| Canyonlands National Park |
By: Carla Bailey
If your idea of an outdoor adventure includes a bar by the pool, then Canyonlands National Park is not your ideal destination. If
you are looking for peace and quiet with scenic vistas, ancient ruins and adventure, then a trip to Utah may be in order.
The largest National Park in Utah, Canyonlands covers 527 square miles on the Colorado Plateau and is known as one of the
“most remote and inaccessible areas of the United States”.
The geology of the park is what makes Canyonlands unique. Formed by deposition, erosion and uplift, the landscape is full of
box canyons, deep river gorges, and mesas. The Colorado and Green Rivers divide the park into four distinct areas, Island In
The Sky, The Maze and The Needles, as well as the detached portion, Horseshoe Canyon. The elevation ranges from 7,120
feet, at Cathedral Point in The Needles District, to 3,700 feet at Big Drop Rapids on the Colorado River.
With 125 miles of hiking trails and 196 miles of unpaved roads, Canyonlands is any outdoor enthusiasts utopia. In addition to
hiking and four-wheel-driving, the park offers camping, river rafting, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Numerous
Interpretive Programs are also offered such as: overlook talks, guided walks, and evening programs. Numerous trails have
brochures that can be obtained at one of the Visitor’s Center. While there is no single road connecting all the areas of
Canyonlands, paved roads are accessible at Island of the Sky and The Needles and unpaved roads are accessible from all
three park entrances. Scenic drives, along paved roads, are available at Island of the Sky and The Needles. Island of the Sky
has a 34-mile (round trip) drive that tours the Mesa top and offers many overlooks and picnic areas. The Needles scenic drive is
only 7 miles, but offers many trailheads and views that can be seen from the car. The most popular unpaved road is the 100-
mile White Rim Road, almost all unpaved roads in the park require four-wheel-drive vehicles. Campgrounds are available
along all routes, some developed and some undeveloped.
While the geology of Canyonlands National Park is the main attraction, the park also contains “some of the most significant rock
art in North America” as well as ruins of dwellings and storehouses from Ancestral Puebloan Indians. In The Needles District,
Roadside Ruin and Tower Ruin showcases ancient architecture and in Salt Creek Canyon are examples of ancient art known
as petroglyphs. Ancient ruins are also located in the Island of the Sky district, accessible by the Aztec Butte Trail.
The park has two Visitor’s Centers, one in The Island of the Sky District and the other in The Maze District. Both offer exhibits,
publications and additional information. While there is no Visitor’s Center in The Needles District, there is a Ranger Station,
Hans Flat Ranger Station, which does offer a small number of books and maps for sale. There are two main campgrounds,
Willow Camp, in the Island of the Sky District, and Squaw Flat, in The Needles District. Both campgrounds have picnic tables,
grills and toilets. Primitive campsites are located along backcountry roads and permits are required. All other lodging is located
outside of the park in the cities of Green River, Moab and Monticello. The closest major airport is in Salt Lake City with small
commuter flights daily to Moab.
If your idea of an outdoor adventure includes a bar by the pool, then Canyonlands National Park is not your ideal destination. If
you are looking for peace and quiet with scenic vistas, ancient ruins and adventure, then a trip to Utah may be in order.
The largest National Park in Utah, Canyonlands covers 527 square miles on the Colorado Plateau and is known as one of the
“most remote and inaccessible areas of the United States”.
The geology of the park is what makes Canyonlands unique. Formed by deposition, erosion and uplift, the landscape is full of
box canyons, deep river gorges, and mesas. The Colorado and Green Rivers divide the park into four distinct areas, Island In
The Sky, The Maze and The Needles, as well as the detached portion, Horseshoe Canyon. The elevation ranges from 7,120
feet, at Cathedral Point in The Needles District, to 3,700 feet at Big Drop Rapids on the Colorado River.
With 125 miles of hiking trails and 196 miles of unpaved roads, Canyonlands is any outdoor enthusiasts utopia. In addition to
hiking and four-wheel-driving, the park offers camping, river rafting, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Numerous
Interpretive Programs are also offered such as: overlook talks, guided walks, and evening programs. Numerous trails have
brochures that can be obtained at one of the Visitor’s Center. While there is no single road connecting all the areas of
Canyonlands, paved roads are accessible at Island of the Sky and The Needles and unpaved roads are accessible from all
three park entrances. Scenic drives, along paved roads, are available at Island of the Sky and The Needles. Island of the Sky
has a 34-mile (round trip) drive that tours the Mesa top and offers many overlooks and picnic areas. The Needles scenic drive is
only 7 miles, but offers many trailheads and views that can be seen from the car. The most popular unpaved road is the 100-
mile White Rim Road, almost all unpaved roads in the park require four-wheel-drive vehicles. Campgrounds are available
along all routes, some developed and some undeveloped.
While the geology of Canyonlands National Park is the main attraction, the park also contains “some of the most significant rock
art in North America” as well as ruins of dwellings and storehouses from Ancestral Puebloan Indians. In The Needles District,
Roadside Ruin and Tower Ruin showcases ancient architecture and in Salt Creek Canyon are examples of ancient art known
as petroglyphs. Ancient ruins are also located in the Island of the Sky district, accessible by the Aztec Butte Trail.
The park has two Visitor’s Centers, one in The Island of the Sky District and the other in The Maze District. Both offer exhibits,
publications and additional information. While there is no Visitor’s Center in The Needles District, there is a Ranger Station,
Hans Flat Ranger Station, which does offer a small number of books and maps for sale. There are two main campgrounds,
Willow Camp, in the Island of the Sky District, and Squaw Flat, in The Needles District. Both campgrounds have picnic tables,
grills and toilets. Primitive campsites are located along backcountry roads and permits are required. All other lodging is located
outside of the park in the cities of Green River, Moab and Monticello. The closest major airport is in Salt Lake City with small
commuter flights daily to Moab.
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| Newspaper Rock, Canyonlands National Park |
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