Canyonlands National Park preserves 527 square miles of colorful sandstone canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches and spires in the heart of the Colorado Plateau in Southeastern Utah. Within the vast and remote reaches of this magnificent park lie two great rivers, wooded buttes and mesas, a maze of serpentine canyons, extensive grasslands, more than 100 square miles of rainbow-hued slickrock, and desert wildlife species including bighorn sheep.
Water and gravity have been the prime architects of this land, carving flat layers of sedimentary rock into the distinct landscapes seen today, and the park is divided into four unique districts by the erosive and life-giving Green and Colorado Rivers: the Island in the Sky, the Maze, the Needles, and the Rivers themselves.
Canyonlands is far removed from civilization, primarily a backcountry destination, and receives much less use than any other national park in Utah. Activities include sightseeing, hiking, camping, mountain biking, four-wheel driving, and river rafting. Green and Colorado Rivers The combined flow of the Green and Colorado Rivers spills down Cataract Canyon with remarkable power, creating a world-class stretch of whitewater.
Horseshoe Canyon Horseshoe Canyon is a detached park unit whose intriguing rock art is considered by many to be the most significant in North America. Other sights include spring wildflowers, sheer sandstone walls, and cottonwood trees.
Sandstone Spires The massive sandstone spires that give the Needles its name were created by erosion and fracturing, forming a crazy quilt pattern over the land.
Canyonlands National Park is located amid the immensely rugged terrain of southeastern Utah. It is comprised of three land districts which, though near each other on the map, lie a full 2-6 hours apart by car.
Needles District: From U.S. 191, take Utah 211 west to the Needles. Island in the Sky District: From U.S. 191, take Utah 313 south to the Island. Maze District: From Utah 24, take a graded dirt road east to the Hans Flat Ranger Station.
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Water and gravity have been the prime architects of this land, carving flat layers of sedimentary rock into the distinct landscapes seen today, and the park is divided into four unique districts by the erosive and life-giving Green and Colorado Rivers: the Island in the Sky, the Maze, the Needles, and the Rivers themselves.
Canyonlands is far removed from civilization, primarily a backcountry destination, and receives much less use than any other national park in Utah. Activities include sightseeing, hiking, camping, mountain biking, four-wheel driving, and river rafting. Green and Colorado Rivers The combined flow of the Green and Colorado Rivers spills down Cataract Canyon with remarkable power, creating a world-class stretch of whitewater.
Horseshoe Canyon Horseshoe Canyon is a detached park unit whose intriguing rock art is considered by many to be the most significant in North America. Other sights include spring wildflowers, sheer sandstone walls, and cottonwood trees.
Sandstone Spires The massive sandstone spires that give the Needles its name were created by erosion and fracturing, forming a crazy quilt pattern over the land.
Canyonlands National Park is located amid the immensely rugged terrain of southeastern Utah. It is comprised of three land districts which, though near each other on the map, lie a full 2-6 hours apart by car.
Needles District: From U.S. 191, take Utah 211 west to the Needles. Island in the Sky District: From U.S. 191, take Utah 313 south to the Island. Maze District: From Utah 24, take a graded dirt road east to the Hans Flat Ranger Station.
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