Canyonlands National Park

We visited Canyonlands National park as part of our southwest road trip. It is close to Arches National park, and both Parks can be seen on one trip. Click here to read our experience from the previous day.

It was a 30 miles drive from Moab, UT, to the Island in the Sky Visitor Center, the entrance fee was $30, and it was coved in the annual national park. There were no lodging and food options inside the park. The Island in the Sky section is the most popular section among the three areas of Canyonlands National Park; the other two are The Maze and The Needles. Here is the official website to get more information about Canyonlands National Park.

We drove on Grand View Point Rd and stopped at various lookout points.

Shafer Canyon Overlook The first lookout point after you pass the visitor center.

Mesa Arch is one of the most popular spots to photograph at sunrise. There was a .6-mile hike from the parking lot. You can see beautiful views of the valley

Green River Overlook offers the best view of the Green river and how it carved out the canyon.

Buck Canyon Overlook, we can see the White Rim Road down there

Grand View Point Overlook is the last lookout point on this road. You can also hike 2 miles round trip till Grand View Point

That day was scorching, making it difficult to even stand for 5-10 minutes to take pictures at each lookout. To avoid the afternoon heat, we returned to our Moab hotel. Other short hikes that can be included are Whale Rock (1 mile) and Upheaval Dome (1 mile). You can also drive White Rim Road using four-wheel drive (permit required)

In the evening we booked the two hour ATV sunset tour High Point Hummer & ATV

It was a six-seater ATV with a driver. You could also rent the ATV, which you could drive. You start by climbing a very steep and narrow cliff.

 At some point, it feels like you are going up to the sky because you are climbing at a nearly 90-degree angle. The drive is bumpy; the drive is up and down. There were no roads, and it drove on the sand dunes but could see the tire tracks.

It offers beautiful views of the sand dunes and the valley. We even got to see some dinosaur tracks.

Sunset views on this tour were breathtaking.

We only visited Island in the Sky section, which is the most popular; you can also hike longer trails or drive the four-wheel-drive roads. The Needles is 40 miles south of Moab and can be visited on the way to Moab, UT. Maze is the least accessible district of Canyonlands. Due to the district’s remoteness and the difficulty of roads and trails, travel to the Maze requires more time.

We stayed three nights in Moab, UT, and visited Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. If you have more time, you can also visit Dead Horse Point State Park, which is 15 miles from Canyonlands National Park and can be seen on the same day. Our next stop is Capitol Reef National Park.