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Canyonlands National Park

The park is located in SE Utah

Saddle up and gallop your way through Horseshoe Canyon, hike through to the Great Gallery, or make your journey through The Maze by foot or 4-Wheel-Drive; you decide as it’s your adventure to Utah’s largest national park, Canyonlands! One can see over 10,000 square miles from this pinnacle of land between the Colorado and Green River that carve out Canyonlands. Broad mesas, sweeping horizons, dizzying canyons and a multitude of tall red spires are just a few of the alluring sights. Hiking, horseback riding, 4WD off-roading, and biking are prominent ways to see what Canyonlands National Park has to offer! Check out below for great Canyonlands National Park information!!

Uniqueness
Canyonlands National Park preserves a colorful landscape of sedimentary sandstones eroded into countless canyons, mesas and buttes by the Colorado River and its tributaries. The Colorado and Green rivers divide the park into four districts: the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze and the rivers themselves. While the districts share a primitive desert atmosphere, each retains its own character and offers different opportunities for exploration and learning. Carved out of vast sedimentary rock deposits, this landscape of canyons, mesas, and deep river gorges possesses remarkable natural features that are part of a unique desert ecosystem.

The Colorado River and its tributaries are one of the world’s most spectacular river systems. From its headwaters in the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming, the river drops more than two miles on a 1,700-mile journey to the Gulf of California. The water becomes thick with sediment as it passes through the red rock canyons of the Colorado Plateau, and seasonal flow varies greatly. There are superb opportunities for white water rafting, canoeing and kayaking with rapids up to Class V.

To many, the most outstanding natural features of Canyonlands are the park’s geologic formations. In each of the districts, visitors can see the remarkable effects of millions of years of erosion on a landscape of sedimentary rock. Two unusual natural features are common in Canyonlands and intrigue both scientists and visitors: biological soil crust and potholes. Biological soil crust is a living groundcover that forms the foundation of high desert plant life. Potholes are naturally occurring basins in sandstone that collect rainwater and wind-blown sediment. These potholes harbor organisms that are able to survive long periods of dehydration, and also serve as a breeding ground for many high desert amphibians and insects. Both of these communities are very vulnerable to human impacts.

National parks preserve some of the darkest skies in the country. In some areas, it’s possible to see up to 15,000 stars throughout the night. The utter dark of a moonless night in Canyonlands surprises many visitors. At Canyonlands, the naked eye is sufficient to witness a wealth of stars. Under the right conditions, common binoculars may even reveal the rings of Saturn; however, a clear view of the Milky Way is more than an aesthetic experience.

Explore Canyonlands natural and cultural features on the hundreds of miles of hiking trails and roads. 337,570 acres complete this national park established on Sept. 12, 1964. The park is home to 800 year old rock art and ruins left by the prehistoric American Indians. The impressive Canyons and breathtaking scenery in this park is worthy of a family vacation.

Park and Visitor Center Hours
The Hans Flat Ranger Station is open year-round from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There is a small sales area with books and maps. There are no amenities like food or gas, no entrance fees and no potable water sources in the Maze District. The Ranger Station is two and one-half hours from Green River, Utah. From I-70, take Utah Highway 24 south for 24 miles. A left hand turn just beyond the turnoff to Goblin Valley State Park will take you along a two-wheel-drive dirt road 46 miles (76 km) southeast to the ranger station.

Island in the Sky Visitor Center is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily (except some winter holidays), with extended hours through spring and fall. Exhibits, publications, information, and optional viewing of a park orientation video are available. Bottled water is available for sale at the visitor center; no water is available elsewhere.

Needles Visitor Center is open year-round from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except some winter holidays), with extended hours March through October. Exhibits, information and publications are available. To reach the Needles center via US Highway 191: drive 40 miles (60 km) south of Moab or 14 miles (22 km) north of Monticello, then take Utah Highway 211 roughly 35 miles (56 km) west. Highway 211 ends in the Needles, and is the only paved road leading in and out of the district.

