A Weekend at Canyonlands National Park
Another weekend adventure completed and it was at Canyonlands National Park! This park is known for its dramatic desert landscape that surrounds the Colorado River. Canyonlands consists of three parts - Island of the Sky (the most popular to visit), The Needles, and The Maze. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a 4-wheel drive vehicle, so we couldn’t visit The Needles or The Maze. So, here are all my recommendations for the Island of the Sky trails!
DAY ONE - Island of the Sky Trails
On Day 1, we hit quite a few trails! Each trail we hiked was relatively short so we were able to fit in multiple. We arrived at Canyonlands around 7:30am and drove straight to Mesa Arch. Mesa Arch is the most popular hike in the park so we wanted to knock it off early so we’d beat the crowds! This trail is popular among photographers and is a great spot to catch a sunrise.
MESA ARCH TRAIL
Trail: Short yet sweet, 0.5 miles roundtrip. Great for families, elders, everyone!
From Mesa, we drove to Grand View Point Trail. This is a great viewpoint spot, hence the name! Off the viewpoint area there’s a trail to hike as well if you choose to continue on and see more. It was a tad cloudy when we went, however we couldn’t be more thankful because the clouds really protected us from the heat.
GRAND VIEW POINT TRAIL
Trail: 2 miles roundtrip, out & back
From Grand View Point Trail, we then hit Upheaval Dome. This trail has 2 overlooks which both provide spectacular views of the crater. The clouds cleared up just in time for us to see both overlooks. NOTE: The second overlook is a tad steep to climb to get to the top, please advise carefully.
UPHEAVAL DOME TRAIL
Trail: 1.8 miles roundtrip, out & back (1st Overlook - 0.5 miles, 2nd Overlook - 0. 4 miles)
After wrapping up our hikes, we stopped at two overlooks on our way out of the park - Green River Overlook + Shafer Canyon Viewpoint Trail. If you have time, I recommend seeing both of these viewpoints. They were both incredible + unique in their own ways!
Green River Overlook
Shafer Canyon Viewpoint Trail
DAY TWO - Island of the Sky Trails
GOOSEBERRY TRAIL
Trail: strenuous, 6 miles roundtrip, out & back
In need for a challenge? Hike Gooseberry Trail! This hike is the longest (mile wise) and hardest trail we’ve done so far. You start at Mesa Top and hike to White Rim which is the canyon at the bottom (shown in third photo).
Once you get to the bottom, the canyon is giant and beautiful! It is quite an accomplishment making it to the bottom, but the way up is a whole other ball game. This is the steepest hike offered at Canyonlands National Park with an elevation gain of 1,500 feet. I recommend incredibly durable hiking boots for this hike as there’s lots of loose rock, stairs, and uneven surfaces.
DEAD HORSE STATE PARK
Located near Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse State Park is an iconic spot to hit for sunset. When you arrive, drive all the way to Dead Horse Point Overlook and park. There, grab your lawn chairs or picnic blanket, a delicious beverage, and watch the beautiful colors light up the already incredible view.
There’s not a ton of hiking here, but I’ve listed below a couple options to check out if you prefer to take a walk:
Colorado River Overlook - 1 mile roundtrip
Big Horn Overlook - 3 miles roundtrip
East Rim Trail - 3.5-4 miles roundtrip
West Rim Trail - 5-6 miles roundtrip
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Have a 4-wheel drive vehicle if you’d like to go beyond the Island of the Sky portion of Canyonlands National Park
Hit Dead Horse State Park for sunset
Provide yourself shade with a bucket hat or umbrella, the rocks get toasty!
Looking for more recommendations in Utah? Check out my article on Moab, Arches National Park and Capitol Reef National Park + Goblin Valley State Park.
Zion + Bryce Canyon are coming soon! I can’t wait to hear about your adventures at Canyonlands National Park!