Moab, There is actually a fourth district in Canyonlands, a detached area known as Horseshoe Canyon. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. Get the full details in our American Southwest Itinerary. The Great Gallery, the best known panel in Horseshoe Canyon, includes well-preserved, life-sized figures with intricate designs. There is no lodging inside of Canyonlands National Park. The Needles, with its zebra-striped sandstone spires, is a hiking and backpacking wonderland. This hike gets a lot of rave reviews but we liked the Gooseberry Trail a lot more. Utah National Parks Guide: 5 MIGHTY Utah National Parks Guide, Utah National Parks Road Trip: 5 Best Utah National Park Road Trips, Things to Do Bryce Canyon: 20 Epic Things to Do in Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park Guide: Ultimate Guide to Zion National Park, Things to Do in Zion: 18 EPIC Things to Do in Zion National Park, Best Hikes in Zion: 16 EPIC Hikes in Zion National Park, Things to Do in Arches: 16 EPIC Things to Do in Arches National Park, Utahs Manti-La Sal National Forest: Manti-La Sal National Forest: The Forest As Beautiful as Utahs Parks, Google Arts & Culture Bryce Canyon: Amazing Virtual Experience of Bryce Canyon, National Parks Rankings: ALL 63 US National Parks Ranked By Experts, Road Trip Essentials: 35+ ROAD TRIP ESSENTIALS (Youll Love + Packing List), Road Trip Planning Tools: 15 BEST FREE ROAD TRIP PLANNING Tools (& Apps) 2022, Most Visited National Parks: Top 10 Most Visited National Parks, Least Visited National Parks: Top 10 Least Visited National Parks. During the winter months, Shafer Canyon Road can close due to snow. In addition to its natural beauty, Mesa Arch is also an important cultural site for the Ute tribe, who have lived in the area for thousands of years. Udall then lobbied for the creation of Canyonlands National Park which became a reality on September 12, 1964, when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Public-Law 88-590 establishing 257,640 acres as Canyonlands National Park. Its also a good idea to bring along a map of the area, as cell phone reception can be spotty in the park. The last time I visited Canyonlands National Park I finally paid a visit to the lesser traveled but always intriguing Whale Rock. Read on. Cottonwoods, Tamarisks, and Willows along the river. CHECK OUT: 11 AMAZING Facts About Arches National Park. On day 2, visit The Needles. Cassidy and his gang established what would become their greatest hideout, the Hole-In-The-Wall, in central Wyoming. Canyonlands National Park covers an area of 1,366 square kilometers (527 square miles) or 136,600 hectares (337,546 acres). NOTE: To visit Horseshoe Canyon, you will need a high-clearance 4WD vehicle and a backcountry permit, as the canyon is only accessible by a rough, dirt road. possible to see up to 15,000 stars throughout the night. From the overlook, there are several other hiking trails that lead to other points of interest in the park. If youre interested joining the adventure, sign up below! These facts are great for brushing up on your park knowledge or preparing for an upcoming trip to Canyonlands National Park. As a matter of fact, night skies at Canyonlands are so pristine that the International Dark Sky Association designated Canyonlands as aGold-Tier International Dark Sky Park in 2015. Things to Do Canyonlands: 20 Epic Things to Do in Canyonlands National Park, Road Trip Essentials: 35+ ROAD TRIP ESSENTIALS (Youll Love + Packing List), Things to Do Capitol Reef: 15 Best Things to Do in Capitol Reef National Park, Road Trip Planning Tools: 15 BEST FREE ROAD TRIP PLANNING Tools (& Apps) 2022, Zion National Park Guide: Ultimate Guide to Zion National Park, Things to Do Bryce Canyon: 20 Epic Things to Do in Bryce Canyon National Park, Things to Do in Zion: 18 EPIC Things to Do in Zion National Park, Best Hikes in Zion: 16 EPIC Hikes in Zion National Park, Things to Do in Arches: 16 EPIC Things to Do in Arches National Park, Utahs Manti-La Sal National Forest: Manti-La Sal National Forest: The Forest As Beautiful as Utahs Parks, Utah National Parks Guide: 5 MIGHTY Utah National Parks Guide, Utah National Parks Road Trips: 5 Best Utah National Park Road Trips, National Parks Rankings: ALL 63 US National Parks Ranked By Experts, Most Visited National Parks: Top 10 Most Visited National Parks, Least Visited National Parks: Top 10 Least Visited National Parks, In: Educational Resources, Facts, History, National Parks, Your email address will not be published. On the White Rim Road. The White Rim Overlook, mentioned earlier, is an easy 1.8 mile round trip hike to a viewpoint that offers sweeping views. Research in the park has focused on understanding the geology and geomorphology of the area, as well as the role of biological soil crusts in maintaining the desert ecosystem. And in the Island in the Sky district, some of the very best experiences lie below the rim of the mesaeither by hiking below the rim or driving the spectacular White Rim Road. Above the confluence, the rivers are wide and slow moving. Along these two roads are overlooks and viewpoints. LEARN MORE: How to Hike the Chesler Park Loop. There are upwards of 2,000 documented arches in Moab's aptly named national park, compared to 80-ish in Canyonlands. Arches National Park, its nearby neighbor, had almost the double amount of visitors!! Most of the parks archaeological sites are in the Needles District. This list covers all five areas of the park. Canyonlands National Park is a sprawling park that is located near Moab, Utah. The park is split into four distinct districts: the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze, and the Rivers. According to the National Park Service, Horseshoe Canyon contains some of the most significant rock art in North America. Canyonlands National Park is a United States national park located in southeastern Utah. In the afternoon, explore the hiking trails in the park. Thebest time to visit Canyonlands National Parkis during the