Canyonlands National Park - Island in the Sky District

At 527 square miles Canyonlands National Park, is the largest national park in Utah. The main body of the park is divided into three distinct districts: the Island in the Sky, the Needles, and the Maze. The fourth district is Horseshoe Canyon which is disconnected and lies 5 miles to the west.

While these four districts are close or even adjacent to each other, the districts are not easily connected from within the park so visiting is typically a single district at a time.

Island in the Sky District

The Island in the Sky district is commonly miss-labeled by most visitors to the area as being “Canyonlands National Park” actually it is just one of the four individual districts that make up Canyonlands National Park. It is one of the easiest and most popular districts of the park to explore because it is so close to Moab and is accessible via highway and paved roads.

It gets its name because the main area is a huge mesa formed millions of years ago by erosion of the Colorado and Green Rivers now below it, and it resembles a large “island” as it sits 1000 feet above the canyons below.

The main draw for most visitors is stopping at the viewpoints into the canyons below and secondarily hiking the trails mostly on the mesa top that lead to more viewpoints, and even a few longer trails, some that lead down into the canyons below

The two biggest attractions are Grand View Point and the Shafer Trail switchback road that clings to the walls of Shafer Canyon and connects to The White Rim Road which runs for 100 miles below the mesa top, offering spectacular views and multi-day mountain bike and four-wheel drive trips. Mesa arch is a big draw for photographers to the park to capture the sunrise framed in the arch opening.

Note

Dogs are only allowed in parking lots and campgrounds, not on any trails

Websites

https://www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm

https://www.facebook.com/CanyonlandsNPS/

Photo Notes

Green River Overlook – best photographed at sunset
Grand View Point – best photographed at sunset/sunrise
Grand View Overlook – best photographed at sunset/sunrise
Aztec Butte granaries – is morning when they are in shadow and you can see the full detail / sunset lit by the setting sun

Getting there

Canyonlands (Island in the sky district)

From Moab take US-191 11 miles north until you reach the left-hand turn to UT-313, and continue for 22 miles to Canyonlands National Park (Visitors Center), you have to continue driving into the park for other locations, it’s 12 more miles to the furthest point (Grand view point overlook)

Hours

The park is open all year (24 hours a day).

Cost

$30 per car / good for 7 consecutive days

Shafer Trail / Shafer Canyon viewpoint

The Shafer Trail dirt road clings to the rock walls of Shafer Canyon as it zigzags and switchbacks for five miles down to the canyon bottom where it meets with the White Rim road (permit required), or you can turn left onto Potash Road that takes you back to Moab, passing by the Colorado River goosenecks, some arches, and well-marked petroglyphs.

The Shafer Trail can be driven with a normal car, however, there are narrow sections of the road to watch for oncoming traffic as only one car can fit by at some places.

There are a couple of viewpoints along the canyon rim south of the entrance to Shafer Trail, with views of the Shafer Trail and Shafer Canyon.

Shafer Canyon Overlook ( 38.452752, -109.820069 )

Is a paved parking lot with trails leading out to views over the canyon and the road.

Shafer Trail Viewpoint ( 38.448170, -109.821536 )
Is a pull-off right next to the road and cliff face, where you can get a good view of Shafer Trail Road below you.

White Rim Road (permit required)

The 100-mile White Rim Road, is an un-paved road that loops around and below the Island in the Sky mesa top. It is a Four-wheel-drive/mountain bike trip usually done in at least two to three days but some people do it as one long day.

Under favorable weather conditions (dry conditions), the journey is moderate to difficult for high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicles, while the steep, exposed sections — Lathrop Canyon Road, Murphy Hogback, Hardscrabble Hill, and the Mineral Bottom switchbacks make for a challenging mountain bike ride.

With inclement weather (Snow, rain, wet conditions) the route becomes extreme for both vehicles and bikes.

During high water conditions on the Green River, sections of the road on the west side can flood, making a complete loop impossible. Check current road conditions. https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/road-conditions.htm

In spring and fall, demand can be high for overnight permits and you should make reservations well in advance.

