3 day itinerary

The location of Canyonlands National Park, nestled towards the northeastern corner of Utah, makes it a perfect site for exploration with a range of activities available to entertain and thrill. With three days in the park and it's surrounding area, you will understand just what a fantastic desert playground Canyonlands is.

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Day 1

The vast majority of visitors will stay in nearby Moab, as it has plenty of supply shops, hotels & campsites, and is ideally located close to Canyonlands, Arches and a whole host of off-road trails.

Make the most of these off-road trails with one of Moab's best experiences - a 4x4 offroading adventure of Hell's Revenge. While not directly in Canyonlands National Park, the area throughout this part of Utah is stunningly impressive and some of the rock formations you will traverse will both thrill and scare!

Grab lunch in Moab, such as from the highly popular Quesadilla Mobilla, before driving to one of our frequently recommended locations for all visitors to Canyonlands or Arches - Dead Horse Point State Park! This peninsula of rock atop sheer sandstone cliffs hosts an incredible view of Canyonlands, and will be your host for sunset later this evening.

If the day is not too hot, then there's a couple of trails you can explore to warm up the legs for the next couple of days. If you would like a longer trail of 8 miles, so around 3-4 hours, then the Dead Horse Rim Loop and Big Horn Overlook Trail combines two of the main trails of the park to create one of the best. Don't feel pressured for a long hike after an adrenaline-fuelled morning though - feel free to choose either the Rim Loop or Big Horn as a single hike instead!

Afterwards, find a spot to sit down on the rim edge of the main overlook for sunset, resting your legs and rehydrating at the same time. Utah sunsets are often colourful thanks to the orange dust which reflects and refracts the suns rays when the days draw to a close. Dead Horse Point is also perfect for observing the stars once the night sky appears, and you can stay until the park closes at 10pm.

Day 2

Today you have the opportunity to thoroughly explore the Island in the Sky district - the most accessible and popular of the three districts that make up Canyonlands National Park. Shafer Canyon Overlook is the first stop just after the visitor centre, overlooking an unpaved road winding down the orange sandstone cliffs. The road is accessible to visitors with high clearance 4WD vehicles, but we think its best to carry on after the overlook to Mesa Arch, about 6 miles south.

Mesa Arch is probably the most famous landmark and photo in Canyonlands. When lit up at sunrise it is quite simply mesmerising! It probably isn't surprising to know that it is also one of the busiest sections of the park - but if you arrive in the park early for sunrise with this knowledge, you probably won't be disappointed with your experience! The short trail and arch is also great later in the day too, with views through to the east of the park and peaks of the La Sal Mountains approaching the Utah-Colorado border.

Switch directions after Mesa Arch to reach Green River Overlook, and get a proper look south at the Maze district. The Green River sat deep in its channel lies 1300 ft below you on its way to converging with the larger Colorado River, which will eventually lead out to Grand Canyon National Park.

Further along the road lies Upheaval Dome, with a short but steep trail taking you to a couple of viewpoints over the unusual formation. Many theories surround how the dome came to be, but the main two focus around the formation a "salt bubble" combined with thousands of years of erosion, or the unusual result of a meteorite impact crater.

For the afternoon, take your time along the final leg of the 'Y'-shaped series of scenic road which stretches deeper into the park along the fingerlike plateau. Take as long as you like at the selection of viewpoints, which may well be decided based on how hot you are - Canyonlands NP usually surpasses 80F from May through to October, and frequently touches 100F in July & August. Combined with the exposed nature of the park, these conditions can be very dangerous and shouldn't be underestimated.

At the end of the road lies Grand View Point. Initially the trail is paved to the first lookout point, and then runs along the peak of the rocky outcrop that extends into the canyon. It doesn't require you to get too close to any edges whilst on the main trail, so even those with a fear of heights should feel mostly comfortable. Beyond the expanse of corrugated canyons you can also spot small dusty roads and different rock formations of The Maze district!

On your return back to Moab, stop at Candlestick Tower Overlook, which hosts a striking butte in the distance that gives the overlook its name. This final viewpoint provides a stunning panoramic view for sunset, incorporating the Green River - a fitting end to any day.

Day 3

For your final day exploring Canyonlands and Moab head south on U.S. 191 and turn off onto Route 211 to access a less visited and new part of Canyonlands for you today! 1.5 hours from Moab awaits The Needles district, named for the colorful spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone which fill many a view. With over 60 miles of trails to explore, the Needles is a challenging but rewarding area to hike in.

Start with a couple of short trails with Roadside Ruin and Cave Spring, which focus upon previous inhabitants in the area - both indigenous and cowboys. The latter trail also has a couple of laddered sections to keep your hiking abilities fresh!

A short drive then takes you to Wooden Shoe Arch Overlook, and then onwards to Big Spring Canyon Overlook - the end of the road in the Needles. Closeby is a 2.4 mile loop trail called Sliprock, providing expansive 360 degree views across the district.

Or if you fancier a longer hike, you can take on a 10 mile round trip out-and-back to Confluence Overlook from Big Spring Canyon Overlook. Not the most stereotypical picturesque viewpoint due to the nature of the rugged land, it is still certainly impressive nonetheless. Along the way is a series of rocks which require scrambling, and there are numerous glimpses of the view as you descend slightly into the canyon. A superb hike to choose in the cooler months, it is still achievable in summer but only for the fitter hiker who is willing to start their day here very early in the morning to beat the heat.

If you feel that you have ticked off everything in the Needle's early in the day, then you can head back to Moab for your pick of activities - with white water rafting, rappelling and stand-up paddle boarding just some of the options to choose from!

If you can, extend your stay in Moab to incorporate an iconic park in Arches into your trip. Or, visit all 5 of Utah's spectacular parks as part of a road trip around them all!