For the previous post in our “Utah in a Week” series, check out Day 1: Arches National Park. Read on to learn how to visit Canyonlands National Park in one day as part of a week-long Utah road trip!
DAY 2: CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK
After a great day at Arches, we were ready for our next adventure at Canyonlands National Park. We woke up in our Airbnb, which was just a room with a private entrance in a Moab neighborhood. While it wasn’t the most comfortable, we knew we’d be spending all day at the national parks. So really, we just needed a place to sleep. We’re also typically a hotel family, so this was something we had to get used to!
We then grabbed a quick breakfast at a nearby McDonald’s. While it wasn’t the most glamorous or trendiest option, it was cheap, quick and fast. And that’s what we needed that morning since it was about a 40 minute drive to the park. Plus, we were able to fill up on ice and water (an important part of hiking in the desert!)
Canyonlands is actually made up of several regions: Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, Horseshoe Canyon and The Rivers. We only visited Island in the Sky, as it is the most accessible area from Moab. Other districts may require backcountry permits or 4×4 vehicles, which we did not have. So if you’re only going to spend one day in Canyonlands like us, Island in the Sky is the region we recommend visiting.
On the way to Canyonlands from Moab, you will also pass by Dead Horse Point State Park. Note that if you do want to stop by, there are entrance fees. (Your annual pass for the National Parks will not get you in.) We chose to bypass it to spend more time in Canyonlands. But its scenic vistas are definitely worth a visit if you have more time in the area.
MESA ARCH
Our day in Canyonlands began as most of our national park visits do, and that was with a stop at the Island in the Sky Visitor Center. At a park as large as this one, it really helps to get a map. It can assist you in planning out your day and seeing how long certain hikes and drives may take! We began our drive down Grand View Point road where we made our first stop at Mesa Arch.
This is a very popular spot. You likely have seen many photographs of the sun coming up through this arch. It can get very crowded, so if this is a shot you are wanting to get, be sure to get there very early for the sunrise. This loop trail is an easy walk just over a half mile, and several different viewpoints offer spectacular views of the landscape. While Mesa Arch is definitely worth a stop, it is perhaps the most popular trail here. So be prepared for crowds depending on what time you go.
AZTEC BUTTE, WHALE ROCK & UPHEAVAL DOME
Near the Mesa Arch trailhead, the road branches off into 3 major directions. We decided to begin by turning onto Upheaval Dome Road and first stopped at Aztec Butte. This ended up being one of our favorite hikes at Canyonlands. The trail goes out and back for a total of around 1.5 miles. From the parking lot to the butte, it is an easy hike through grasslands. Then you get to a steeper climb with some scrambling across rocks. We did this trail in the summer, but we can imagine it being difficult and slick when it’s snowy, so be sure to keep that in mind if you go during the winter.
Once you get to the top, there are beautiful 360-degree views of the park. This trail also was not as crowded and we spent most of the hike without any other visitors near us, allowing us to appreciate all the views without any distractions. You can also jump back in time by checking out some of the granaries that were used by the Pueblo people for storage.
Next, we kept driving down Upheaval Dome Road and stopped at Whale Rock. This is a great hike to do with kids with a trail that goes up exactly what the name describes: a huge rock formation that looks like a whale. The round trip is around a mile and will take you up the “tail” of the whale for an easy gradual ascent. Once you make it up to the top, you can get great views of Upheaval Dome and other canyons in the distance. The view of Upheaval Dome will get you yearning to see it up close, which is perfect since that was our next stop.
The parking lot by Upheaval Dome has a picnic area where we stopped for lunch before heading out on the trail. Upheaval Dome is an amazing structure with beautiful rock layers that has puzzled geologists on its formation. There are two leading theories. One is that it is a crater formed by a meteorite crash. Others think it is the result of a salt dome and an ancient inland sea. Whichever theory you think is right, one thing for sure. This trail will provide you with some incredible views. There are two observation points, with the first one coming after an easy 0.3 miles.
However, we totally recommend hiking the next 0.5 miles to the second observation point if you are able and have time. This part of the hike is more difficult, and you’re following cairns (rock piles) for guidance rather than a clearly defined trail. But the effort is worth it. It is also significantly less crowded than the first observation point. Here, you’ll be able to view the dome from a fenced walkway. It can be a little nerve-wracking. But you’ll be glad you went the extra half mile, making the total round trip around 1.5 miles.
GREEN RIVER OVERLOOK & GRAND VIEW POINT
As we headed back down Upheaval Dome Road towards Grand View Point Road again, we took a quick detour down Green River Overlook Road. The end of the road, as you would expect, is the Green River Overlook. No hike here… just another scenic vista point of the rock formations caused by the Green River. After this stop, head back to Grand View Point Road. At the intersection, take a right turn to continue going in the same direction you were going before heading towards Upheaval Dome. This will take you down to, you guessed it, Grand View Point. (Canyonlands obviously took a very simple approach to naming their roads!)
The Grand View Point trail is almost a 2 mile round trip down and back. It is an easy hike along the rim but do note that there is no railing. Please be safe here, especially when taking photos! You don’t have to get super close to the edges to get a good picture. While this is another popular area of the park, the further you get from the parking lot, the less crowded it will be. Take some time here to really take in the vastness of the park and all of its unique geological formations. This is where we saw one of our favorite formations that looked like a giant monster’s footprint! All in all, this is a great place to complete the rest of your day at Canyonlands.
DINNER AT BANGKOK HOUSE TOO
After we returned to our Airbnb for some much needed showers, we headed to Bangkok House Too for dinner. David is a big sushi fan and wanted to be able to say he got sushi in the desert, which led us here. Don’t worry if you’re not a sushi lover. There are other Japanese and Thai items on the menu, including plenty of curry options for curry fans like Karen. Along with Moab Brewery the day before, we loved both of our dinner choices in this city.
But starting tomorrow, we will be in a new town each night for the rest of our trip. Find out more about a big audible we called the next morning and why it ended up being a great spontaneous decision. We’d love to see any questions or favorite memories from Canyonlands in the comments below!
Check out the rest of our “Utah in a Week” series: