Canyonlands National Park | American Tour Association

A PLACE TO REMEMBER

Make room for the wonder.

Vast mesas, river canyons and distant horizons make Canyonlands feel immense. Pick a district before you travel: Island in the Sky and The Needles offer distinct experiences and are not linked by a road through the park.

Small rounded canyons with large sandstone cliffs and mountains in the background — Canyons in The Needles district
NPS/Rhodes Smartt · Photography credit

a broad stone arch with rock pinnacles in the distance — Mesa Arch, at Island in the Sky, is a great spot for photographers.
NPS/Neal Herbert · Photography credit

BUILD YOUR OWN PARK DAY

Places to consider

01Island in the Sky overlooks
02Grand View Point
03The Needles district

Choose the stops that suit your time and your party. These are ideas for exploring, rather than a fixed itinerary or a promise that every road, trail or facility will be open.

A nearby viewpoint is a different park

Dead Horse Point State Park is a separate Utah state park near the Island in the Sky approach. It can complement a Moab itinerary, but its admission and access arrangements are separate from Canyonlands.

Before you set out

Avoid treating separate districts as adjacent stops. Ordinary rental cars and motorcoaches are not suited to every park road.

Give the day room

Allow time for the approach, parking and breaks. Pick walks for the least mobile members of your party, and leave space for weather or a change of plans.

Bring your group

Confirm vehicle access, drop-off and parking with the park. Check any guided tours, transport and accessibility arrangements before fixing the rest of the itinerary.

Official park visitor guide ↗Current conditions ↗

Check the official NPS guide for current access, fees, passes, reservations and permits. Gateway names identify useful surrounding communities or access areas, not exact entrance directions. Photographs may show earlier seasons or conditions.