History & Statistics
Roughly two thousand years ago, early farmers called the ancestral Puebloan (formerly known as Anasazi) and Fremont people, grew maize, beans and squash, and kept dogs and turkeys. In order to tend their crops, they lived year-round in villages like those preserved at Mesa Verde National Park. Though the two groups overlapped, the Fremont lived mostly in central Utah, while the ancestral Puebloans occupied the Four Corners region. Over time, growing populations at Mesa Verde caused a search for suitable land all over southeast Utah’s canyon country. By A.D. 1200, large groups had moved into the Needles District, especially in Salt Creek. However, granaries and dwellings used by the ancestral Puebloans are scattered throughout the park. Examples of these structures can be seen at Roadside Ruin in the Needles, Aztec Butte on the Island in the Sky and along many backcountry trails.

Humans first visited Canyonlands over 10,000 years ago. Nomadic groups of hunter-gatherers roamed throughout the southwest from 8,000 B.C. to 500 B.C. Living off the land, these people depended on the availability of wild plants and animals for their survival. They do not appear to have stayed in any one area for very long. They left little in the way of artifacts and didn’t build homes or other lasting structures. However, the hunter-gatherers during this time created a great deal of intriguing rock art. Some of the best examples of their art, known as “Barrier Canyon Style,” remain on the cliff walls of Horseshoe Canyon. Horseshoe Canyon was added to Canyonlands in 1971 and contains some of the most significant rock art in North America.

Natural Features
Canyonlands National Park is a showcase of geology. In each of the districts, visitors can see the remarkable effects of millions of years of erosion on a landscape of sedimentary rock. For hundreds of millions of years, material was deposited from a variety of sources in what is now Canyonlands National Park. As movements in the earths crust altered surface features and the North American continent migrated north from the equator, the local environment changed dramatically. The uplifting of this region, known as the Colorado Plateau, marked a shift from a depositional environment to one of erosion. An erosion- resistant caprock of White Rim Sandstone may protect a weaker layer of shale until only a thin spire remains. Examples of such “standing rocks” can be seen in both the Island in the Sky and the Maze districts.

Another significant factor in the shaping of Canyonlands is the Paradox Formation; a layer of sea water evaporates from the Pennsylvanian Period. Deeply buried, the salts in this layer can liquefy under the weight of the overlying rock, flowing, like toothpaste, away from the source of greatest overburden. In response, the upper layers may bow up, creating a salt dome, or erode and collapse, creating a salt valley. This phenomenon is especially visible in the Needles, where parallel cracks or “joints” formed in the surface rock as buried layers slumped toward Cataract Canyon. These cracks are perpendicular to an older system of cracks created by the “Monument Uplift.” The resulting crosshatched pattern of joints has eroded so that great blocks of sandstone have been reduced to thin spires of rock. The grabens in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park are a system of linear collapsed valleys caused by the movement of underlying salt layers toward the Colorado River canyon. The grabens begin near the Confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers and run roughly parallel to Cataract Canyon for 25 km, veering slightly west before they end. Graben is a German word meaning ditch or grave. In the geologic sense it is a collapsed or down-dropped block of rock that is bordered on its long sides by faults. The grabens are a very young geologic feature. Graben growth is thought to be a slow process where small, seismically undetectable movement occurs: as little as one inch per year. The grabens continue to drop and slide toward the river today, and are fascinating features in the Needles District.

In an area approximately three miles (5km) across, rock layers are dramatically deformed called Upheaval Dome. In the center, the rocks are pushed up into a circular structure called a dome, or an anticline. Surrounding this dome is a down warp in the rock layers called a syncline. What caused these folds at Upheaval Dome? Geologists do not know for sure, but there are two main theories which are hotly debated. The Salt Dome Theory: A thick layer of salt, formed by the evaporation of ancient landlocked seas, underlies much of southeastern Utah and Canyonlands National Park. When under pressure from thousands of feet of overlying rock, the salt can flow plastically, like ice moving at the bottom of a glacier. In addition, salt is less dense than sandstone. As a result, over millions of years salt can flow up through rock layers as a “salt bubble”, rising to the surface and creating salt domes that deform the surrounding rock. When geologists first suggested that Upheaval Dome was the result of a salt dome, they believed the land form resulted from erosion of the rock layers above the dome itself. Recent research suggests that a salt bubble as well as the overlying rock have been entirely removed by erosion and the present surface of Upheaval Dome is the pinched off stem below the missing bubble. If true, Upheaval Dome would earn the distinction of being the most deeply eroded salt structure on earth.

