Canyonlands National Park

Ringing in at over 520 square miles, Canyonlands is the largest of Utah’s five national parks, and doubtless one of the most stunning. Known for its sweeping vistas of colorful desert landscapes carved by rivers into countless canyons, Canyonlands National Park draws thousands of visitors each year both with its views and its endless outdoor recreational opportunities.

The park is divided into four distinct areas, each offering a unique perspective on this stark desert ecosystem. Island in the Sky is a flat-topped mesa, while the Needles are tall, sharp spires; the Maze is a seemingly-endless system of crevasses and canyons, and finally, visitors can see where the Colorado and Green rivers intersect at the Colorado Plateau. The park also boasts some original Native American rock paintings inside its iconic Horseshoe Canyon.

Like its neighbor Arches to the north, Canyonlands is served by the small, but busy gateway city of Moab, Utah, where visitors can enjoy a variety of restaurants, shopping opportunities, museums, and cultural events. Other small towns in the Canyonlands area include Monticello and Spanish Valley.

The weather at Canyonlands is characterized by the wide temperature fluctuations of a high desert environment; the area sometimes sees temperatures change by more than 40 F in one day. The summer is excruciatingly hot and prone to sudden afternoon thunderstorms, while the spring and fall bring temperate climates -- and crowds.

With its singular landscape, Canyonlands offers unparallelled outdoor adventure opportunities, both terrestrial and on water. Visitors can enjoy the park on foot, horseback, or bicycle, or take to its two formative rivers for both flat- and whitewater boating. The Park Service also hosts a number of organized, ranger-led activities, such as geological talks and stargazing parties. Check the official park calendar for up-to-date information on these opportunities.