Canyonlands National Park , Utah’s second largest national park, is a primitive geological wonderland preserving hundreds of colorful canyons, buttes, fins, arches, spires and hoodoos. The centerpiece of the park are the two great canyons carved through flat layers of sedimentary rock by the Colorado and Green rivers, which meet here in Canyonlands. The park is divided into 4 regions — Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze and Horseshoe Canyon — only two of which are accessible by highway. This 572 square miles of Great Basin Desert wilderness contains primarily unpaved roads and undeveloped trails. They are relatively close together, as the crow flies, but direct travel between them is virtually impossible because of the rough nature of the landscape. People who want to explore the park should focus on one region at a time. Park info and map.
For more information on Canyonlands National Park go to www.nps.gov.
Visitor Centers
Visitor Centers are open daily, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, extended hours spring and fall, closed some federal holidays.
- Island in the Sky District Visitor Center is located on Utah Route 113, west from U.S. 191, 32 miles southwest of Moab, Utah. Elevation 5920 feet.
- The Needles District Visitor Center is located on Utah Route 211, west from U.S. 191, 49 miles northwest of Monticello, Utah. Elevation 4960 feet.
- Information Center for The Maze District and the separate Horseshoe Canyon Unit is at the Hans Flat Ranger Station, 46 miles by unpaved road to Utah Route 24 north of Hanksville, UT. This facility is actually located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
General Rules
It is the visitor’s responsibility to know and obey park rules. Regulations are designed for visitors’ protection and to protect natural resources.
- All state and federal laws are enforced in the park.
- Parking is restricted to designated areas.
- Wood gathering is prohibited.
- No hunting or firearms are permitted.
- Mountain bikes are allowed on established roads only.
- Carry out all trash, including cigarette butts.
- Pets are not allowed in the backcountry of Canyonlands National Park. This includes all four-wheel-drive roads and hiking trails. Pets on a leash 6 feet or less in length may accompany visitors in front-country areas, which include paved and two-wheel-drive dirt roads, and the Squaw Flat and Willow Flat campgrounds. Pets may not be left unattended, tied or physically confined in the front country to facilitate backcountry travel. Because bringing pets severely limits your options for exploring the backcountry, it is suggested that pets be left at home.