Click on Globe to go to Map of Canyonlands
National Park. Provided by www.AreaParks.com
Web site.
Canyonlands National Park is the place to go to see a fantastic array of sandstone canyons, buttes, mesas and formations. You will find a dazzling array of colors in the geological formations. The park is sliced into four sections by the Colorado and Green Rivers, Island in the Sky; Needles; Maze; the fourth section is made up of the rivers themselves. It is nearly impossible to travel from one to the other without returning to the highway.
The Park is open year round, (the Visitor Centers are closed 12/25 and 1/1 of each year), with March through October being the busiest period. Stock up on last minute supplies in Moab, 5 miles south of the park. Winter makes many of the roads impassable, even to 4-WD vehicles.
Island in the Sky
district is the easiest to visit, and is recommended for those without a 4-WD
vehicle. First time visitors to the park will want to make this their
first outing. It takes hours of additional driving to go from district to
district.
GETTING THERE:
Island in the Sky
District:
To get there, there being the southeastern corner of Utah, take I-70 until you
reach Hwy. 191, then head south about 25 miles to Hwy. 313 - turn right.
Visitor Center (435)259-4712.
Needles District:
To get there, take I-70 until you reach Hwy.
191, then head south about 70 miles (40 miles south of Moab) to Hwy. 211.
Turn right. Visitor Center (435) 259-4711
The Maze District:
To get there you will have to drive over graded
dirt and 4-WD roads and stretches. Many of the roads may be impassable
during winter. The Maze District makes up the western region of the park,
lying west of the Green and Colorado Rivers. From I-70, about 25 miles
west of the Hwy. 191 south junction or 1 mile east of Hwy. 191 north junction,
immediately west of the Green River, take the unimproved road south, near Green
River State Park. For an easier entry, go south on Hwy. 24 just west of
Green River State Park and go south about 23 miles until you reach the
unimproved road east into the Maze District. Turn left and drive 46 miles
to
Visitor Center at Hans Flat (435) 259-2652.
MAP:
Click on Globe to go to Map of Canyonlands
National Park. Provided by www.AreaParks.com
Web site.
FEES:
Nothing is free, so have $10 per
vehicle handy - it will cover any 7 consecutive day stay. Individuals may
enter on foot for $5, and stay up to 7 consecutive days. Have another $5
ready for day use 4-WD trips. Backpacking for up to 14 days will run you
$15 per person. Boating on flat surfaces will cost $20 for up to 14 days,
or $30 for whitewater trips (includes flat water, too). Mountain
biking/camping permits are $30 for up to 14 days.
If you wish to camp in the park, bring another $3-$10 per site during summer months
and $5 when water is unavailable (November thru March 15)
A ranger guided tour of the Fiery Furnace will cost a little extra.
CAMPING:
Backcountry camping is allowed by permit, only. Pick up a permit at the visitor Center. To assure availability, reserve your permit well in advance - see the address and phone number below. There are established backcountry primitive campsites, and you also camp "at large," but camp well away from any road. Absolutely NO wood-burning fires are allowed, except in the two front country campgrounds of Squaw Flat (Needles District) and Willow Flat (Island in the Sky District), and in the River corridors. Stoves are allowed. Please practice Leave No Trace®, minimum impact hiking and camping.
Camping is available in improved campsites at Squaw Flat in the Needles District ($10 per night), and at Willow Flat in the Island in the Sky District ($5 per night). See Map. Sites are first come - first served, only. A limited number (3) of group sites are available at Squaw Flat Campground. These may be reserved in advance at the phone number shown below.
RV camping is available in the Moab vicinity, as are public, improved campsites. There are a good number of public campgrounds in Moab, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has a campground just across the Colorado River, east of the Park. Here are a few:
Slickrock - (435) 259-7660
Arch View RV - (435) 259-7854
Canyonlands Campark - (435) 259-6848
Moab KOA - (435) 259-6682
Pack Creek (435) 259-2982
Spanish Trail RV Park - (435) 259-2411
BASIC RULES & REGULATIONS:
1. Pets must be on a leash at
all times, and are not permitted on hiking trails. No dogs are permitted
anywhere in the backcountry.
2. Wood gathering is not allowed.
3. No hunting and absolutely no firearms are
permitted.
4. Do not disturb wildlife, which will include deer, fox, rabbits,
Kangaroo rates, lizards, toads and the Western Rattlesnake.
TRAILS & THINGS TO SEE:
1. Exhibits & small Bookstores - located
each Visitors Center.