The Impact Crater Theory: When meteorites collide with the earth, they leave impact craters like the well-known one in Arizona. Some geologists estimate that roughly 60 million years ago, a meteorite with a diameter of approximately one-third of a mile hit at what is now the Upheaval Dome. The impact created a large explosion, sending dust and debris high into the atmosphere. The impact initially created an unstable crater that partially collapsed. As the area around Upheaval Dome reached equilibrium, the rocks underground heaved upward to fill the void left by the impact. Erosion since the impact has washed away any meteorite debris, and now provides a glimpse into the interior of the impact crater, exposing rock layers once buried thousands of feet underground. Whatever the origin of Upheaval Dome, it is the result of erosion of a structural dome. Rock layers now at the surface within the dome were once buried at least a mile underground and are not visible anywhere else in the nearby area. While some call this feature a crater, it is not a crater in the traditional sense of the word, but simply another example of the erosion which created Canyonlands National Park.

The Colorado and Green rivers began to down cut and are now entrenched in canyons over 2,000 feet deep. Sediment-filled storm run-off drains into these rivers, scouring the surrounding landscape off into a network of tributary canyons, pour-offs and washes. The Colorado and Green rivers wind through the heart of Canyonlands, cutting through layered sandstone to form two deep canyons. Both rivers are calm upstream of the Confluence, ideal for canoeing, kayaking and other shallow water craft. Below the Confluence, the combined flow of both rivers spills down Cataract Canyon with remarkable speed and power, creating a world-class stretch of white water. River flows are dependent upon snowmelt and rainfall. The character of the rivers changes dramatically depending on the season. High water generally stretches from early May to late June. Recorded river flows are available from the US Geological Survey’s Web site, or by calling (801) 539-1311. Snowmelt peak flow forecasts are available from the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center. On both rivers, all launch ramps are outside Canyonlands. Launch locations on the Green River typically include Green River State Park, Ruby Ranch or Mineral Bottom. On the Colorado, boaters typically use the Potash or Moab ramps. There is no vehicle access to the rivers near the Confluence or in Cataract Canyon. While hiking trails lead to the rivers from each of the districts, these trails are too long and rugged to be seriously considered for shuttles, even for inflatable’s and other lightweight boats. Groups wishing to avoid the white water must arrange upstream travel back to Moab. Some of the most breathtaking views of Canyonlands National Park are so remote that they are only accessible on the water. The Colorado River runs for 64 miles from Moab to the confluence; while the Green extends for 120 miles to the confluence.

Known as a “high desert,” with elevations ranging from 3,700ft in Big Drop Rapids to 7,200ft above sea level at Cathedral Point, Canyonlands experiences very hot summers, cold winters, and less than ten inches of rain each year. Even on a daily basis, temperatures may fluctuate as much as 50 degrees. The plants and animals in Canyonlands have many adaptations that enable them to survive these conditions. Some species are found only in this area. The diversity of organisms reflects the variety of available habitat, which includes lush riparian areas, swift rivers, ephemeral pools, dry arroyos, mixed grasslands and large expanses of bare rock.

The rivers divide the park into three distinct parts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, and The Maze. From the upper right corner, the reddish-brown Colorado River enters the park, and from the upper left corners the appropriately named Green River. The two rivers merge in the lower third of the park, forming a Y. Island in the Sky (in the upper part of the park) and its deep canyons were created by the white waters of the two rivers. In the Needles, east of the Y, the sandstone walls are characterized by bizarre arches and piercing peaks, which is counterbalanced by deep canyons. The Maze, in the west, is a solidified rock mass containing trails of dead ends and astonishing sights. Please note, the three sections of the park are not connected, each has its own entrance.

The Needles District forms the southeast corner of Canyonlands, named for the colorful spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone that dominate the area. The Needles are a series of spires located to the southwest of Squaw Flat campground that surround the Chesler Park area of the Needles District. The Needles occur in an area of rock with many fractures called joints. The joints were formed in two different manners. The first was the Monument uplift, which begins around the Needles District and trends slightly southwest all the way to Monument Valley. This uplift caused brittle, surface rock like the Cedar Mesa Sandstone to crack as it was bent upward, forming a set of joints in a northeast-southwest direction. A thick salt layer underneath the Needles district, known as the Paradox Formation, is the second cause of joint formation. The salt is flowing slowly toward the Colorado River and dragging the overlying layers with it. As the upper layers became stretched, they also fractured into joints. This action created a set of joints running northeast-southwest. In the Needles area, these two joint sets meet and form square blocks of rock between the joints. As water widened the joints, the squares were sculpted into pillars and spires that are today the Needles of Canyonlands.

