Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands offers a variety of opportunities to explore the wonderful landscapes that cover over 337,000 acres and 527 square miles. The park was established on September 12, 1964 with Bates Wilson as its first superintendent.

Each of the four districts of Canyonlands offers different opportunities for sightseeing and exploration.

• The Island in the Sky is the most accessible district, offering expansive views from many overlooks along the paved scenic drive, several hikes of varying length and moderate four-wheel drive route called the White Rim Road.
• The Needles offers more of a backcountry experience requiring some hiking or four-wheel driving to see the area’s attractions.
• The Maze is a remote district requiring considerably more time and self-reliance to visit.
• The Green and Colorado Rivers offer flat water boating as well as whitewater trips through Cataract Canyon. All are unique ways to experience the park that usually involve two or more days of boating.

The Friends offers several programs in Canyonlands including the Volunteer Site Stewardship program which assists the park staff in monitoring the many archeology sites found in the park. The Friends sponsors National Trail Day guided ranger hikes in the Island in Sky District. In September of 2014, the Friends hosted over 700 visitors in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of Canyonlands National Park.

To plan your visit to Canyonlands