a broad stone arch with rock pinnacles in the distance

National Park

Canyonlands National Park

visit on nps.gov

Info

Canyonlands invites you to explore a wilderness of countless canyons and fantastically formed buttes carved by the Colorado River and its tributaries. Rivers divide the park into four districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the rivers themselves. These areas share a primitive desert atmosphere, but each offers different opportunities for sightseeing and adventure.

Park Photos

a broad stone arch with rock pinnacles in the distance
1 of 6

Mesa Arch, at Island in the Sky, is a great spot for photographers.

Credit: NPS/Neal Herbert

a broad stone arch with rock pinnacles in the distance
shallow pools with a double rainbow in the background
a rugged canyon
a long gravel road with cyclists on it
pinnacles of horizontally striped sandstone
a person rowing a dory on the Colorado River

Activities

Biking
Camping
Backcountry Camping
Car or Front Country Camping
Group Camping
Climbing
Rock Climbing
Hiking
Horse Trekking
Horseback Riding
Canoe or Kayak Camping
Boating
Boat Tour
Paddling
Whitewater Rafting
Astronomy
Stargazing
Park Film
Guided Tours
Junior Ranger Program
Bookstore and Park Store
Shopping

Fees

Passes

Operating Hours

Canyonlands National Park is generally open 24 hours a day, year-round.

DayHours
Friday
All Day
Monday
All Day
Sunday
All Day
Tuesday
All Day
Saturday
All Day
Thursday
All Day
Wednesday
All Day

Weather info

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.

Events