a broad stone arch with rock pinnacles in the distance

Canyonlands National Park

National Park ยท Utah

NPS/Neal Herbert

๐Ÿ“ StateUtah
๐Ÿ›๏ธ TypeNational Park
๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ Entry$30
๐Ÿƒ Activities22
Official NPS Website โ†’
Canyonlands National Park

National park in Utah, United States

Canyonlands National Park is a national park of the United States located in southeastern Utah near the town of Moab. The park preserves a colorful landscape eroded into numerous canyons, mesas, and buttes by the Colorado River, the Green River, and their respective tributaries. Legislation creating the park was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 12, 1964.

WikipediaWikidataSource: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

About Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands is a wilderness of canyons, buttes, and spires carved by the Colorado River and Green River. The park is divided into four distinct districts; no roads join them together. The districts share similar desert ecosystems, but each one provides unique opportunities for adventure and discovery.

Park Photos

a broad stone arch with rock pinnacles in the distance
shallow pools with a double rainbow in the background
a rugged canyon
a long gravel road with cyclists on it
pinnacles of horizontally striped sandstone
a person rowing a dory on the Colorado River

Activities

Operating Hours

Open Year-round

Canyonlands National Park is generally open 24 hours a day, year-round.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to enter Canyonlands National Park?

Entrance - Private Vehicle: $30.00. Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less) and all its occupants. Entrance - Motorcycle: $25.00. Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. Entrance - Per Person: $15.00. Admits one individual with no car. Typically used for bicyclists, hikers, and pedestrians. Youth 15 and under are admitted free.

What are the best activities at Canyonlands National Park?

Popular activities at Canyonlands National Park include: Astronomy, Stargazing, Biking, Boating, Camping, Backcountry Camping, Car or Front Country Camping, Group Camping.

What is the weather like at Canyonlands National Park?

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.

How do I get to Canyonlands National Park?

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.

Entrance Fees

Entrance - Private Vehicle$30

Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less) and all its occupants.

Entrance - Motorcycle$25

Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.

Entrance - Per Person$15

Admits one individual with no car. Typically used for bicyclists, hikers, and pedestrians. Youth 15 and under are admitted free.

Weather

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.

Directions

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.

๐Ÿ“ View on Google Maps โ†’

Location

State(s)
Coordinates38.2456, -109.8802

Official Resources

NPS Official Website