CANYONLANDS
UTAH Visited: November 2020
Canyonlands National Park was established in 1964. It is Utah’s largest National Park at almost 530 square miles. The park is divided up into 3 sections, Island in The Sky, which is closed to Moab and Arches NP, The Maze, and The Needles. Canyonlands offers panoramic views that makes the Grand Canyon blush. Most of Canyonlands, including The Maze, are in deep valleys only drivable on 4x4’s.
ISLAND IN THE SKY
This is the easiest accessible area in Canyonlands one of the more popular Visitors Center given it’s proximity to Arches and Moab. Island in the sky has a a couple of lookouts right by the visitors center and most of the hikes here will be on the plateaus, not in the valley. This is also where you can start (or end) the long 4x4 drive through the park.
NECK SPRING HIKE
Distance: 8.5 miles. Elevation Gain: 1000ft. Estimated Time: 3.5 hours
This hike was moderate, though pretty strenuous towards the end.
We lost the trail a couple times so what was meant to be a 5 mile hike turned into an 8 hour hike. I am glad we had plenty of water and snacks!
One this hike, we saw arches, old cowboy campgrounds, and plenty of aw inspiring views.
THE NEEDLES
The Needles is on the south end of the park, about an hour and a half from Moab. The drive here is pretty long with not alot around, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth the visit. The Needles offers hikes taking you to Hoodoos, old cowboy camps, cliff dwellings, and other archeological sites.
NEWSPAPER ROCK
The drive to the Needles also takes you past the famous “newspaper wall”, a wall completely covered in petroglyphs over 20 ft high! It is called the newspaper wall because it appeared as though it’s creator, thought to be one person, was writing a bunch of short stories for passer buyers, like a newspaper.
WESTWORLD/ SLICK ROCK
Distance: 2.7 miles. Elevation Gain: 200 ft. Estimated time: 1.5 hours
This quick hike was recommending by the park rangers as a good intro to the needles. Many of the hikes in the needles, particularly the ones to the cave dwellings are full day hikes. Unlike Island in the Sky, in the Needles, you are south, in the canyon looking up. In the photo below, you can see the plateaus where we were a couple days ago.
CAVE SPRING
Distance: 1.2 miles. Elevation Gain: 100 ft. Estimated Time: 45 minutes
This cute little hike was a very easy, end of the day hike. While The Needles has mostly day hikes, there are some very quick ones you can do as well.
This hike in particular took us to an old cowboy camp with petroglyphs. There were old ladders, and some rock scrambles. It was quite fun!
CAMPING
ISLAND IN THE SKY
We actually really loved our dispersed camping area in Island in the Sky. It was a great location so that we could stay there for two days while also visiting Arches. Sadly, I have no pictures of the area because our tent decided to break on day 2! There was quite storm that destroyed it. And we were out in the open!
To get there, you turn onto BLM 125 near the “Cowboy Campground” You will drive passed more established camp grounds, until you find a dispersed camping area about .5 miles down the dirt road.
THE NEEDLES
This camping ground is the one right outside of the park. It is maintained with bathrooms though you are dispersed enough that it doesn’t feel like you are on top of your neighbors.
We stayed in Superbowl Campground. However, there are about 3 or 4 campgrounds along Highway 211 right before the park entrance to choose from.