Activities to do in the Park
The Island in the Sky mesa rests on sheer sandstone cliffs over 1,000 feet above the surrounding terrain. Every overlook offers a different perspective on Canyonlands’ spectacular landscape. The Island is the easiest district to visit in a short period of time, offering many pullouts with spectacular views along the paved scenic drive. Hiking trails and four-wheel-drive roads access backcountry areas for day or overnight trips.

Bike, drive, even climb your way through the Island in the Sky! Canyonlands most famous mountain biking terrain, the 100-mile White Rim Road, loops around and below the Island mesa top and provides expansive views of the surrounding area. Trips usually take two to three days by four-wheel-drive vehicle or three to four days by mountain bike. All vehicles and bikes must remain on roads. Rock climbing is also done in Canyonlands, albeit on a limited fashion. The sandstone towers at the Island in the Sky attract the most rock climbers. Little climbing is done in the rest of the park due to the poor rock quality and a lack of established routes. Permits are not required for technical rock climbing unless it involves an overnight stay in the backcountry.

The Island is a challenging place for backpacking. The landscape below the mesa top is a mixture of talus slopes and vast basins without any reliable water sources. All overnight routes involve a descent of over 1,000 feet, except Murphy Point which is on the mesa top and is an ideal destination for single-night trips. Backpackers camp at-large unless traveling along the Syncline Trail where there is a designated site. The longer hiking trails generally begin on the mesa top and descend via switchbacks to the White Rim bench. A few trails continue down to one of the rivers. Most are considered strenuous, with an elevation change of 1,000-2,000 feet, and require negotiating steep slopes of loose rock as well as sections of deep sand. The Lathrop Canyon hike is a 17 mi/27 km round-trip to the Colorado River starting at the Lathrop Trailhead. Murphy Loop is a 9 mi/14 km round-trip hike starting at the Murphy Point Trailhead with great views of the White Rim Formation and the surrounding canyons. Syncline Loop is an 8 mi/13 km round-trip hike starting at Upheaval Dome Trailhead. Although this is a strenuous hike, it passes through a riparian area where water and shade are usually available. Taylor Canyon is another long hike at 20 mi/32 km round-trip and starting at Alcove Spring Trailhead. Several short trails exist along the scenic drive at the Island. These include Aztec Butte, Grand View Point, Mesa Arch, Whale Rock and Upheaval Dome (to the first overlook). Each of these trails highlights some aspect of the park’s natural or cultural history. Guides are available for some of the trails at trailheads and in the visitor center. To reach the Island, take US Highway 191 to Utah Highway 313 (10 mi/16 km north of Moab, or 22 mi/35 km south of I-70) and then drive southwest 22 mi/35 km. Driving time to the visitor center from Moab is roughly 40 minutes.

The Needles District forms the southeast corner of Canyonlands, named for the colorful spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone that dominate the area. Foot trails and four-wheel-drive roads lead to such features as Tower Ruin, Confluence Overlook, Elephant Hill, the Joint Trail, and Chesler Park. Over 50 miles of challenging backcountry roads access campsites, trailheads and many natural and cultural features. All of these roads require high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicles. Inexperienced drivers are discouraged from attempting these roads as the risk of vehicle damage is great and towing expenses typically exceed $1,000.

Why drive when you can walk? The district’s extensive trail system provides many opportunities for long day hiking and overnight trips. Hiking in the Needles District offers over 60 miles of interconnecting trails as challenging as they are rewarding; however, Needles is the most popular destination in the park for backpacking. Most trailheads are accessible by two-wheel-drive vehicles, and water may be found in many of the canyons east of Chesler Park.

Horseshoe Canyon was added to Canyonlands in 1971 and contains some of the most significant rock art in North America. The Great Gallery includes well-preserved, life-sized figures with intricate designs. Other impressive sights include spring wildflowers, sheer sandstone walls, and mature cottonwood groves along the intermittent stream in the canyon bottom. Hiking to the Great Gallery from the west rim trailhead is 6.5 miles round-trip, descending 750 feet and requiring about six hours. Pets are prohibited below the rim of Horseshoe Canyon. Group size is limited to 20 people. Bring your own drinking water.

