
Mesa Arch, at Island in the Sky, is a great spot for photographers.
Photo: NPS/Neal Herbert
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.
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.
Get directions →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.

Canyonlands National Park Seeks Public Assistance in Locating Missing Hiker
The National Park Service is asking for the public’s help in locating Patrick J. Trier, a 71-year-old white male who was last seen in Salina, Utah, on Sunday, August 16.

Arches and Canyonlands Urge Visitors to Take Precautions During Extreme Heat
As high temperatures continue, Arches and Canyonlands national parks urge visitors to prepare for extreme heat during summer visits.

The National Park Service and Interagency Partners begin reopening public lands impacted by the Babylon Fire to support community access and safety
Starting today, Friday, July 17, UT 211 will be open to the Canyonlands National Park boundary (The Needles district entrance). Monticello Field Office of Bureau of Land Management Lands north of UT 211 will also be reopened.