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Canyonlands National Park Introduction
Canyonland National Park preserves a colorful landscape eroded into countless canyons, mesas and buttes by the Colorado River, the Green River and their tributaries. The rivers divide the park into four districts: the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze and the rivers themselves. While these areas share a primitive desert atmosphere, each retains its own character and offers different opportunities for exploration. There are no roads that directly link each district, so getting to each district will take some driving time on paved highways. Most park visitors plan to stay in Moab, Utah and make day trips to each area of Canyonlands National Park.
When visiting Canyonlands National Park in the Summer months, be prepared for extreme heat. Dress light, bring plenty of water and try to stay in the shade during the heat of the day.
Camping is available at designated campgrounds within the park, however there is no lodging in Canyonlands National Park. Backcountry backpacking is allow in Canyonlands National Park, with a permit that can be obtained at the respective visitors centers. For more information visit National Park Service Site listed below. If you don't want to camp, you can find lodging in Moab, Utah here.
Island in the Sky
The Island in the Sky mesa rests on sheer sandstone cliffs over 1,000 feet above the surrounding terrain. Every overlook offers a different perspective on Canyonlands’ spectacular landscape. The Island is the easiest district to visit in a short period of time, offering many pullouts with spectacular views along the paved scenic drive. Hiking trails and four-wheel-drive roads access backcountry areas for day or overnight trips.
40 minute drive from Moab
The Needles
The Needles District forms the southeast corner of Canyonlands National Park and was named for the colorful spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone that dominate the area. The district’s extensive trail system provides many opportunities for long day hikes and overnight trips. Foot trails and four-wheel-drive roads lead to such features as Tower Ruin, Confluence Overlook, Elephant Hill, the Joint Trail, and Chesler Park.
The Needles District offers over 60 miles of interconnecting trails as challenging as they are rewarding. Conditions are primitive. Most trails traverse a mixture of slickrock benches and sandy washes. Longer trails are especially rough and require negotiating steep passes with drop-offs, narrow spots, or ladders. Water in the backcountry is unreliable and scarce in some areas. Trails are marked with cairns (small rock piles). Although most trails can be hiked in a day by strong hikers, many form loops and may be combined with other trails for longer trips.
100 minute drive from Moab
The Maze
The Maze is the least accessible district of Canyonlands. Due to the district’s remoteness and the difficulty of roads and trails, travel to the Maze requires more time, as well as a greater degree of self-sufficiency. Rarely do visitors spend less than three days in the Maze, and the area can easily absorb a week-long trip.
Trails in the Maze are primitive and lead into canyons and to various viewpoints. Due to the nature and depth of Maze canyons, access to them is limited. Routes into the canyons are cairned from mesa top to canyon bottom, but routes through washes are often unmarked. Many of the canyons look alike and are difficult to identify without a topographic map. The Maze Overlook Trail and other routes in the district require basic climbing maneuvers in order to negotiate sections of steep slickrock and pour-offs. A 25-foot length of rope is often essential for raising or lowering packs in difficult spots. Many routes may make hikers with a fear of heights uncomfortable.
3 hour drive from Moab to Hans Flat ranger station. From the ranger station, the canyons of the Maze are another 3 to 6 hours by high-clearance, four-wheel drive.
Colorado and Green Rivers
The Colorado and Green rivers wind through the heart of Canyonlands National Park, cutting through layered sandstone to form two deep canyons. Both rivers are calm upstream of the Confluence, ideal for canoes, kayaks and other shallow water craft. Below the Confluence, the combined flow of both rivers spills down Cataract Canyon with remarkable speed and power, creating a world-class stretch of white water.
On both rivers, all launch ramps are outside Canyonlands National Park. Launch locations on the Green River typically include Green River State Park, Ruby Ranch or Mineral Bottom. On the Colorado, boaters typically use the Potash or Moab ramps. There is no vehicle access to the rivers near the Confluence or in Cataract Canyon. While hiking trails lead to the rivers from each of the districts, these trails are too long and rugged to be seriously considered for shuttles, even for inflatables and other lightweight boats.
Pictures of Canyonlands National Park
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Canyonlands National Park Photos and Descriptions Courtesy of The National Park Service and National Outdoors
Location
Canyonlands National Park
United States
38° 18' 25.8516" N, 109° 55' 5.5668" W
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