One Day at Canyonlands National Park Itinerary: Spectacular Mesas and Grand Viewpoints

(Last Updated On: January 11, 2023)

Canyonlands National Park has colorful landscapes with mesas, canyons, and buttes. It is divided into four sections but the most common area to spend one day at Canyonlands National Park is Island in the Sky. Each section has its own unique things to do and should be part of your Utah itinerary

A canyon in the shape of a hard. #canyonlands #moab #usnationalpark #USANPS #visitutah

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History of Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park was founded in the 1950s when people began to explore land west of Arches National Monument. Throughout this time, the area was explored and a new National Park was proposed. After several years of debate, Canyonlands was established on September 12, 1964. 

Best Time To Visit Canyonlands National Park

Summertime is the most popular time to spend one day at Canyonlands National Park. During this time, hotels tend to be a lot more expensive. If you can, opt to visit in spring or fall. The weather might be a little chillier, but you will have more of the park to yourself and lodging will be cheaper. 

Rocks and bushes. #canyonlands #moab #usnationalpark #USANPS #visitutah

How to Get to Canyonlands National Park

You can opt to fly into Moab or Salt Lake City to get to Canyonlands National Park. Moab is closer, but the airport is a lot smaller. 

From the Moab airport, take the 191-N for 7 miles. Then, get on the 313-W for 14 miles. In total, it will take about 26 miles.  

From Salt Lake City, take the 15-S to the 6-E. Then take the 131-W. This should take about 4 hours to complete the journey. 

Transportation Around Canyonlands National Park

To get around during one day at Canyonlands National Park, you will need a car. There are no other transportation options within the park. 

Hours and Admission 

Canyonlands National Park is open 365 days of the year. It costs $30 to get into the park or free with the America the Beautiful Pass.

Rock formations in a desert with mountains in the background. #canyonlands #moab #usnationalpark #USANPS #visitutah

Where to Stay in Canyonlands National Park

Moab has a ton of hotel options for various budget levels. We opted to stay at the Rustic Inn. Other popular options include the Hyatt Place Moab and the Hampton Inn Moab. There is not lodging within the park, but you can opt to camp at one of the campsites. 

Shaka Guide

Shaka Guide is a GPS self-guided audio tour that you can download to your phone. Currently, they have one for several of the Utah Parks. They provide great background information about the area. The best part is you do not need the internet to use them.

What to do During One Day at Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park is divided into three main sections: Island in the Sky, Needles, and the Maze. There is also another section, Horseshoe Canyon, that is down near Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. 

The Island in the Sky district is the most accessible from Moab and it takes about 40 minutes to get there. It contains the most things to do and the infamous Mesa Arch. The Needles District takes about 1.5 hours from Moab and has some cool sites to see. The Maze District is only accessible with a 4-wheel drive vehicle. 

Day 1: Island in the Sky District

Several rock formations on a plateau. #canyonlands #moab #usnationalpark #USANPS #visitutah

The Island in the Sky District is the most visited area and the best place to spend one day in Canyonlands National Park. It has the most things to see and the best viewpoints. You can also opt to spend just part of the day here and spend more time in Arches National Park if you do not want to do as many of the Canyonlands hikes. 

Mesa Arch

A view of an arch and a canyon. #canyonlands #moab #usnationalpark #USANPS #visitutah

Distance: 0.6-miles round trip

The Mesa Arch is easily the most popular spot and should be on everyone’s list for one day at Canyonlands National Park. This arch overlooks the eastern part of the park and offers an amazing view of the park through the arch. It is a very popular sunrise and sunset spot due to the lighting. 

Aztec Butte

A butte with bushes. #canyonlands #moab #usnationalpark #USANPS #visitutah
A brick shelter carved into the mountainside. #canyonlands #moab #usnationalpark #USANPS #visitutah

Distance: 2-miles round trip

The Aztec Butte trail has two different options. Combined, the trail is 2-miles total. The easy trail (left fork) climbs to a smaller butte and then ends at two ancestral Puebloan granaries. You are rewarded with a view of the valley. 

The harder trail (right fork) climbs up to the top of Aztec Butte and also offers views of the area. Note that both trails require scrambling up over slickrock and have some ledges. 

Green River Overlook

A view of a canyon and plateau. #canyonlands #moab #usnationalpark #USANPS #visitutah

The Green River Overlook might be one of the best viewpoints to visit during one day at Canyonlands National Park. It offers fabulous views of the Green River. You can also see the Maze area and the White Rim Road. This is a popular spot for sunset as well. 

Grand Viewpoint

A canyon with rocky cliffs. #canyonlands #moab #usnationalpark #USANPS #visitutah

Distance: 2-miles round trip

The Grand Viewpoint trail is my favorite trail to take during one day at Canyonlands National Park. This 2-mile out-and-back trail follows the canyon edge and offers a ton of views of the canyon and surrounding area. It is mostly flat but there are a few places you will have to climb some uneven ledges. 