Grand View Point

Grand View Point is the most popular destination in the park. It is regarded as the ‘main viewpoint’ of the park and is located at the southernmost point of the park’s main road – Scenic Drive road. A short, paved sidewalk leads you to this spectacular viewpoint. From here, you can see the Maze and The Needles districts. It is best viewed at sunrise or sunset.

Grand View Overlook – 2 miles ( 38.310800, -109.857000 )

From the man-made cement Grand View Point, there is a trail you can hike out 1 mile to the tip of the mesa to the natural Grand View Overlook.

The trail follows along a narrow finger and the mesa falls away on all three sides. You will get to see some of the same views as you get from the Grand View Point, but the views to the west from the Grand View Point are obstructed by this finger you are on, however, once you are out at the tip you will have views to the west not available to those back a the main Grand View Point.

Mesa Arch 3/4 mile total loop

Early in the morning, photographers from all around the world gather around the arch to witness one of the best sunrises you can find. The arch frames the distant landscape like a giant picture window. The rock formations to the left through the arch are named Washer Woman.

Mesa Arch leads a double life, as a feature in Canyonlands National Park it has a mild attraction to the average tourist, but every morning, year-round it is descended upon by throngs of photographers trying to capture their own early morning sunrise photograph framed through the arch.

White Rim Overlook Tail 1.8 miles

This trail takes you to one of the better east-facing views in the park, with views of the Colorado River, Monument Basin, and the La Sal Mountains. The parking lot is rather small, with only room for about 6 cars.

The easy-to-follow trail takes you out to the viewpoint, you will pass the junction with the Gooseberry Trail, which descends 3 miles down into the canyon. Continue on the White Rim Trail as the as the land narrows, descending very gradually, and ending at a small flat-topped knoll.

The viewpoint has the best views of Gooseberry Canyon and Monument Basin with isolated spires and narrow mesas, somewhat visually like Monument Valley.

Gooseberry Canyon 5.4 miles Elevation change: 1,400 feet (descends from the mesa)

This is the same trailhead as the White Rim Overlook hike. This trail is one of five that takes you off the mesa top and is the shortest of them and the steepest and roughest, with lots of switchbacks crossing sheer cliffs. It was originally known as Government Trail. The trail meets the White Rim Road at the edge of Gooseberry Canyon.

Green River Overlook

The turn-off for Green River Overlook is located on Upheaval Dome Road, just past the junction with Grand View Point Road. There is a large car park here (and restrooms). It’s a short walk on a paved trail to the viewpoint. From the Green River Overlook the view takes in the canyons of the southern part of the Island in the Sky, stretching all the way to the Green River in the utterly wild Maze District.

Murphy Point 3.6 miles

The trail to Murphy Point crosses open, flat land, leading past a historic corral to the tip of a narrow promontory that gives a 270° view over Stillwater Canyon and the Green River, and views of Candlestick Tower.

Upheaval Dome 2-4 miles

You can hike to two different viewpoints, the first is a 1 mile into the trail, and the 2nd viewpoint is an additional mile. This formation is an anomaly in the park as most of the structures are erosion-worn sandstones.

Upheaval Dome is in stark contrast to the otherwise flat sedimentary rock formations across all of Canyonlands and appears visually as a 2-mile wide crater surrounded by a ring of raised Kayenta and Wingate sandstone in which the strata have been buckled and twisted.

One theory is it was a salt dome, the other theory is an eroded impact meteor crater, supported by research in the 1990s and in 2008 through seismic refraction and rock mapping and the discovery of shocked quartz.

upheavel dome — Hans Stieglitz, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Syncline Loop 8.3 miles

This challenging trail follows the canyons around Upheaval Dome and requires navigating steep switchbacks, climbing and scrambling through boulder fields, and a 1,300-foot (396 m) elevation change. Hike this trail clockwise for more afternoon shade.

