National Park
Canyonlands National Park
- Southwest
- 9 hikes
- 13 places to see
- 2 current alerts
Current alerts
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Caution
Mineral Bottom and White Rim Road are open but not recommended
The Mineral Bottom Road switchbacks and west side of the White Rim Road are slippery and muddy due to recent rains. They are passable but travel is not recommended until the roads dry out.
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Notice
Trip-planning tips for 2026
Planning to visit Canyonlands this year? To ensure the best experience, please anticipate potentially long wait times at the entrance station. If overlook or trailhead parking is full, plan to return a little later. Please avoid parking on vegetation and roadways to help preserve this beautiful plac…
From the National Park Service, as of October 31, 2026, 5:14 pm. Check nps.gov before you go.
About Canyonlands
Canyonlands is a wilderness of canyons, buttes, and spires carved by the Colorado River and Green River. The park is divided into four distinct districts; no roads join them together. The districts share similar desert ecosystems, but each one provides unique opportunities for adventure and discovery.
From the National Park Service.
- Region
- Southwest
- State
- Utah
- Designation
- National Park
- Entrance fee
- $30, private vehicle
- Hikes on this page
- 9
- Places to see
- 13
- Articles
- 2
Know before you go
Fees, hours, weather and getting to Canyonlands.
Entrance fees
- $30 Private Vehicle Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less) and all its occupants.
- $25 Motorcycle
- $15 Per Person
Passes
- $55 Annual Entrance - Park
Hours
Open Year-round
Open 24 hours a day, every day.
Canyonlands National Park is generally open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Weather and when to go
Canyonlands is part of the Colorado Plateau, a "high desert" region that experiences wide temperature fluctuations, sometimes over 40 degrees in a single day. The temperate (and most popular) seasons are spring (April-May) and fall (mid-September-October), when daytime highs average 60 to 80 F and lows average 30 to 50 F. Summer temperatures often exceed 100 F, making strenuous exercise difficult. Winters are cold, with highs averaging 30 to 50 F, and lows averaging 0 to 20 F.
Getting there
Canyonlands National Park is cut into three land districts by the Green and Colorado rivers. Island in the Sky, in the north of the park, is about 40 minutes from Moab, UT via UT 313. The Needles district is in the southeast corner of Canyonlands, about 90 minutes from Moab or an hour from Monticello, UT via UT 211. The Maze district, in the west of the park, is the most remote and challenging; its ranger station is down 46 miles of dirt road from UT 24. All roads in The Maze require high-clearance 4WD.
- Gateway towns
- Moab, UT · Monticello, UT
- Nearest airports
- Canyonlands Field (CNY) · Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT) · Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Contact the park
- Address
- Island in the Sky - 33 miles from Moab on UT 313, The Needles - 49 miles from Monticello on UT 211, The Maze - 68 miles from Hanksville off UT 24 - unpaved roa…, Moab, UT 84532
- Phone
- (435) 719-2313
- canyinfo@nps.gov
- Official site
- nps.gov/cany
From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.
Trip planner
A day-by-day plan for Canyonlands
Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.
The trails and places you save below go into your plan as must-sees.
Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.
Where to stay for Canyonlands
The gateway towns, closest first. Add your dates in the planner to search for your own nights.
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Moab, UT Closest
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Monticello, UT
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Guided tours and trips
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Things to do in Canyonlands
The park service's own list, with how long each takes.
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Stargazing Events in Southeast Utah
Rangers occasionally lead stargazing programs and events at parks throughout southeast Utah. Learn about what to expect and check out a schedule of stargazing events at Arches and…
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Hiking at Canyonlands
Canyonlands has hundreds of miles of hiking trails which explore the park’s natural and cultural features. Both Island in the Sky and The Needles provide ample opportunities for s…
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Experience the Shafer Trail
The Shafer Trail is a challenging, unpaved backcountry road for recreational users seeking the experience of a lifetime. High-clearance 4WD vehicles with a low range gear (4LO) ar…
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Auto Touring in Canyonlands
There are hundreds of miles of unpaved roads in Canyonlands, providing access to various campsites, trailheads, and viewpoints in the park's backcountry. Most roads require high-c…
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Rock Climbing at Canyonlands
The sandstone towers at the Island in the Sky attract the most rock climbers. We do not see many climbers in the rest of the park due to the poor rock quality and a lack of establ…
Places to see
Viewpoints
Campgrounds in Canyonlands
Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.
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The Needles Campground
The Needles Campground has 26 individual sites. Nightly camping fee for an individual site is $20. You can reserve some individual sites spring through fall. O…
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Island in the Sky (Willow Flat) Campground
Island in the Sky Campground (Willow Flat) has 12 sites, first-come, first-served. The campground is open year-round. The spectacular Green River Overlook is n…
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The Needles District Group Campsites
The Needles district has three group campsites in different locations, which can accommodate up to 15, 25, or 50 campers (respectively). Group campsites may be…
Reading about Canyonlands
What to pack for Canyonlands
Gear & Essentials
Tell us about your trip and we will add what else you will want:
The basics
Worth having in the car whatever the park.
For this trip
Traveling with kids
Bringing a pet
RVing
Backcountry
Winter conditions
On the water
Photography
Accessibility
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