How to reach✈️ :

Closest airport is Salt Lake city airport which is 4 hours away and other airports are 6 hour away from Arches national park which are Denver in Colorado and Las vegas in Nevada.

Best time to Visit⏲️:

April and May are best time to visit but obviously due to Memorial long weekend these two months are also busiest months for Mighty 5 National parks visit.Janury and February are least visited month but temperature goes below freezing also sometimes.July and August will be too hot for whole day hikes. 

Where to Stay🏨:

Moab is nearest town to Canyonland National park and you can also plan along with arches national park.Moab is 30 mile away from Island in the sky district of the park which has plenty of options for lodging as well as shopping and food.

How to get around 🚘:

This national park does not offers any public transportation or shuttle services and if you have a car then it is very easy to get around to Island in the sky district.Needles district is almost 1 and half hour away from moab which is less visited compare to island in the sky district.Maze district is very remote and you will need a high clearance vehicle to explore.

What to check before planning ✔:

This national park is easy to access by getting National park pass or daily pass for national park visit.If you are doing camping or backpacking just make sure about whether it need permit or not.

1. Mesa Arch:

Mesa Arch is one of the best hike in Canyonland National park (27 ft long arch) located in the Island in the sky district of the park.It is short hike of only 0.6 mile with elevation gain of only 56 ft but it will give you astonishing view of the La sal mountains and canyonland any time of the year but most amazing view is at the time of Sunrise when sun rays makes arch even more beautiful and colorful.The early morning light illuminates the canyon and brings the orange rock of the arch alive. It is one of the most photogenic spot in southwest utah.

If you are planning to do this hike do arrive before one hour sunrise as parking is limited and hike is uneven with ups and down.After you arrive at the arch pick your spot for sunrise picture as space is limited near arch and crowd will be more.There will be many photographers who will be lined up to clicks an amazing picture of Mesa Arch at the time of Sunrise.

This Arch itself is beautiful so if you do not get a chance to visit at the time of Sunrise do not regret it.You can visit it any time of the day and it will give you spectacular view of buck canyon and la sal mountains.

2. Upheaval Dome:

The Upheaval Dome Trail in Canyonlands National Park is a short 1.6 mile roundtrip hike that leads to stunning views of a unique geological formation. The trail is known for its two main theories of origin one is a meteorite impact and second is a rising salt dome which makes it a fascinating spot for hiking.Illustrated panels at the overlook describe both meteorite theory and salt dome theory. 

Hike has two overlook along the rim which gives you a view of 3 mile long and 1000 ft deep crater. First overlook is just 0.3 mile with elevation of 115 ft only from trailhead and second overlook from the first overlook is 0.6 mile with elevation gain of 114 ft which will give closer look to the crater.If you do not go to second overlook then hike round trip will be only 0.6 mile from trailhead.Trailhead is located at the upheaval dome road in the island in the sky district of the park.

If you are interested in geological site then this hike is must do in Canyonland national park.

3. Grand View Point :

Grand View point trail is 1.8 mile out and back trail with elevation gain of 73 ft which makes it easy trail to hike. It is located in the island in the sky district of Canyonland national park. From this point you can see miles of canyons ,White rim four wheel drive road and some part of Maze and The Needles district also of canyonland. That's why it is called grand view point as it gives you overall views of the everything of canyonland national park.

Grand view point provides and illustration of Geological layers of the canyonland national park that Colorado river has made from over the period of time. First you will see overlook point after that you can walk along the rim edge to get proper and closer view of the grand view.

4. White Rim overlook trail:

White rim overlook trail also offers a great view of La Sal mountains,Colarado river and mountain basin. Hike is 1.8 mile round trip with elevation gain of approx 160 ft located at Island in the sky district of canyonland national park.Trail is well marked and easy to follow for everyone but it is uneven with rocky pavement.

Highlight of this trail is of course the views after reaching at the overlook point you will get amazed by the view.When parking is at grand view point is full you can go to this overlook trail and you can have similar view.

5. Shafer Trail Viewpoint:

A short 0.9 mile trail will take you to a breathtaking viewpoint of the Shafer Trail road which is 1500 ft descend through sandy stone of the Canyons.It is located at Island in the sky district of Canyonland national park.

If you are an adventure person then you can drive this shafer road and potash road by High clearance 4WD vehicle in a very dramatic way via switchbacks.Total distance from Island in the sky district to moab is 39 miles out of that 17 mile road is unpaved till switchbacks after that is paved.You can do this either way start from Visitor center in the canyonland national park and end to moab or vice versa. It will approximately take 2 hours to complete both shafer road and potash road.