Canyonlands National Park
The Green and Colorado rivers split Canyonlands into four districts, and no roads link them, so planning a visit starts with choosing where to go. Island in the Sky is about 40 minutes from Moab; the Needles is a longer drive south. This hub brings our Canyonlands guides together.
Top sights
Mesa Arch
A cliff-edge arch on a short loop trail, famous for sunrise.
Island in the Sky
The mesa-top district closest to Moab, with paved roads and the big overlooks.
Grand View Point
The end of the Island in the Sky road, with a rim walk above the canyons.
Upheaval Dome
A strange crater of buckled rock, with two overlooks a short walk apart.
The Needles
Banded sandstone spires and longer day hikes in the park’s southeast corner.
The Maze
The park’s least accessible district, reached only by rough 4WD roads.
Round-trip distance and times from the National Park Service, with elevation gain where it gives one.
Where to stay
The best hotels near CanyonlandsMoab
The easy base for Island in the Sky and Arches. If you’re focusing on the Needles, Monticello is closer.
Hotels, Airbnbs and campsites
Itineraries
Map
Before you go
- Entrance fees: $30 per private vehicle, $25 per motorcycle or $15 per person on foot or by bike; under-16s are free. A $55 annual pass for US residents also covers Arches, Natural Bridges and Hovenweep. The $100 non-resident fee charged at Zion and Bryce Canyon doesn’t apply here.
- 4WD roads: White Rim, Elephant Hill, Lavender Canyon and Peekaboo roads need a day-use permit for every vehicle and bike: online from 8am Mountain Time the day before, or free in person at a visitor centre on the day. Shafer Trail and Potash Road don’t need one.
- Fire closures: after the Babylon Fire in summer 2026, the Needles reopened on 18 July, but Elephant Hill, Lavender Canyon and Davis Canyon roads stayed closed. Check their status before you plan a 4WD day.
- Grand View Point: remodelling works run from late summer to early autumn 2026.
- Heat: spring and mid-September to October are the most comfortable; summer often tops 100°F.
- Dead Horse Point: the overlook on the way to Island in the Sky is a Utah state park with its own fee, $20 per vehicle.
- Check the latest alerts before you go.
We check these details against the National Park Service whenever we update this page.