Canyonlands National Park
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. — nps.gov
Canyonlands National Park at a glance
- State
- Utah
- Established
- September 12, 1964
- Size
- 337,598 acres
- 2025 visits
- 796,057
- Busiest-park rank
- #29 of 63
- Entrance
- $30 / vehicle
Best time to visit
When is Canyonlands quiet?
Canyonlands is busiest in May and quietest in January. For a quieter visit outside the dead of the off-season, August is the quietest shoulder-season month, going by National Park Service visitor counts for 2021–2025.
In 2025 the park logged 796,057 recreation visits, the #29 busiest of the 63 national parks. Quiet months can also mean closed roads or facilities, so check current conditions before you go.
Crowd calendar, all 63 parks →Is Canyonlands open right now? →
Average visits by month
2021–2025 · NPS IRMAQuietest: JanuaryBusiest: May
Fees & passes
What it costs to visit Canyonlands
From the NPS fees data, checked October 1, 2026. Fees on nps.gov
Visiting several parks this year? The pass calculator shows whether the America the Beautiful pass pays off.
Reservations · 2026
No park-wide reservation
The National Park Service lists no timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Canyonlands National Park. Campgrounds, tours and backcountry permits may still need booking, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
Things to do
Things to do in Canyonlands
- Experience the Shafer Trail1 Hour · All year
The Shafer Trail is a challenging, unpaved backcountry road for recreational users seeking the experience of a lifetime. High-clearance 4WD vehicles with a low range gear (4LO) are required. ATVs, OHVs, or UTVs are not…
Pets OK - Stargazing Events in Southeast Utah1-3 Hours · Summer
Rangers occasionally lead stargazing programs and events at parks throughout southeast Utah. Learn about what to expect and check out a schedule of stargazing events at Arches and Canyonlands national parks and…
- Backcountry Camping in Canyonlands1-14 Days · All year
What better way to connect with this wilderness of countless canyons than on foot? Canyonlands offers hundreds of miles of hiking trails with designated campsites for overnight backcountry travel.
Reservation/permitFee - Boating in Canyonlands1-12 Days · All year
The Colorado and Green rivers have played a significant role in shaping the landscape of Canyonlands. Boating is a great way to see the park from the bottom up, and affords boaters a unique perspective.
Reservation/permitFee - Auto Touring in CanyonlandsAll year
There are hundreds of miles of unpaved roads in Canyonlands, providing access to various campsites, trailheads, and viewpoints in the park's backcountry. Most roads require high-clearance, low range four-wheel-drive.
Reservation/permitFee There are a few ways to become a junior ranger at Canyonlands. Free junior ranger booklets are available at park visitor centers, or you can download them from the park website. Filled with fun activities, these books…
Canyonlands has hundreds of miles of hiking trails which explore the park’s natural and cultural features. Both Island in the Sky and The Needles provide ample opportunities for short walks, day hikes and backpacking…
The sandstone towers at the Island in the Sky attract the most rock climbers. We do not see many climbers in the rest of the park due to the poor rock quality and a lack of established routes.
From the National Park Service (checked October 1, 2026). Each title opens its nps.gov page with current conditions.
By activity
- Astronomy44
- Backcountry Camping51
- Biking44
- Boat Tour16
- Boating27
- Camping60
- Canoe or Kayak Camping20
- Car or Front Country Camping41
- Climbing26
- Group Camping33
- Guided Tours54
- Hiking60
- Horse Trekking32
- Horseback Riding25
- Paddling32
- Rock Climbing15
- Stargazing39
- Whitewater Rafting7
The number shows how many of the 63 national parks offer each activity.
Weather
Weather at Canyonlands
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.
From the National Park Service.
Getting there
Getting to Canyonlands
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.
Island in the Sky - 33 miles from Moab on UT 313, Moab, UT, 84532 · Directions on nps.gov
Nearby
National parks near Canyonlands
- Arches National Park37 mi~1 h drive (est.)
- Capitol Reef National Park74 mi~2 h drive (est.)
- Mesa Verde National Park104 mi~3 h drive (est.)
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park119 mi~3 h drive (est.)
- Bryce Canyon National Park134 mi~3 h drive (est.)
- Zion National Park184 mi~4 h drive (est.)
Straight-line distance between park centers; drive times are rough estimates.
Closest big cities: Salt Lake City (206 mi)
Road trip
Arches, Canyonlands & Capitol Reef
3 parks, about 111 miles between them (~3 h of driving, estimated).
Canyonlands is the orange dot. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.
Photos of Canyonlands National Park
FAQ
Canyonlands, quickly
- When is the best time to visit Canyonlands National Park?
- If you want fewer people, go in August, the quietest shoulder-season month. May is the busiest month on average, and January the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.
- How much does it cost to visit Canyonlands National Park?
- $30 / vehicle. An America the Beautiful annual pass covers entrance fees at every national park.
- Do you need a reservation for Canyonlands National Park in 2026?
- The National Park Service lists no park-wide timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Canyonlands National Park. Campgrounds, tours and some popular hikes may still need bookings, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
- What are some things to do in Canyonlands National Park?
- The National Park Service lists 8 things to do in Canyonlands National Park, including Experience the Shafer Trail, Stargazing Events in Southeast Utah, Backcountry Camping in Canyonlands, Boating in Canyonlands, Auto Touring in Canyonlands. Each has its own page on nps.gov with current conditions.
- When did Canyonlands National Park become a national park?
- Canyonlands National Park was established as a national park on September 12, 1964.
- What is the closest national park to Canyonlands?
- Arches National Park, about 37 miles away in a straight line (roughly 1 hours' drive, estimated).
Sources · 3
- 1.Canyonlands National Park — official site · National Park Service
- 2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 3.Canyonlands National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)
About this page
Park facts, photos, fees and visitor counts come from the National Park Service (NPS Data API and Visitor Use Statistics), last checked October 1, 2026. Park'd is an independent app and is not affiliated with the National Park Service. For official, current information, visit nps.gov/cany.
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