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About Canyonlands
Canyonlands National Park preserves 527 square miles (848 square
km) of colorful canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches and spires
in the heart of the Colorado Plateau in Southeastern Utah. Water
and gravity have been the prime architects of this land, carving
flat layers of sedimentary rock into the landscape seen today.
At center stage are two great canyons formed by the Green and
Colorado rivers, which divide the park into four districts: to
the north, the Island in the Sky; to the west, the Maze; to the
southeast, the Needles; and the Rivers themselves.
While these areas offer unique rewards, they share a common primitive
spirit and wild desert atmosphere. Few people were familiar with
these remote lands when the park was established in 1964. Prehistoric
people, Native Americans, cowboys, river explorers and uranium
prospectors visited this rugged corner of Southeastern Utah, but
few others did. To a large degree, much of Canyonlands remains
untrammeled today. Its roads are mostly unpaved, its trails primitive,
its rivers free flowing.
Each district retains its own character and offers different opportunities
for sightseeing and exploration. The Island in the Sky offers
expansive views from many overlooks, hiking trails, and is the
easiest to visit in a short period of time. The Needles offers
more of a back country experience, requiring some hiking or four-wheel
driving to see the area's attractions. The Maze is entirely a
back country area and requires considerably more time and preparation
to visit. The Rivers also offer a unique way to experience this
region, and are usually accessed outside the park near Green River
or Moab, Utah.
There are no roads that directly link the park's districts. Although
they may appear close on a map, traveling between them requires
two to six hours by car. Most people find it impractical to visit
all of the districts in a single trip.
The climate in Canyonlands is characterized by very hot summers,
pleasant spring and fall months, and cold winters. Light snowfalls
occur during winter, closing many of the unpaved roads. Spring
brings wildflowers, while violent thunderstorms and most rainfall
comes during late summer. Autumn days are comfortable and the
foliage colorful.
Park visitation increases dramatically during the more temperate
periods of spring and fall. Campgrounds and popular back country
areas usually fill every night from mid-March to Memorial Day
and, again, from Labor Day through mid-October. If you are planning
to camp, be prepared with a backup plan in case no sites are available.
Back country permits and group campsites may be reserved in advance,
but all developed campgrounds are first-come, first-served.
For More Information
- Contact
- Canyonlands National Park
- 2282 S. West Resource Blvd.
- Moab, UT 84532-8000
Phone: (435)259-7164
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Park Profile