The horseback riding trail into Horseshoe Canyon from the west rim trailhead is an old 4WD road suitable for horses. Group size limit is ten animals and ten people. Permits are free and may be obtained at the Hans Flat Ranger Station or by phone at (435)259-2652. Most visitors access Horseshoe from the west. Two-wheel-drive access to the west rim of Horseshoe Canyon is from Utah Highway 24 via 30 miles of graded dirt road, or from Green River on 47 miles of dirt road. Driving time is roughly 2.5 hours from Moab or 1.5 hours from Green River. A four-wheel-drive road leads to the east rim of Horseshoe Canyon from the Hans Flat Ranger Station. All access roads may become impassable during storms.

The Maze is the least accessible district of Canyonlands. Due to the district’s remoteness and the difficulty of roads and trails, travel to the Maze requires more time, as well as a greater degree of self-sufficiency. Rarely do visitors spend less than three days in the Maze, and the area can easily absorb a week-long trip. From the ranger station, the canyons of the Maze are another 3 to 6 hours by high-clearance, 4WD (more if traveling by foot). Another four-wheel-drive road leads into the Maze north from Highway 95 near Hite Marina (driving time is 3+ hours to the park boundary).

Hiking trails in the Maze are primitive and lead into canyons and to various viewpoints. Due to the nature and depth of Maze canyons, access to them is limited. Routes into the canyons are cairned from mesa top to canyon bottom, but routes through washes are often unmarked. Many of the canyons look alike and are difficult to identify without a topographic map. The Maze Overlook Trail and other routes in the district require basic climbing maneuvers in order to negotiate sections of steep slickrock and pour-offs. A 25-foot length of rope is often essential for raising or lowering packs in difficult spots. Many routes may make hikers with a fear of heights uncomfortable.

Most trailheads start from four-wheel-drive roads. Visitors with two-wheel-drive vehicles may park at the North Point Road junction, approximately 2.5 miles southeast of the Hans Flat Ranger Station, and hike 15 miles to the Maze Overlook. Depending on the vehicle, hikers may also be able to negotiate the 14-mile road to park at the top of the Flint Trail switchbacks.

Four-wheel-drive roads in the Maze are extremely difficult, present considerable risk of vehicle damage, and should not be attempted by inexperienced drivers. A high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle is required for all Maze backcountry roads. ATVs are not permitted.

Weather
Southeast Utah 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 through May) and fall (mid-September through 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. Late summer monsoon season brings violent storm cells which often cause flash floods. Winters are cold, with highs averaging 30 to 50 F, and lows averaging 0 to 20 F. Though large snowfalls are uncommon (except in nearby mountains), even small amounts of snow or ice can make local trails and roads impassable.

Rules, Regulations, and Safety
ATVs are not permitted. All vehicles and bikes must remain on designated roads. Motorbikes and vehicles must be street legal and operated by a licensed driver. Roads may close intermittently due to poor driving conditions or weather. Four-wheel drivers should be prepared to make basic road or vehicle repairs and should carry the following items: at least one full-size spare tire, extra gas, extra water, a shovel, a high-lift jack, and chains for all four tires (especially October through April).

Trails are usually marked with cairns (small rock piles) and have signs at intersections. Many remote trails do not receive regular maintenance and may not be adequately marked. All backcountry hikers should carry a topographic map. Pets are not allowed on hiking trails. Permits are required for all overnight trips in the backcountry. During the spring and fall, demand for permits frequently exceeds the number available. If you plan to visit Canyonlands during peak season, it is recommended that you make reservations well in advance. Backpackers stay in at-large zones. A good backpacking checklist is: a good quality tent, repair kit, good hiking boots, backpack, food, cooking utensils, water plus a 2 quart water bottle, water purification system, camp stove, fuel, matches, candle to start a fire, sleeping bag and mat, topographical map, compass, flashlight with extra batteries and bulb, whistle or signal mirror, first aid kit, knife or multipurpose tool, sun glasses, sunscreen, insect repellent, garbage bags to pack out what you pack in and adequate clothing for the season. Reservation office staff is available by phone to answer questions and assist with trip planning Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Mountain Time), at (435) 259-4351.

