Canyonlands National Park - Utah

Canyonlands National Park is an American national park located in southeastern Utah near the town of Moab. The park preserves a colorful landscape eroded into numerous canyons, mesas, and buttes by the Colorado River, the Green River, and their respective tributaries. Legislation creating the park was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on September 12, 1964.

The park is divided into four districts: the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze, and the combined rivers—the Green and Colorado—which carved two large canyons into the Colorado Plateau. While these areas share a primitive desert atmosphere, each retains its own character.

Wildlife to expect include mule deer, coyotes, porcupines, desert cottontails, black-tailed jackrabbits, and many songbirds. A few desert animals are primarily active during the day, or “diurnal.” These include rock squirrels, antelope squirrels, chipmunks, lizards, snakes, hawks, and eagles.

We visited this park in 2016 and were amazed by the different views. This is another must on your National Park list.

Things to do and see:

Spend the day exploring the Island in the sky

Watch the sunrise at Mesa Arch

Take in the stunning view from Grand View Point Overlook

Escape crowds by hiking the Needles

Ponder profound Druid Arch

Take a front row seat at Green River Overlook

Brave the rugged Shafer Trail

Jeep-camp along White Rim Trail

Peer into mysterious Upheaval Dome

Witness ancient artwork of Horseshoe Canyon

Tips:

Bring plenty of water

Bring and use sunscreen

Don‘t overpack - water and food unless you plan to camp overnight

Contact Information:

2282 Southwest Resource Boulevard, Moab, UT 84532; (435) 719-2313; or www.nps.gov/cany.

Phone:

(435) 719-2313

Website: https://www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm