Best trails in Canyonlands National Park
The park is divided into four districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the rivers themselves. This landscape was eroded into canyons, buttes, and mesas by the Colorado River, Green River, and their tributaries. There are rock pinnacles and other naturally sculpted rock, as well as artifacts from Ancient Pueblo Peoples.
Top trails
Visitor info
Admits a private, non-commercial motorcycle and its riders.
Admits one individual with no car. Typically used for bicyclists, hikers, and pedestrians. Youth 15 and under are admitted free.
Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less) and all its occupants.
Valid for one year through the month of purchase. Admits one (1) private, non-commercial vehicle or its pass holder to Arches and Canyonlands national parks, and Natural Bridges and Hovenweep national monuments.
Join millions of people who enjoy our National Parks with the "America the Beautiful" National Park & Federal Recreational Lands Pass, otherwise known as the Interagency Annual Pass. The pass is valid for a year's worth of visits from the month of purchase at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country.
No entrance pass required on these days:
Monday, January 20 — Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Saturday, April 19 — First day of National Park Week
Thursday, June 19 — Juneteenth National Independence Day
Monday, August 4 — Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
Saturday, September 27 — National Public Lands Day
Tuesday, November 11 — Veterans Day
The Interagency Access Pass is accepted here.
The Island in the Sky and the Needles Visitor Centers are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers, and wheelchair accessible restrooms and drinking fountains are available.
ASL interpreters are available by reservation for ranger-led programs. Please complete a form on their website at least 7 days in advance to make a reservation for interpretation services.
Additional information about accessibility at Canyonlands National Park can be found on their website: https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm.
The Island in the Sky and the Needles Visitor Centers are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers, and wheelchair accessible restrooms and drinking fountains are available.
The Hans Flat Ranger Station Visitor Center is accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers on a gravel surface and has wheelchair accessible pit toilets. Orientation films include closed captioning upon request.
The Visitor Center Picnic Area and the Needles Picnic Area are wheelchair accessible with packed, level paths and surfaces.
Island in the Sky Campground has 1 individual wheelchair accessible camping site and a wheelchair accessible pit toilet.
The Needles Campground has 2 individual wheelchair accessible camping sites, and all restrooms are wheelchair accessible.
Service animals must be on-leash throughout the park.
Trail reviews for Canyonlands National Park
If you start in the canyonlands ntl monument, you’ll have to pay the park fee $30, but if you start on potash Road near town, you can get up there for free. the trail near entry at top is easiest. It gets more technical the closer to town you get. Terrain varies! The top half is just a regular dirt road second half closer to town is choppy rock, sand, dry river beds, minor rock crawling… mainly very choppy rock road. It took us 2 hours top to bottom In a Bronco Sport Outter Banks
Phenomenal views - some of the best in Canyonlands. Don’t skip this hike!! The trailhead is not well marked from the main road - it’s only identified as a picnic area. Trail itself is also not well marked like others in the park. Recommend downloading the map and checking it often. The trail is lighter colored dirt than the surrounding area.
Incredible offshoot of Canyonlands! Arrived the night before, had the entire place to ourselves. Completed the hike, made lunch and made it back to the highway without seeing another person. The uphill climb coming out of the canyon is a little tough, but otherwise very mild and enjoyable hike. *Would recommend taking lower San Rafael road from Green River instead of coming off HWY 24, unless you have a sand capable vehicle.
Magnificent and difficult hike leading up to the large and beautiful Druid Arch in the Needles district of Canyonlands. Not easy sections with climbing and passages on smooth rocks with good grip. Need to have plenty of water and energy food. Very early morning starts in this season , little shade after 10:00 AM. Discreet reporting. All Trails as always very useful. Absolutely recommended hike!
Magnificent former mining road in Canyonlands Park. Incredible views. Only a few passages where care must be taken. I recommend 4WD also for safety. Absolutely not to be done in rain.
Pretty much the go to trail when you find yourself in Canyonlands. Perhaps there is some strategy to have quiet but expect a few folks on the trail with you (or many). Zero weather coverage and it does follow a massive cliffside so hiking in the rain or immediately after is not the greatest idea. Overall, a relaxed hike with essentially 360 degree views of the entire park. Highly rewarding.