2. Guided Tours; Evening campfire Programs - inquire at Visitor Centers.
3. Horseback Riding is welcome. Availability of water may limit trip
distances. Due to this problem, Horseshoe Canyon and Horse/Salt Creek
Canyon, both in the Needles District, are the most visited on horseback.
Reserving your permit is advised - call the reservation number below. Note:
No grazing is permitted. Stock must be fed pelletized feed for 48 hours
prior to and during visit to prevent spread of exotic plants.
4. Anasazi Indian ruins and pictographs/petroglyphs (rock art) may
be found in many areas of the park.
MIKE'S RECOMMENDED HIKES:
1. Chesler Park - Needles District - This 8-17 mile "loop" trek, which I highly recommend, requires overnight camping. The 8-17 mile distance results from the number of side trails, which you may or may not wish to visit. It includes a moderate elevation gain & loss of about 1,400 feet, beginning at the trailhead (5,120'). This hike may prove overly difficult and uncomfortable during July and August due to climate. Trail traverses extensive slickrock faces, and rates as strenuous due to difficulty. Be especially careful on wet rock surfaces.
USGS Topo Maps: Druid Arch and The Loop. Enter Needles District park entrance and drive about 35 miles to the Visitor Center. Pick up your overnight use permit. Signs will direct you to the 6 miles to the Elephant Hill trailhead.
Hike description: Your route will take you through extensive and marvelously multicolored sandstone needles, pinnacles & spires, almost forest like. The La Sal Mountains are a magnificent sight, especially when snow-capped. When you reach Chesler Park, you will be greeted by a beautiful grass meadow, completely surrounded by the needles; you will find campsites on the perimeter. I recommend that you bypass the first campsite, and go the extra half-mile, where you will turn right - the better campsites are just up the side trail, just past the rocky island in the center of the meadow. CAUTION: You will find no water at Chesler Park. The nearest reliable water source (a spring) will be two miles ahead at Elephant Canyon.
On day 1 you will want to hike south about 3.3 to 3.8 fairly tortuous miles to Chesler Park, depending on where you camp. Choose a site, then prepare to do some exploration - I recommend that you day hike east on the Joint Trail. About .8 miles up the Joint Trail you will descend stone steps into a geological crack or joint in the sandstone, then continue on across the dry creek bed, and reach a Jeep road. Turn right and follow the Jeep Road a short distance, where you will rejoin the Joint Trail. A half-mile farther, you will turn right and hike 1.4 miles along the north edge of Chesler Park, then right again at the trail you hiked earlier in the day as you reached the meadow. This loop will be about 5.3 miles in length. Carry plenty of water.
Day 2 will find you hiking east about 1 mile, past the Anasazi Indian ruins, to Elephant Canyon, where you will turn right and continue south 1.8 miles to the Druid Arch, which eerily resembles the Druid formations of Stonehenge, England. To see the ruins, which are down in a small canyon on the north side of the trail, and about .2 miles before the Elephant Canyon trail, watch for the small "use" trail. Drop your backpacks, and plan on day hiking the 1.8 miles to Druid Arch. Take your emergency kit, plenty of water, camera, etc. You will find water most of the year in water holes in the creek bed. Plan to reach Druid Arch in the morning, as the sunlight enhances its splendor. To get back to your vehicle, hike back down Elephant Canyon to your backpacks, then continue down the canyon 1.4 miles to the junction with the Chesler Park trail, then the final 1.9 miles to the trailhead. You will hike about 7.9 miles on day two.
2. Shafer Trail
Road - Potash Road - Pucker Pass/Long Canyon and White Rim
Road - Island in the Sky District.
These 4WD adventures are a great way to explore the Island in the Sky
district. Shafer, Potash and White Rim roads are accessed just east of the Island in the Sky Visitor Center, and
offer a wonderful opportunity to experience the geologic wonders of the
Park. Shafer Trail Road runs about 4 miles, beginning at the Main Island
in the Sky Road just north of the Visitor Center, and ending at the White
Rim-Potash Road junction. From there you may continue east on Potash Road
or drop south on White Rim Road. Potash Road runs about 13 miles to the
facility at Potash; there pavement takes over and takes you back to the north
entrance to Island in the Sky district. White Rim Road makes a 100 mile
loop (yes 100 miles), going around White Rim, along the east bank of the Green
River all the way to Mineral Bottom Road, where you then take Mineral
Bottom Road east, back out to the Main Road just north of The Knoll, well north
of the Visitor Center.
