Canyonlands National Park Travel Guide

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Canyonlands National Park Travel Tips

  • In the far southern reaches of Utah, the Colorado and Green Rivers carved the high desert into a labyrinth of red-rock canyons that are sheer ecstasy for the hiker, mountain biker, and whitewater adventurer. The park is broken into three distinct districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, and The Maze. The vast landscape offers hundred-mile vistas of rust-colored pinnacles, high mesas, sculpted buttes, sandstone spires, and sheer crimson cliffs.
  • Land of Standing Rocks, at the heart of the Maze District, has groups of strangely shaped rock spires that are fun to explore. Hiking routes branch off to overlooks and down to Cataract Canyon’s first set of rapids.
  • You don't need a permit for rock climbing or canyoneering, but a backcountry permit is required for overnight stays.
  • Explore the high mesa in the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands.
  • Though most of the park's wildlife comes out at night, during the day you might spot the sure-footed bighorn sheep that likes to impress technical climbers with its ability to clamber up canyon cliffs without any gear. Check the skies for red-tailed hawk, golden eagle, peregrine falcon, and turkey vulture—and be glad you're not carrion.

Canyonlands National Park Travel Guide

Utah's largest national park is not for the sightseer out for a Sunday afternoon drive. Instead, it rewards those willing to spend time and energy—lots of energy—exploring the rugged backcountry. Sliced into districts by the Colorado and Green rivers, which are the park's primary architects, this is a land of extremes: vast panoramas, dizzyingly deep canyons, dramatically steep cliffs, broad mesas, and towering red spires. Read More

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1 Questions | 1 Answers
  • Hi my name is Trey. My friend, Ryan, and I will be flying into Salt Lake on June 8 and in Utah until June 16. One of the things that we would like to do, if possible, is canoe down a slow, easy to navigate river and perhaps stop and camp a couple of nights along the way. Is this possible? We'd like to do it on our own, or is it required that we go with a group and/or a guide?
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Hotels

Red Cliffs Lodge

Best Resorts & Lodges
Mile Post 14 Hwy 128
Moab, UT 84532 Map

Distance: 42.3 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0

White Rim Road Campsites

Canyonlands National Park, 2282 SW Resource Blvd.
Moab, UT 84532 Map

Distance: 19.9 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0
4.0

Kayenta Campground

Dead Horse Point State Park, P.O. Box 609
Moab , UT 84532-0609 Map

Distance: 24.4 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0
4.0
All Canyonlands National Park Hotels »
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Attractions

Sheri Griffith Expeditions

expert favorite attraction
Moab
P.O. 1324
Moab, Utah 84532

Distance: 28.6 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Adventurous rafting expeditions head down raging waters and tranquil sections of the Colorado and... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0
5_0

Dead Horse Point State Park

32 miles northwest of Moab
P.O. Box 609
Moab , Utah 84532-0609

Distance: 23.3 mi. (from destination center)

Description: From this narrow neck of land at an elevation of 5,900 feet, you can peer into goosenecks of the... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Island in the Sky District

expert favorite attraction
Canyonlands National Park
2282 SW Resource Blvd.
Moab, Utah 84532

Distance: 28.5 mi. (from destination center)

Description:

The Colorado and Green Rivers form the boundaries of Island in the Sky District. It's in the... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0
All Canyonlands National Park Attractions »

Airports

Major Airports near Canyonlands National Park

Distance (mi.)
Salt Lake City International Airport 216.2 map
Colorado Springs Municipal Airport 276.0 map
Albuquerque International Airport 277.6 map

Other Smaller Airports near Canyonlands National Park

Distance (mi.)
Moab Canyonlands Field 41.4 map
Cortez Montezuma County Airport 84.8 map
Grand Junction Walker Field 93.4 map

Flight Deals to Canyonlands National Park

Originating From
Denver (DEN) to Salt Lake City (SLC) $106
Las Vegas (LAS) to Salt Lake City (SLC) $140
San Diego (SAN) to Salt Lake City (SLC) $157
Kansas City (MKC) to Salt Lake City (SLC) $168
Oakland (OAK) to Salt Lake City (SLC) $177

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