2282 Southwest Resource Boulevard, Moab, UT 84532; (435) 719-2313; or www.nps.gov/cany.
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.