Please use the following camping regulations in Canyonlands. For human waste disposal, use vault toilets where provided. Portable toilets are required for all visitors using designated campsites in the Maze District and at the New Bates Wilson site in the Needles. Backpackers should dig a 4” to 6” deep “cat hole,” at least 300 feet from water sources and campsites. Pack out toilet paper. All wood fires are prohibited. Charcoal fires are allowed at designated vehicle campsites. Visitors must use a fire pan and remove unburned charcoal and fire debris. Pets, weapons and littering are prohibited. Pack out all garbage. Disturbing, entering or camping within 300 feet of an archeological or historical site is prohibited. Collecting artifacts is prohibited. At-large camping is prohibited within one mile of a road or outside the area for which a permit is issued. Camping within 300 feet, or use of soap within 100 feet, of a water source is prohibited. River corridor camping is excluded from this regulation. Camping outside the established campsite boundary at a designated campsite is prohibited. Hunting, feeding or disturbing wildlife is prohibited.

There are also regulations regarding stock animals. Horses, mules and burros are the only animals permitted. Other domestic animals are prohibited in the backcountry (including dogs). Stock must be fed pelletized feed for 48 hours in advance of and during a trip in order to prevent the spread of exotic plant species. Grazing is not allowed. Animals may not be left unattended and must be staked at least 300 feet away from water sources and away from vegetation where possible.

People have visited what is now Canyonlands National Park for over 10,000 years. Over time, many different groups have moved in and out of the area in concert with the availability of natural resources and the technology for exploiting those resources. Cultural sites and artifacts are irreplaceable. Please observe the following guidelines when visiting sites in Canyonlands and other National Parks. View sites from a distance. Ancient walls crumble easily. Never enter structures or human-made enclosures as your movements may damage the foundation or other structural elements. Leave things where they lie. Resist the temptation to collect artifacts and allow future visitors the joy of discovery. Also, archeologists can determine a great deal from the presence and location of artifacts. Enjoy rock art with your eyes only. Pictographs and petroglyphs should not be touched as the oils in human skin will destroy them. Never spoil cultural sites or natural features with modern graffiti.

Looks can be deceiving, solid looking rocks can actually be harmed by a wrong footstep, or driving off the marked trails. When moss and other vegetation begin to start plant life the rocks become covered by a Cryptobiotic Crust, helping to avoid further erosion and keep moisture in the ground. This fragile form of life can be killed by a single step leaving the ground barren for years. For nature, and your own safety, please remain on a marked course throughout any place you visit.

Water is a limiting factor in Canyonlands. There are springs scattered throughout the park, mostly in canyon bottoms. There are also large areas, such as the Grabens in the Needles and the entire White Rim bench at the Island, where there are no reliable water sources. Obtaining drinking water from either the Green or Colorado rivers is difficult as the water is very silty and hard to purify. Pack in water whenever possible. Many springs marked on topographic maps may dry up during periods of drought. Spring locations and current conditions are available at district visitor centers.

Wildlife
Though the natural quiet of Canyonlands often creates the impression of lifelessness, many animals live here. Desert animals have a variety of adaptations for dealing with the temperature and moisture stresses present in Canyonlands. The Colorado and Green Rivers are the only major water source in Canyonlands; therefore, the rivers attract a variety of wildlife.
Birds, lizards and some rodents are seen most frequently, though seasons and weather play a large role in determining what animals are active. Mostly nocturnal animals include kangaroo rats, woodrats (also called packrats) and most other small desert rodents, skunks, ringtails, foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, bats and owls. Animals that are most active at dawn and dusk are called “crepuscular.” Crepuscular animals 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. Many animals have a temperature range in which they are active, so alter their active times of day depending on the season. Snakes and lizards go into an inactive state of torpor during the winter, are active during the day during the late spring and early fall, and become crepuscular during the heat of summer.

Desert bighorn sheep live year-round in Canyonlands. These animals roam the talus slopes and side canyons along the rivers, foraging on plants and negotiating the steep, rocky terrain with the greatest of ease. Once in danger of becoming extinct, the desert bighorn are now making a tentative comeback that has been fueled by the healthy herds in Canyonlands.

An interesting fall visitor to Canyonlands is the black bear. An unusual sight in the red rock canyons, black bears follow river and stream corridors, like Salt Creek Canyon in the Needles District, that flow from nearby mountains. These visits generally occur in late August and September when prickly pear cacti and hackberry trees bear their fruit. The bears return to the mountains before winter.

