One of the most popular attractions in Moab is Canyonlands National Park. Featuring 337,598 acres of vast and awe-inspiring canyons, mesas, arches, buttes, and towering spires, Canyonlands is the largest national park in Utah. Find your adventure with a look inside Canyonlands National Park.
About Canyonlands National Park
The large park is divided into four different areas: The Needles, Island in the Sky, the Maze, and the Rivers. All sections are accessible from different parts of the park, allowing for several hours of driving time in between.
The easiest to explore is the Island in the Sky section. If you have a 4×4 vehicle, or rent one in town, explore The Needles. And for even more remote adventures, head to the Maze and the Rivers sections of the park.
Most popular sites at Island in the Sky
Since Island in the Sky is most accessible from town and all skill levels, most begin their adventures here. These viewpoints require a short hike or walk from the associated parking areas, making them easy to do in one day. Here are a few of our favorite stops to start with:
- Grand View Point – For vista views over the vast canyons, start at Grand View Point. Admire as your gaze stretches across the Colorado and Green Rivers that shape the canyon below to the horizon in the distance. Tip: For a short hike to gain even more views, take the one-mile Grand View Point Trail to the Grand View Point Overlook. The total distance, there and back, is two miles.
- Mesa Arch – Probably the most photographed area of the park is the Mesa Arch. The arch rests atop a cliff, providing a window view of the canyons below and the La Sal Mountains in the distance. Quick tip – go at sunrise for one of the most spectacular views in the park.
- Green River Overlook – Cleary see the Green River that has carved the canyon over time from the Green River Overlook.
Best time of year to visit
The most popular time to visit is during the summer months. But the canyons can get pretty hot, so some visitors enjoy coming in spring or in fall for milder temperatures. Unlike its counterpart, Arches National Park, Canyonlands is less crowded and so even in summer, you can feel like you have the park to yourself.
Plus, the park offers free entrance days, so mark your calendars:
- January – Martin Luther King Day
- April – First Day of National Park Week
- August – First Anniversary of Great American Outdoors Act
- August – National Park Service Birthday
- September – National Public Lands Day
- November – Veterans Day
Know before you go
- The park is open year-round 24 hours/day
- Entrance fee $30/vehicle – good for 7 days
- Bring plenty of water, food, and appropriate clothing
- Canyonlands is open year-round, 24 hours a day, however, the park visitor centers close for the winter. Call (435) 719-2313 for park information
Stay at Hotel Moab Downtown
Looking for a hotel near Canyonlands National Park? Hotel Moab Downtown is a short 30-min drive away from the largest national park in Utah. When you choose Hotel Moab Downtown as your home away from home, you’ll be perfectly positioned to experience all the hiking trails, scenic drives, four-wheeled-drive roads, and access to viewing points of the sprawling, vast scenery of this beautiful national park.
Start planning your own Canyonlands National Park vacation by choosing the accommodation that is right for you at Hotel Moab Downtown.