Best Hikes in Canyonlands National Park

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Canyonlands National Park is a unique national treasure. The park covers a great deal of land in terms of acreage. In fact, Canyonlands National Park is so large that it is divided into three main districts: 1) Island in the Sky, 2) the Needles, and 3) the Maze. An additional fourth district includes the Green and Colorado Rivers, but for our purposes we’ll cover the main three. Each district within Canyonlands National Park is special in its own way and is worthy of an extended visit. To help you explore this area, we’ve curated a listing of some of the best hikes that Canyonlands National Park has to offer, ranging in difficulty to accommodate beginner to advanced hikers.

Note that there is a vast amount of hikes in each of these districts that we consider bucket-list worthy. If you intend to visit all of three of the main districts, you’ll need multiple days simply because the driving distance between each district can take considerable time. Nonetheless, this article is intended for travelers that may only have limited time in the area and want to hit the high points. Also, if you plan to visit Arches National Park as well, don’t forget to check out our article Best Hikes in Arches National Park.”


Best Hikes Series: Canyonlands National Park

Island in the Sky District

The Island in the Sky District is the most commonly visited of all of the Canyonlands National Park districts because of how close it is to the town of Moab. As a matter of fact, the Island in the Sky District is only about a 40-minute drive from downtown Moab, making it incredibly convenient. Moreover, it is also very close to Arches National Park, giving visitors an opportunity to see two amazing parks in quick succession. Although visitors to this area have to wade through crowds of tourists at popular viewpoints, the Island in the Sky District is a gem that is not to be missed with its beautiful highlights such as Mesa Arch, Grand View Point, Upheaval Dome, and White Rim Road.

The Island in the Sky District has a number of what we think are some of best hikes in Canyonlands National Park. Check out some of our favorite Island in the Sky District hikes below. You can also find additional information regarding hikes in the Island in the Sky District here


Mesa Arch

  • Round Trip Distance: .7 miles
  • Elevation Gain: Minimal
  • Trail Type: Loop
  • Trailhead: Mesa Arch Trailhead
  • Coordinates: 38.389099, -109.868001
  • Dogs Permitted?: No
Difficulty
1
Scenery
10
Crowds
10
Fun Factor
4

Murphy Point Overlook

  • Round Trip Distance: 3.4 miles
  • Elevation Gain: Minimal
  • Trail Type: Out and Back
  • Trailhead: Murphy Trailhead
  • Coordinates: 38.354945, -109.863965
  • Dogs Permitted?: No
Difficulty
4
Scenery
9
Crowds
6
Fun Factor
6

The Needles District

The Needles District of Canyonlands National Park is particularly well-known for its sandstone pinnacles. You can actually get a good view of them from the Grand View Overlook in the Island in the Sky District, but we highly recommend seeing them up close. Although the drive is about 1.5 hours from Moab, it’s worth every minute because we consider the Needles District to have the best hikes in Canyonlands National Park. Not only will you experience a completely different perspective of Canyonlands National Park, you’ll be treated to fewer crowds and amazing trails.

There are many highlights in the area, but we love the Druid Arch and Chesler Park hikes because they offer a good challenge and cover varied terrain. Further, if you are planning on camping in the area, there is plenty of dispersed camping on BLM land surrounding the Needles District. Alternatively, you can camp at the Needles Campground. Check out some of our favorite Needles District hikes below. You can also find additional information regarding hikes in the Needles District here


Chesler Park Loop/Joint Trail

  • Round Trip Distance: 11.0 miles
  • Elevation Gain: Moderate
  • Trail Type: Loop
  • Trailhead: Elephant Hill Trailhead
  • Coordinates: 38.141530, -109.827338
  • Dogs Permitted?: No
Difficulty
8
Scenery
10
Crowds
5
Fun Factor
9

Druid Arch

  • Round Trip Distance: 11.0 miles
  • Elevation Gain: Moderate
  • Trail Type: Out and Back
  • Trailhead: Elephant Hill Trailhead
  • Coordinates: 38.141530, -109.827338
  • Dogs Permitted?: No
Difficulty
7
Scenery
8
Crowds
5
Fun Factor
7

The Maze District

The Maze District is an extremely remote section of Canyonlands National Park. Therefore, expect a drive of about 2.5 hours from Moab that is well worth the trip. For most, a visit to the Maze District area includes hiking within the popular Horseshoe Canyon (actually just north of the Maze District) and the Great Gallery with its famous rock art, making it one of the best hikes in Canyonlands National Park. The Maze District is definitely worth a visit if you have the time, predominately because you get the feeling of being in a truly remote desert wilderness with far less crowds than other areas of Canyonlands National Park.

More on Horseshoe Canyon and the Great Gallery follows below. Also, you can click on the following links for maps and more information on the Maze District and Horseshoe Canyon.


  • Round Trip Distance: 7.0 miles
  • Elevation Gain: Moderate
  • Trail Type: Out and Back
  • Trailhead: Horseshoe Canyon Trailhead
  • Coordinates: 38.473863, -110.200508
  • Dogs Permitted?: No
Difficulty
7
Scenery
9
Crowds
5
Fun Factor
9







Since most travelers will likely visit multiple areas of Utah, such as Arches National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, etc., we recommend purchasing a guide book that covers areas in addition to Canyonlands National Park. Therefore, our curated list of guide books focuses on books intended to give you a greater value with a wider breadth of information. However, if you’re looking for more detailed and specific guide books on Canyonlands National Park, we included a few of our favorites below. You’ll also find a few National Geographic topographical maps and non-fiction books on the list that are relevant to the area. In particular, check out Desert Solitaire, written by famous former resident and naturalist Edward Abbey, for a fantastic perspective on the area.


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