White Rim Overlook

A view of a canyon with mountains in the background. #canyonlands #moab #usnationalpark #USANPS #visitutah

Distance: 1.8-miles round trip

Another popular trail to hike during one day at Canyonlands National Park is the White Rim overlook. This trail offers views of the eastern area of the park including the Colorado River and the La Sal Mountains. 

Buck Canyon Overlook

Rocks with a dirt trail carved into it. #canyonlands #moab #usnationalpark #USANPS #visitutah

Another great viewpoint to visit during one day at Canyonlands National Park is the Buck Canyon overlook. It offers views of the Colorado River Basin and the La Sal Mountains. 

Shafer Trail Overlook

A dirt trail leading into a canyon. #canyonlands #moab #usnationalpark #USANPS #visitutah

Finally, stop at the Shafer Trail Overlook on the way out of Canyonlands. This interesting viewpoint offers a peek into the canyon with all of the 4X4 roads going down into the canyon. The trail was once used by Native Americans to access the resources at the Mesa Top. No matter what, you cannot go wrong with any of the viewpoints you stop at during one day at Canyonlands National Park. 

More Than One Day at Canyonlands National Park

If you have more than one day at Canyonlands National Park, make sure to check out the other sections of the park. You can also come back and explore the Island of the Sky section with an offroad vehicle. 

Day 2: Needles District

A ton of rocks on a plateau. #canyonlands #moab #usnationalpark #USANPS #visitutah

The Needles District of Canyonlands National Park contains a ton of offroading trails and many longer hiking options. If you plan on doing one of those two things, then it is definitely worth the drive out to the Needles District during your one day at Canyonlands National Park. 

Slickrock Trail

A woman with rocks in the background. #canyonlands #moab #usnationalpark #USANPS #visitutah

Distance: 2.4-miles

The Slickrock Trail is a loop trail where you hike up and down a lot of slickrock. The trail offers a ton of 360-degree views of the Needles District and the park. The trail is classified as easy, but I would put it as more of a moderate hike due to the up and down paths through the slickrock. In total, you will pass by 4 viewpoints on this loop. 

Elephant Hill Road

Rocks and bushes on a mesa. #canyonlands #moab #usnationalpark #USANPS #visitutah

The Elephant Hill Road leads to some of the popular longer hiking trails in the park and a small lookout. At this small viewpoint, you can see some of the picturesque red rocks. 

One of the popular hikes to the Confluence Overlook is accessible from this road. At the Confluence Overlook, visitors can take in views of where the Colorado River meets the Green River as well as The Maze and Island in the Sky. 

Cave Spring

A woman on a ladder with a tree in the background. #canyonlands #moab #usnationalpark #USANPS #visitutah

Distance: 0.6-miles round trip

The Cave Spring trail loops past a historic cowboy camp and some petroglyphs. This super short loop trail is mostly flat, but it does require a climb up two ladders along the trail. One of them requires a bit of a jump up onto the ledge of the rock. 

Roadside Ruin

A storage shelter under a rock. #canyonlands #moab #usnationalpark #USANPS #visitutah

Distance: 0.3-miles round trip

This super easy hike leads to a storage structure built by the Native people of the area. Plan to spend maybe 10 minutes at this stop during your one day at Canyonlands National Park. 

Where to Eat in Moab

After hiking around during one day at Arches National Park day, you will be hungry for a good dinner. Moab has a ton of awesome food options for all types of cuisines. If you are craving good Thai food, head to Arches Thai or good barbeque, and eat at Spitfire Smokehouse. If looking for a fancy date night atmosphere, you cannot go wrong with the Desert Bistro. It was easily the best place I ate at during my time in Moab. 

Gloria’s Corner Cafe was a great breakfast option but they also serve lunch and dinner. If looking for a more casual option or somewhere for a large group, check out the Moab Food Truck Park. The Moab Brewery is also a great place to grab a snack or sample some of their beers. 

A woman sitting on a rock with rocks in the background. #canyonlands #moab #usnationalpark #USANPS #visitutah

Final Thoughts on Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands is a picturesque park to visit and should definitely be part of any Utah road trip. If you have more time, make sure to visit the other National Parks nearby: Arches, Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and Capitol Reef. You can also head to Grand Junction or Salt Lake City as well.

Canyonlands is divided into four sections but the most common area to spend one day at Canyonlands National Park is Island in the Sky. Mesa Arch, Aztec Butte, and the Grand Viewpoint are popular trails in Islands in the Sky. In the Needles District, hike the Slickrock trail, Cave Spring, and Roadside Ruin. #canyonlands #moab #usnationalpark #USANPS #visitutah
Canyonlands is divided into four sections but the most common area to spend one day at Canyonlands National Park is Island in the Sky. Mesa Arch, Aztec Butte, and the Grand Viewpoint are popular trails in Islands in the Sky. In the Needles District, hike the Slickrock trail, Cave Spring, and Roadside Ruin. #canyonlands #moab #usnationalpark #USANPS #visitutah

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