Canyonlands National Park
National park · UT, USA
Canyonlands National Park in UT, USA. Operated by National Park Service.
Usual hours
- Mon–Sun 0:00–0:00
About
This park's official page lists: Pet-friendly (leashed).
Entrance / day-use fee applies.
This park's official page lists: Visitor center.
Official facts
Public access: Open access.
Protected area: 334,222 acres (135,255 ha).
Designation: National Park. Listed as "Canyonlands National Park" in the Protected Areas Database of the United States. Protection: managed for biodiversity, natural processes allowed (GAP 1). IUCN category II.
Established: 1964.
Managed by: NPS.
At the park
- Visitor center
- Camping
- Wildlife & bird watching
- Hiking trails
Shows and experiences
- Junior Ranger program
Events
- Patio Talk - Island in the Sky District
- Geology Talk - Island in the Sky
- Horseshoe Canyon Guided Walk
Before you go
- Limits
- No. Essentially, river permits are available first-come, first-served after the first business day in January for each calendar year
- Limits
- Island in the Sky Campground has 12 sites with fire rings, picnic tables, and toilets (no running water)
- Limits
- Pets are allowed only at developed campgrounds, on paved roads and parking lots, and on the Potash/Shafer Canyon road between Moab and Island in the Sky
- Limits
- No. Launching, landing, or operating unmanned aircraft (such as drones, quadcopters, or model airplanes) is prohibited
- Limits
- On average, campgrounds will accommodate RVs up to 28 feet long
- Getting there
- Canyonlands National Park is cut into three land districts by the Green and Colorado rivers. Island in the Sky, in the north of the park, is about 40 minutes from Moab, UT via UT 313. The Needles district is in the southeast corner of Canyonlands, about 90 minutes from Moab or an hour from Monticello, UT via UT 211. The Maze district, in the west of the park, is the most remote and challenging; its ranger station is down 46 miles of dirt road from UT 24. All roads in The Maze require high-clearance 4WD.
- Weather & when to go
- Canyonlands is part of the Colorado Plateau, a "high desert" region that experiences wide temperature fluctuations, sometimes over 40 degrees in a single day. The temperate (and most popular) seasons are spring (April-May) and fall (mid-September-October), when daytime highs average 60 to 80 F and lows average 30 to 50 F. Summer temperatures often exceed 100 F, making strenuous exercise difficult. Winters are cold, with highs averaging 30 to 50 F, and lows averaging 0 to 20 F.
- Park alert: Trip-planning tips for 2026
- Planning to visit Canyonlands this year? To ensure the best experience, please anticipate potentially long wait times at the entrance station. If overlook or trailhead parking is full, plan to return a little later. Please avoid parking on vegetation and roadways to help preserve this beautiful place for everyone to enjoy.
- Visitor center
- Canyonlands Backcountry Office — Rangers are normally available five days a week to answer questions over the phone or email and issue permits online. The office closes for an hour for lunch every day (typically 12-1 pm) and backcountry permits are not issued after 4 pm. The backcountry office may close when rangers are needed to… — Canyonlands administrative offices are about five miles south of Moab on US 191.
- Visitor center
- Hans Flat Ranger Station
- Visitor center
- Hans Flat Ranger Station
- Visitor center
- Hans Flat Ranger Station — Hans Flat Ranger Station is open to the public 8 am to 4 pm daily. — Getting to the Maze requires four-wheel-drive and a lot of time. To reach Hans Flat Ranger Station, from I-70 take UT 24 south for 24 miles. A left turn just beyond the turnoff to Goblin Valley State Park will take you along an unpaved, two-wheel-drive dirt road, 46 miles to the ranger station. Blowing sand dunes or precipitation can degrade the road condition at any time. Roads beyond the ranger…
- Visitor center
- Island in the Sky Visitor Center
- Visitor center
- Island in the Sky Visitor Center — The Island in the Sky visitor center is normally open daily year-round with reduced hours in late fall, winter, and early spring. It closes early on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve and is closed for Christmas Day (December 25). Hours vary with the season. — On US 191, drive 10 miles north of Moab or 22 miles south of Interstate 70 (Crescent Junction), then take UT 313 southwest for 22 miles. Follow signs for Canyonlands National Park. Drive time from Moab is roughly 40 minutes to the visitor center.
- Visitor center
- The Needles Visitor Center
- Visitor center
- The Needles Visitor Center
- Visitor center
- The Needles Visitor Center — The Needles Visitor Center is normally open daily spring through fall. It is closed from mid-December to mid-February. Early spring and late fall hours may be shorter. Bathrooms remain open and water is available year-round. Information boards outside the building help you plan your visit. — On US 191, drive 40 miles south of Moab, Utah, or 14 miles north of Monticello, Utah, then take UT 211 roughly 35 miles west. Highway 211 ends in The Needles, and is the only paved road leading in and out of the area.
Facilities on the park map
2 bench, 1 changing table, 10 picnic area, 13 restroom, 9 visitor information.
Where to stay
- The Needles Campground
- The Needles District Group Campsites
- Island in the Sky (Willow Flat) Campground