1 Day Guide to Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park is one of Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks. Nestled next to Arches National Park and the quirky town of Moab, Canyonlands is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. But like its neighbor Arches National Park, it is prone to tourist traps as well. Keep reading my guide below to balance out your day in Canyonlands between must-see but crowded activities and more serene escapes.

Canyonlands National Park Hikes

Canyonlands National Park is comprised of three different areas: Island in the Sky, Needles, and the Maze. Island in the Sky and Needles are the most frequented areas of the park. But beware! Although they look geographically close together on a map, driving to each of the sections actually takes a lot of time. Here are the different Canyonlands National Parks hikes in each area:

Island in the Sky

Island in the Sky is at the North section of Canyonlands. This is the easiest part of Canyonlands National Park to get to and it’s also the most developed.

Mesa Arch: This is by far the most famous view point in Canyonlands National Park. Photographers come from all over the world at sunrise to take a photo of the sun peeking through the cliffs and onto the mesa.

Grand View Point: Another great viewpoint where you will get nice views of The Maze and the Needles.

Syncline Loop: This is a true Canyonlands National Park hike that is 8.3 miles and will take you anywhere from 4-6 hours. There is only around 1,300 ft. elevation change but there is some boulder climbing involed.

Needles

The Needles is in the Southwest Corner of Canyonlands National Park and is named after the spires of sandstone that pop up from the ground. This is truly a really unique landscape and super cool to see! You will need a high clearance 4×4 for most of the Needles to get to any campsites or trailheads.

Because of this, The Needles is not recommended if you are only looking to spend one day or a short weekend here.

The Maze

Last but not least is the Maze. Of all the districts at Canyonlands National Park, the Maze is the least accessible. It is much more remote and requires more advanced 4-wheel drive skills. The roads here are extremely remote and if you get stuck, it will be difficult for someone to help you.

If you only have one day or a short weekend to hike Canyonlands National Park, I suggest going to Island in the Sky.

One Day Itinerary at Canyonlands National Park

Day before: Pack plenty of food and water. There are limited resources available in Canyonlands, including no food. You’ll want to be prepared for your entire day there since it’s an hour drive to/from Moab.

2 hours before sunrise: Start your day off by checking out the famous Mesa Arch before sunrise. Arches are very popular in the Moab area, so you’re likely to run into a crowd wherever you go. The thing with Mesa Arch is that it’s so special at sunrise that you really should go then. The arch itself it small and most of the beauty comes from the 10 minutes where the sun pops out behind the arch.

We woke up 2 hours before sunrise and drove the hour long drive from Moab. When we were there on a summer weekday, there were only 3 other people there. 10 minutes before sunrise however, 30 more people came in to watch and photograph the beautiful arch. Luckily for us we were there early and already had our own spot (and carved out some personal space!). The photographers were generally all very friendly and moved around to let others have a shot.

After sunrise: Head to White Rim Overlook, a 2 mile there-and-back hike to a beautiful outlook down to the White Rim Trail. From the outlook, you can see one of the many campsites available on the White Rim Trail. The lookout gives you a 180 degree view and there are canyons for miles and miles as you look out. This is also a good place to have a snack or breakfast.

PS we got the chance to try out a solar umbrella. It looks incredibly dorky but it was super useful for the 100 degree heat. If you don’t need both hands to scramble, it’s a great add on for your hike!

Last hike: If it’s still early enough in the day, you can embark on an unnamed trail to some nice ruins in Island in the Sky. The trail isn’t officially marked or on maps, although it is relatively well-traveled and marked with cairns. The hike is a 4 mile there-and-back hike that leads to a giant shaded slick rock that makes for a great lunch or snack spot. Once we arrived, we saw a pamphlet from the NPS asking that blogs don’t release the GPS coordinates or trailhead because previous areas have been looted and vandalized (pretty terrible I know!). If you’d like to know specifics about this hike, PM me and we’ll work something out! 🙂

After your hike, it’s time to head home! Take a break from the sun by eating at one of the many restaurants on Main Street in Moab (the Quesadilla Mobilla food truck was one of our favorites). You’ve earned it.

What to pack for canyonlands national park:

• Osprey 36L Sirrus Pack
• Nike sneakers
• 1L of water per hour of hiking
• Garmin 64st GPS
• A hat!!
• Lots of sunscreen