Whale Rock 1 mile, Elevation change: 100 feet

Hike this trail to the top of a steep sandstone dome for broad views across the park while on the slickrock tail of the whale.

Aztec Butte 2 miles, Elevation change: 225 feet

The to Aztec Butte splits with the right fork taking you to the top of the butte for spectacular views. The left fork climbs the smaller butte then drops down below the rim to two Anasazi granaries.

Neck Spring 5.8 miles

Is a loop hike that takes you past historic ranching features on the mesa, and two springs where cowboys watered cattle.

Murphy Loop 10.8 miles (descends from the mesa)

A great full-day hike, this trail drops off the side of the mesa top for a 1,400-foot (427 m) elevation change. The trail offers vast views from the Murphy Hogback, then returns up a wash.

Alcove Spring 11.2 miles (descends from the mesa)

After descending 1,300 feet past a large alcove, the trail wanders in a wide canyon to the base of the Moses and Zeus towers.

Wilhite 12.2 miles (descends from the mesa)

This is the least known, most primitive trail, and the most scenic of routes down from the mesa top, it has an interesting slit canyon section toward the end.

Lathrop to White Rim Road 13.6 miles (descends from the mesa)

Trail crosses open grassland, then drops 1,600 feet into the canyon below. Enjoy views of the La Sal Mountains and fanciful sandstone knobs on this varied and challenging hike to the White Rim road.

Buck Canyon Overlook

From a small paved parking area, you can walk a paved path to the overlook and see the jagged zipper-like formation of Buck Canyon below you.

False Kiva

The False Kiva is what is known as a Class II archaeological site, these are sites that are intentionally left off of maps and their trailheads are not marked for their protection, park rangers will disclose information about the location only if asked directly.

False Kiva has been made famous by the publishing of dramatic pictures of it, including star-filled nighttime photos and photos with dramatic passing thunderstorms.

The site sits in an alcove and consists of stones that have been stacked to form a circle. There are some handprints on the back of the wall of the alcove and some faint images that are hard to make out today. There is a boulder near the west end of the alcove with metates, made by grinding seeds on the rock over long periods.

John Fowler from Placitas, NM, USA, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Explore Nearby...

Hikes...

Moab Grotto

Short hike to two rock art sites, one an over-night camp with art under overhangs and the 2nd is the Moab Grotto rock art site

Secret Spire

A quick hike along a sandy road to a rock spire sitting on rolling slickrock hills near Moab

Dellenbaugh Tunnel

An easy hike to a tunnel that takes you to an overlook into Spring Canyon near the Tombstone Rock formation

Moki Mesa

Hike to a hidden shelf above the Colorado river you get to using an old cattle trail blasted out of the canyon cliff face

Seven Mile Canyon (South Fork)

This is a rewarding hike due to the large amount of famous and interesting petroglyph and pictograph panels in the area.

Moab Maiden – Hike

The Moab Maiden is a single petroglyph pecked into a large single boulder on a ridge above Kane Springs Creek. There are other petroglyphs at the cliff face at the overlook, as well as the ruin of a granary and pithouse.

Courthouse Wash (Lower Canyon) – Hike

An easy hike that takes you from the bridge in Moab into Arches National Park through a low canyon with water

Mill Creek North Fork – Hike

A local swimming hole, with a waterfall, two arches, and an amazing amount of rock art

Seven Mile Canyon ( Lower ) – Hike

Explore a canyon that was part of the Spring/Fall Anasazi migration route, originating in the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park to the La Sal Mountains. There are Barrier style rock art panels in the canyon.

Hidden Valley – Hike

Discover a hidden Valley “Behind the Rocks” in Moab, and hike a two-thousand-year-old path used by Native Americans, see many petroglyphs and two ruins

The Owl Panel – Hike

This short hike takes you to discover the Owl Panel which also has the big man, lots of sheep, and other petroglyphs.

Arches National Park...