Along the way, enjoy stops and camping at Shafer Camp on Potash Road just east
of the junction with White Rim Road; stop at Walking Rocks on White Rim Road
near the Colorado River; Musselman Arch just beyond Walking Rocks; witness
Airport Tower, Monster Tower and Washer Woman Tower monoliths to your west
just south of Lathrop turnoff. Stay at Gooseberry Camp and hike to
the White Rim Overlook. About half way, you will head west, then north;
camp at Murphy Camp or push on to Candlestick Camp on the Green River, or even
farther to Potato Bottom Camp, also on the river. Check out the Fort
Bottom Trail and ruins before continuing north to Hardscrabble Camp, and beyond
that to Labyrinth Camp. Stay along the Green River and take the eastward
(right) road at the next junction (85 miles into the trip) at Horsethief Bottom
and before reaching Mineral Bottom boat launch, soon climbing steeply on Mineral
Bottom Road. Take this route the final 15 miles back to the Main
Road. Caution: Mineral Bottom Road can become quite slippery and
dangerous when wet. Do not attempt the White Rim Road loop without a full
tank of gas - it's a good 100 miles, plus the miles into the park and then back
to civilization.
The Pucker Pass (well named) Road through Long Canyon is quite difficult and
dangerous in wet or icy conditions. This 9 mile drive is easy the first 4
miles, but then gets very rocky and high clearance is mandatory. The road
connects the Main Road with Hwy. 279 to the east.
3.
Salt Creek Road- Horse Canyon Road - Elephant Hill Loop Road - Colorado Overlook
Road - Needles District.
These roads will give
you incredible access to the magic of the Needles District.
Colorado Overlook Road, your first 4WD opportunity, takes place just after you
enter the park on Hwy. 211, running north from the Ranger Station about 7 miles
one way to a magnificent overlook of the Colorado River and the southern extent
of the Island in the Sky District. The first 3 miles to Lower Jump
overlook are easy, but the last bumpy 3 miles traverses slickrock, and 4WD is
necessary. No camping allowed on this stretch.
The Elephant Hill Loop Road is for experienced 4 Wheelers, only - it can be very
dangerous. This 9.8 mile loop runs one way, only. Camping is allowed
in designated spots, only. Extremely steep, rough climbs; tight curves
require backing. I consider this road more for 4WD thrill than for view.
Salt Creek Road requires a permit for use. 4WD required. Begin at
Cave Spring Trailhead, located just south of the Ranger Station. 13 miles
one way to Angel Arch, with deep sand, quicksand, seasonally high waters - not
for inexperienced 4 Wheelers. Vehicle camping is allowed at designated
sites, but not at Angel Arch. You will hike 1 mile round trip to reach
Angel Arch. Bear right, or southwest at junction, 2.5 miles in, to get to
Angel Arch. Bear left another 6.2 miles (12.4 miles round trip) on Horse
Canyon Road to reach other wonderful arches, including Gothic, Castle and
Fortress arches. Along Horse Canyon Road you will pass Paul Bunyan's
Potty, Gothic Arch and you can hike .8 miles to Castle Arch; you will park at
Fortress Arch, then hike 1 mile round trip to Fortress Arch.
4.
Accessing The Maze
District will
require you to first drive 23 paved miles from I-70 south to the marked turnoff,
where you will head east another 46 miles to Hans Flat Ranger Station; the final
14 miles gets a bit rough, but no problem for 4WD vehicles. From this
point, you will need to drive many more miles to reach the parks glory, The
Maze. I highly recommend that you carry quadrangle maps before entering
the Maze; you will need the detailed topographic maps to orient.
More, soon to
follow-
Four
Wheel Drive Roads:
There are hundreds of miles of 4-WD, backcountry roads available for exploration. Difficulty of travel ranges from fairly easy to highly technical. Great care must be taken on the parks extremely remote backcountry roads, and a good knowledge of maps or GPS systems is vital. The maze of canyons can lure one into areas from which a return is difficult. Travel by 4-WD is recommended in groups.
See Hikes #2, #3 and #4 above - it's actually 4WD territory.
Visit
my special 4-WD Page by clicking on the Jeep icon>>>.
See links on Page for further, excellent information on backcountry 4-WD
outings.
Permits are required for all overnight trips - see phone number below to make reservations. Absolutely NO ATVs or non-stock/not-licensed-for-road-use vehicles are permitted. No racing or sport usage is permitted.
Be
aware - towing charges may be expected to run as high as $1,000.
Stay on 4WD
Roads! Protect the beauty of Canyonlands National Park. Take plenty of
water and have a good spare.
HOW TO CONTACT THE PARK:
Canyonlands National Park
2282 S. West Resource Blvd.
Moab, UT 84532
(435) 719-2313
Backcountry Permit Reservations (write
to above address/Attn: Backcountry Reservations Office)
(435) 259-4351
email: canyinfo@nps.gov
fax: (435) 719-2300
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