Canyonlands National Park is divided into three sections by the Colorado and Green Rivers: Needles, Island in the Sky, and Maze. The area was declared a national park on September 12, 1964, and covers 1,366 km². We've compiled the most beautiful sights of Canyonlands Park for you in this travel report.
Canyonlands National Park – Needles District
On our first day in Canyonlands National Park, we visited the Needles District. It gets its name from the red and white mottled rock formations that characterize the area. To get close to the Needles, a four-wheel-drive vehicle or time for a longer hike is recommended.
Off-road to the Colorado Overlook
At the park entrance, a friendly ranger informed us that we happened to be there during "National Park Week" and could therefore save the $10 entrance fee. After briefly learning about the park at the visitor center, we decided to take an off-road route to the Colorado River.
At first it was a simple dirt track, but after a few kilometers the route became increasingly challenging. Suddenly, we were faced with large rocks, ledges, and deep holes. At times, one of us had to get out to guide the other over the obstacles. A truly great off-road drive! We didn't find the view of the Colorado River as impressive as we had imagined. However, on the way back, we had a fantastic view of the Rocky Mountains. It's crazy – we're sweating here in the desert, and in the distance, the mountains are covered in snow.
Elephant Hill Trail
Since the off-roading had taken a bit longer than expected, we decided to do a short hike on the Elephant Hill Trail. The path led us into the mountains, past mushroom-shaped rock formations, to the vicinity of the Needles.
After the rather strenuous hike, we set off for the town of Moab, 63 kilometers away. We hadn't booked a hotel room in advance for the night. We hadn't expected so many tourists to be traveling on a weekend at this time of year. After four unsuccessful attempts at different hotels, we finally found an affordable room available for the night.
Canyonlands National Park – Island in the Sky
The next morning we set off to explore the second part of the national park, Island in the Sky. This is probably the most famous part of the park. It is located very close to Moab, which many tourists consider an ideal overnight stop for visiting Arches and Canyonlands.
Grandview Point
After the obligatory stop at the visitor center, we first drove to Grandview Point. A ranger was explaining how the park and its individual rock strata were formed. From the plateau, hence the name Island in the Sky, we had a fantastic view of the southeastern Needles area.
Upheaval Dome
We found our next stop, Upheaval Dome, very interesting. There are two theories about the formation of the 400-meter-deep crater. The first suggests that slowly moving salt deposits underground pushed the overlying sandstone layers upwards, creating the jagged craters. According to a more recent, much more spectacular theory, the crater was formed by a meteorite impact.
All-wheel drive route „Shafer Trail“
For the return trip to Moab, we opted against the paved road and chose the four-wheel-drive "Shafer Trail." The route descended from the plateau in tight switchbacks, always with one side perched precariously on the edge. Aside from a few rocky steps, the trail was generally easier to drive. Shortly before rejoining the highway in Potash, we passed a salt pan. Here in the mountains, salt is extracted from large, man-made lakes through evaporation. The salt bed gave the water a beautiful and rare turquoise color.
Sunrise at Mesa Arch
Our last day in Canyonlands National Park began very early. We were determined to be at the famous Mesa Arch before sunrise. Unfortunately, we weren't the only ones with this idea, so we joined a group of Asian tourists. The moment the sun appears on the horizon is simply magical.
Are you still looking for a suitable hotel in Moab?
You can find a hotel to suit your budget via various online travel agencies such as Agoda, Booking.com, ebookers.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, lastminute.com, otel.com or Venere.com.