U-Turn Canyon

Scramble up to a secret canyon in Arches National Park above Park Avenue

Sand Dune Arch

Sand Dune Arch is a family favorite, perfect for kids, it is a quick and easy stroll on a sandy easy-to-follow trail

Skyline Arch

Skyline Arch sits against the skyline at the top of a large red rock fin. A short and easy walk.

Tapestry Arch & Broken Arch

Hike to both Tapestry Arch and Broken Arch on a short out-and-back trail that leaves from the Devil’s Garden Camp Grounds

Guide for the Devil’s Garden

A special place walking through rock fins, towers and arches, see the famous Landscape Arch or hike the challenging Primitive Loop to see more remote sections of the Devil’s Garden

Windows section of arches national park 11

How to photograph Turret Arch through the North Window at sunrise

This guide will give you everything you need to know about how to photograph Turret Arch through the North Window arch in Arches National Park in Utah.

Tower Arch Hike

Rarely visited due to its location in the western part of Arches National Park, a great place to go if you want a quieter experience off the beaten path away from the crowds

Willow Springs Road

Willow Springs Road is a backdoor road into Arches National Park that avoids the toll gate, and reservation system

Park Avenue – hike

This is a fun and easy hike and is a great introduction to hiking in Arches National Park for beginners, the trail gets you quickly immersed among the high red rock features of what Utah and the park is all about.

Windows Section of Arches National Park

The Windows and Double Arch are the main attraction, but you can see The Parade of Elephants, Turret Arch, Cove Arch, Ribbon Arch, Elephant Butte, and the Cove of Caves also.

Canyonlands National Park - Island In The Sky District...

Canyonlands National Park – Island in the Sky District

The Island in the Sky district is one of the easiest and most popular districts of the park, the main attraction are the viewpoints and hiking the trails.

False Kiva – Hike

The site sits in an alcove and a stone circle. There are some handprints on the back of the wall of the alcove and some faint images that are hard to make out today.

Photography Tips for Mesa Arch

Every sunrise, Mesa Arch is descended upon by masses of photographers trying to capture their own early morning sunrise framed through the arch.

Canyonlands National Park - Needles District...

Guide for hiking Davis Canyon

Davis Canyon contains arches, granaries, ruins of cliff dwellings, and rock art including the amazing five faces pictograph

Dinosaur Tracks...

Copper Ridge Dinosaur Trackway

A short hike to see where an Allosaurus and a Brontosaurus dinosaur walked and left their footprints over 160 million years ago

Klondike Bluffs Dinosaur Track – Hike

The tracks in this area are predominantly those of carnivorous dinosaurs called allosaurus, which were probably on the hunt for other animals that would come to what was once a large body of water.

Dinosaur Stomping Grounds – Hike

Enjoy a short hike to a “mega track site” that is covered with over 2000 dinosaur tracks left on a 160 million years old mud flat.

Scenic Drives...

Guide to the Potash Road Rock Art Sites

Just a few minutes from downtown Moab, on the Potash road running along the Colorado River is the opportunity to see a half dozen sites that hold hundreds of petroglyphs and even some dinosaur foot prints

La Sal Mountain Loop

The 60-mile route follows the Colorado River, and climbs into the La Sal Mountains via Castle Valley, it offers great views of the peaks and the red rock canyons far below.

Onion Creek & Narrows Hike & Scenic Drive

A scenic drive into beautiful Onion Creek Canyon just south of the Fisher Towers with many stream crossings and a fun optional hike in a narrow canyon

Highway 128 Rock Art

An easy quick stop along scenic byway 128 if coming or going from Cisco to Moab. A large boulder with about 50 petroglyphs sits above the highway.

Potash Road / Shafer Trail

The scenic drive – Utah Scenic Byway 279, takes the back roads and runs from Moab to Canyon Lands National Park along the Colorado River

Anticline Overlook

Rarely visited by most travelers but is worth the effort. The view is overlooking Deadhorse state park and Canyonlands National Park Islands in the Sky district, to the north, looking over Hurrah Pass and the Kane Creek.