Canyonlands National Park

Island in the Sky

Set atop sandstone bluffs more than 1,000 feet over the surrounding country, this flat mesa lets visitors look down into canyons and the rivers that cut them. A 34-mile round-trip paved drive follows the rim, with pullouts at many overlooks, so it is possible to see much of the district in a short visit. Grand View Point is known for its sunset light, and Green River Overlook gazes across the river that helped shape the land. Hikers can pick from easy walks on the top or longer, tougher routes that drop toward the White Rim Road, a 100-mile road that circles below the mesa with wide views. Upheaval Dome, an unusual crater, is reached by a brief hike that takes real effort. Visitors can stop at the visitor center for displays, backcountry permit sales and water.

The Needles

Colorful spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone rise across this southeastern corner of the park and gave the district its name. Over 60 miles of interconnecting trails range from short walks to overnight routes, and backpackers can link canyons and mesa tops into loops. A three-mile trail from the Elephant Hill trailhead leads to a saddle overlooking Chesler Park, an open expanse of desert grasses and shrubs. Confluence Overlook looks down on the meeting of the Colorado and Green rivers and can be reached on foot or by four-wheel-drive vehicle. About 50 miles of challenging backcountry roads serve campsites, trailheads and cultural sites, including Tower Ruin, an ancient Puebloan structure. Prehistoric pictographs appear along several trails. Four short self-guided trails line the 13-mile scenic drive, and the campground amphitheater hosts evening and night sky ranger programs.

The Maze

This is the least accessible district of the park, and reaching it takes more time than elsewhere. Difficult roads and trails mean visitors must bring the right equipment and be ready for self-rescue. Four-wheel-drive roads are extremely remote and should not be tried by inexperienced drivers. Backpacking here is primitive, and many canyons look alike without a topographic map. Routes drop through deep canyons, past steep slickrock and pour-offs, so basic climbing skills help. The Maze Overlook Trail descends steeply from the overlook to a wash bottom. Landmarks include the Chocolate Drops, a series of sandstone mesas rising above the land around them, and The Doll House. Hans Flat Ranger Station sells maps and books and can tell you about the reliable springs in the canyons.

The Rivers

The Colorado and Green Rivers have cut deep canyons into layered sandstone, and the view from the water is quite different from the view above. Upstream of The Confluence, the current slows and the channels open into flatwater for canoes and kayaks. Below that meeting point, the joined river drops into Cataract Canyon, a fourteen-mile run of whitewater rated Class III to V and well suited to rafting. Boats put in at Green River State Park, Ruby Ranch or Mineral Bottom on the Green, and at the Potash or Moab ramps on the Colorado. Vehicles cannot reach the river near The Confluence or inside Cataract Canyon. Trips through these stretches typically involve several nights of riverside camping. Outfitters in the area run guided floats that last from half a day to a week.

Horseshoe Canyon

Tucked into a very small section north of The Maze, this canyon holds some of the most significant pictographs in North America. The Great Gallery, its best-known panel, shows well-preserved, life-sized figures decorated with intricate designs. Reaching it means a strenuous round trip of about seven miles, with a steep descent at the start and a steep climb at the end, over rocky ground and deep sand. Rangers lead hikes here, and riders can bring horses or mules, though animals must stay in the wash bottom and cannot be ridden up to the rock art. Sheer sandstone walls rise above an intermittent stream lined with mature cottonwood groves, and spring wildflowers brighten the canyon floor. A four-wheel-drive road to the east rim starts at the Hans Flat Ranger Station, where horse permits are obtained.