most temperate seasons in thespring(April through May) and fall (mid-September through October). There is a small indoor pool and gym onsite. I spent a lifetime teaching about the history behind some of these natural wonders. Arrive at the arch early in the morning to catch the sunrise and see the colors of the canyon change as the sun rises. You should have a reliable four-wheel drive vehicle that is equipped with high-clearance and good traction. The Great Gallery contains a number of impressive panels of rock art, including the famous Hiking Man panel, which depicts a human figure with elongated limbs. The park also has several designated backcountry campsites that can be reserved in advance. The 100-mile White Rim Road loops around and below the Island in the Sky mesa top and provides expansive views of the surrounding area. Canyonlands is part of the Colorado Plateau high desert. Reaching Elephant Hill itself requires a high-clearance, four-wheel drive vehicle and technical expertise on navigating steep grades, loose rock, stair-step drops, tight turns, and tricky backing according to the NPS. If you find that period fascinating, too, then youll be thrilled to learn that Canyonlands is connected to one of the most notorious outlaw gangs of this period. You can expect one (short) email per week. This is the most challenging hike in Island in the Sky and the hike with the most rescues by the national park service, so it is not to be underestimated. One of the people whom he persuaded was then Secretary of the Interior Stuart Udall. There are no roads within the park that cross the rivers to directly link any of Canyonlands' districts. Here are facts about Canyonlands National Park that you might not have known! One of my favorite periods of American History was the Old West of the 19th Century. Once you reach the trailhead, the trail to Elephant Hill is about 6.5 miles long. While paved roads provide limited access to the Island in the Sky and Needles Districts, the Maze District is remote in the extreme. 3. These are challenging hikes. With one day in Canyonlands, visit the overlooks on Island in the Sky and hike one or more of the trails. SHAFER CANYON ROAD: Learn how to drive Shafer Canyon Road and Potash Road from Canyonlands to Moab. For first-timers, I recommend the Island in the Sky, for its big views, easy access, and short hiking trails. Now, if you live in a city, youre likely to see fewer than 500 stars at night. If you have any questions about the best things to do in Canyonlands National Park or how to plan your visit, let us know in the comment section below. Rooms come equipped with a kitchenette. Later he made trips down the Ohio and Illinois Rivers. Spend the morning rafting or kayaking on the Colorado River. The canyon has a number of trails that range in difficulty and offer stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Perched at the edge of the mesa top, this 27-foot-long (8.3m) arch frames views of the canyon far below and the La Sal Mountains in the distance. Canyonlands National Park is known for its colorful landscape and countless canyons, mesas, and other structures created by the Colorado River, Here are facts about Canyonlands National Park that you might not have known! Summertemperatures often exceed 100F! As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Canyonlands - Island In The Sky In addition to the campgrounds, the park also offers backcountry camping for more experienced adventurers. In addition to the natural beauty of the night sky, Canyonlands National Park also offers ranger-led stargazing programs and other events. MID-RANGE: Homewood Suites. The nearby Horseshoe Canyon Unit, which sits just northwest of The Maze and is a common day-use area where guests can see a wide array of amazing, American Indian rock art panels. That really depends on your interests. Road closures and hiking trail closures do occasionally happen and the best place for up-to-date information is on the nps website. This hike is 2 miles long. There are two main trails around the dome: the Upheaval Dome Trail and the Syncline Loop Trail. Copyright © 2023 More Than Just Parks | This post may contain affiliate links - read our Standards, Corrections, & Privacy Policy. Reaching the overlook makes the hike more than worthwhile as the views of the confluence below are really stunning. 2282 Resource Blvd. The drive to Chesler Park from the nearest town, Moab, takes about 2 hours. At Canyonlands National Park, You Will Find Some Of The Most Significant Rock Art In America, 7. From the rim, visitors can see the circular depression and the rock layers that were disrupted by the domes formation. Be sure to use a headlamp with a red light! The Needles is an often overlooked section of Canyonlands National Park. After visiting the ranger station, consider camping in the Maze district for the night. There are several companies that offer guided trips through the park. Canyonlands National Park is divided into four districts: the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze, and the rivers themselves. Some of these species include: You can also find a wide variety of wildlife at Canyonlands too: Canyonlands National Park was announced as an International Dark Sky Park in 2015. The first major crime attributed to Cassidy is the robbery of the San Miguel Valley Bank in Telluride, on June 24, 1889. The Needles | Best Things to do in Canyonlands National Park. If you are a light sleeper, you might want to consider staying in a different hotel. A permit is required for backcountry camping, and visitors should be well-prepared and experienced in wilderness camping. Shafer Canyon Road | Best Things to do in Canyonlands National Park. In the afternoon, head to the Whale Rock Trail, which is a moderate hike that offers great views of the park and the surrounding area. Canyonlands National Park is a popular destination for visitors, with millions of people visiting each year to enjoy its natural beauty and recreational opportunities.