Birds are the most visible animals in Canyonlands. Even on the hottest summer day, turkey vultures and white-throated swifts circle above the canyons. During winter, juncos and white-crowned sparrows forage around trees and shrubs. While Canyonlands may not be considered a bird watching hot spot, 273 species have been seen in the park, including seasonal and year-round residents as well as migrants. There’s still plenty for you bird watching enthusiasts to enjoy here!

Canyonlands owes much of this diversity to riparian corridors like the Colorado and Green rivers. In the desert, animal life tends to concentrate around riparian areas because of the abundance of food, water and shelter. During spring and summer, mornings along the rivers are filled with birdsong, including blue grosbeaks, yellow-breasted chats, spotted towhees and canyon wrens. Great blue herons are often seen hunting the shallows for fish, while Cooper’s hawks deftly maneuver through the tangle of trees beyond the riverbanks. Many birds favor the “upland” areas where grasses, shrubs and small trees dominate. Say’s phoebes, black-throated sparrows and western meadowlarks frequent grasslands. Pinyon jays, scrub jays, juniper titmice and black-throated gray warblers are usually seen in pinyon-juniper woodlands.

Wildlife Warnings
Black bears and other animals could be potentially dangerous. Do not approach wild animals and never attempt to feed them. See Wildlife Precautions page for further safety tips.

Fees
Entrance fees are: Individual $5 (for seven days) Vehicle $10 (for seven days) Local Passport: $25 (Good for one year)

Camping
Designated campsites (one group per site) have been established along most trails; Groups camp at-large in areas without sites or trails. Backcountry camping is also available for backpackers. Be sure to follow all the parks’ backcountry regulations. Squaw Flat Campground (Needles District) costs $15 per night and is open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. There are 26 sites; bathrooms, fire grates, picnic tables, tent pads, and water are available. Group size limit is 10 people and 2 vehicles. Maximum RV camping length is 28 feet. This is an ideal base camp for day hikes to popular destinations like: Chesler Park, Druid Arch and the Joint Trail.
Willow Flat Campground (Island in the Sky) cost $10 per night and is open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. The Willow Flat Campground is a short walk from one of the finest sunset spots in the park: Green River Overlook. There are 12 sites with tables, fire grills, and vault toilets. Maximum group size is ten people, with a limit of two vehicles per group. The 1 mi access road is unpaved; firewood and water are not available

The Needles District offers three campsites for groups of 11 or more people which may be reserved in advance. The Squaw Flat Group Site can hold up to 50 people and 10 vehicles. The Wooden Shoe Group Site can hold up to 25 people and 5 vehicles. The Split Top Group Site can hold up to 15 people and 3 vehicles. Nightly fees are $3 per person.

Nearby Attractions
Arches National Park, Colorado National Monument, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Hovenweep National Monument, Natural Bridges National Monument, Grand Staircase-Escanlante National Monument, and Fishlake National Forest are all nearby.

Transportation
Commercial airlines serve Grand Junction, CO and Salt Lake City, UT. By car, these cities are at least 2 and 4 hours (respectively) away from the closest park entrance (Island in the Sky).
There are two paved entrances into Canyonlands: Highway 313 leads to the Island in the Sky District and is 10 miles north of Moab; Highway 211 leads to the Needles District and is 40 miles south of Moab. Roads to the Maze District are a mixture of graded dirt and 4WD. These roads may become impassable when wet.

Greyhound travels along Interstate 70, making stops at Grand Junction, CO and Green River, UT. Commercial vans/shuttles operate between Moab and Salt Lake City as well as Grand Junction. There is no public transportation to Canyonlands.

Travel to Canyonlands generally requires a car. Once in the park, each district offers different opportunities for exploration. The Island in the Sky is the most accessible district and the easiest to visit in a short period of time. All other destinations require some boating, hiking or four-wheel driving to see the area’s attractions.

Approximate Mileage from the following major cities to Canyonlands National Park:

By Car:
Green River, UT – 55.53 miles
Provo, UT – 194.35 miles
Salt Lake City, UT – 237.72 miles
Durango, CO – 156.56 miles
Grand Junction, CO – 117.09 miles
Flagstaff, AZ – 320.15 miles

Contact the park
Canyonlands National Park, Superintendent 2282 SW Resource Blvd Moab, UT 84532
Phone (435) 719-2313 Backcountry Reservations (435) 259-4351 Fax (435) 719-2300

National Park Service

http://www.nps.gov/cany/home.htm