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.
Alerts
- InformationTrip-planning tips for 2026
Planning to visit Canyonlands this year? To ensure the best experience, please anticipate potentially long wait times at the entrance station. If overlook or trailhead parking is full, plan to return a little later. Please avoid parking on vegetation and roadways to help preserve this beautiful place for everyone to enjoy.
Fees & passes
| Type | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Private VehicleAdmits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less) and all its occupants. | $30 | |
| MotorcycleValid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. | $25 | |
| Per PersonAdmits one individual with no car. Typically used for bicyclists, hikers, and pedestrians. Youth 15 and under are admitted free. | $15 | |
| Passes | ||
| Annual Entrance - ParkValid for one year through the month of purchase. Admits one (1) private, non-commercial vehicle or its pass holder to Arches and Canyonlands national parks, and Natural Bridges and Hovenweep national monuments. U.S. residents only. | $55 | |
Hours
| Open Year-round | Daily · All Day |
When to go
May draws the most visits here and January the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Campgrounds
| The Needles Campground | 26 sites | |
| $20 a night · Individual sites at The Needles Campground are normally available year-round. Loop A is open year-round. | ||
| Island in the Sky (Willow Flat) Campground ↗ | 12 sites | |
| $15 a night · Island in the Sky Campground is normally open daily, year-round. · 12 first-come | ||
| The Needles District Group Campsites | 3 sites | |
| $90 a night · 3 reservable | ||
Every campground here has its own page on Campsite Atlas, with site counts, hookups, rig limits and booking windows. All of them on one page → How park camping works
Visitor centers
- Island in the Sky Visitor CenterPassport stamp
The Island in the Sky Visitor Center offers exhibits, book & map sales, park orientation film, backcountry permits, general information, vault toilets, and park rangers on duty. You can get drinking water inside (during open hours) or outside (24 hours a day) during summer and fall.
- The Needles Visitor CenterPassport stamp
The Needles Visitor Center normally offers exhibits, book & map sales, backcountry permits, information, picnic area, and park rangers on duty. The park orientation movie (15 minutes) is available on demand. Water is available year-round.
- Hans Flat Ranger StationPassport stamp
The remote Hans Flat (Maze) Ranger Station is normally open daily year-round. This ranger contact station has a picnic table and vault toilet, and a small selection of books and maps for sale.
- Canyonlands Backcountry Office ↗Passport stamp
The central backcountry office is located at park administrative offices south of Moab. Rangers can answer questions about backcountry travel over phone or email and issue permits online.
Explore
Things to do
- Stargazing Events in Southeast Utah1-3 Hours
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 Hovenweep and Natural Bridges national…
Opens on the Park Service site - Hiking at Canyonlands
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 trips.
Opens on the Park Service site - Boating in Canyonlands1-12 Days
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.
Opens on the Park Service site - Canyonlands Junior Ranger Program
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.
Opens on the Park Service site - Backcountry Camping in Canyonlands1-14 Days
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.
Opens on the Park Service site - Experience the Shafer Trail1 Hour
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 permitted inside the park.
Opens on the Park Service site
Show all 8Hide
- Auto Touring in Canyonlands
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.
Opens on the Park Service site - Rock Climbing at Canyonlands
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.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Events
- Patio Talk - Island in the Sky District10/1401:00 PM · runs through Oct 17 · freeIsland in the Sky Visitor Center
- Geology Talk - Island in the Sky10/1410:00 AM · runs through Oct 17 · freeGrand View Point, Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands
- 09:00 AM · runs through Nov 7 · freeHike begins at the Horseshoe Canyon Trailhead.
News
- Canyonlands National Park Seeks Public Assistance in Locating Missing Hiker ↗2026-08-25
The National Park Service is asking for the public’s help in locating Patrick J. Trier, a 71-year-old white male who was last seen in Salina, Utah, on Sunday, August 16.
- The National Park Service and Interagency Partners begin reopening public lands impacted by the Babylon Fire to support community access and safety ↗2026-07-17
Starting today, Friday, July 17, UT 211 will be open to the Canyonlands National Park boundary (The Needles district entrance).
- Canyonlands National Park Continues Temporary Closure of Needles District Due to Babylon Fire ↗2026-07-01
Canyonlands National Park will continue the temporary closure of The Needles district until further notice due to the Babylon Fire near Blanding, Utah.
- Canyonlands National Park Temporarily Closes Needles District Due to Babylon Fire ↗2026-06-28
Effective immediately, Canyonlands National Park has temporarily closed The Needles district until further notice due to the Babylon Fire near Blanding, UT.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
On the National Register nearby
- D.C.C. & P. Inscription "B"Site · Moab · 4 mi
- Julien InscriptionSite · Moab · 6.8 mi
- Kolb Brothers "Cat Camp" InscriptionSite · Moab · 14.3 mi
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for Canyonlands National Park
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Moon Utah: with Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Capitol Reef and Canyonlands National ParksMaya Silver, 2024Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Wildlife
Seen this monthKit Fox 1×Research-grade observations within 25 km, last 30 days, via iNaturalist
Full checklist: 206 birds, 55 mammalsHide
Raptors & owlsAmerican Kestrel · Bald Eagle · Burrowing Owl · Cooper's Hawk · Ferruginous Hawk · Flammulated Owl · Golden Eagle · Great Horned Owl · Long-eared Owl · Merlin · Mexican Spotted Owl · Northern Harrier · Northern Pygmy-Owl · Northern Saw-whet Owl · Osprey · Peregrine Falcon · Prairie Falcon · Red-tailed Hawk · Rough-legged Hawk · Sharp-shinned Hawk · Swainson's Hawk · Turkey Vulture · Western Screech-Owl
Waterfowl & wadersAmerican Coot · American White Pelican · American Wigeon · Barrow's Goldeneye · Black-crowned Night-Heron · Blue-winged Teal · Bufflehead · Canada Goose · Cattle Egret · Cinnamon Teal · Common Goldeneye · Common Loon · Common Merganser · Eared Grebe · Great Blue Heron · Green Heron · Green-winged Teal · Horned Grebe · Lesser Scaup · Northern Pintail · Pied-billed Grebe · Ring-necked Duck · Sandhill Crane · Snowy Egret · Virginia Rail · Western Grebe · White-faced Ibis
Shorebirds & seabirdsAmerican Avocet · California Gull · Forster's Tern · Franklin's Gull · Greater Yellowlegs · Killdeer · Long-billed Curlew · Long-billed Dowitcher · Ring-billed Gull · Solitary Sandpiper · Spotted Sandpiper · Willet
Gamebirds & dovesGambel's Quail · Greater Sage- Grouse · Mourning Dove · Ring-necked Pheasant · Rock Pigeon
WoodpeckersDowny Woodpecker · Hairy Woodpecker · Lewis's Woodpecker · Northern Flicker · Red-naped Sapsucker · Williamson's Sapsucker
Hummingbirds & swiftsBlack-chinned Hummingbird · Broad-tailed Hummingbird · Rufous Hummingbird · White-throated Swift
Also on the checklistAmerican Crow · American Dipper · American Goldfinch · American Pipit · American Redstart · American Robin · Ash-throated Flycatcher · Bank Swallow · Barn Swallow · Belted Kingfisher · Bewick's Wren · Black Phoebe · Black-Rosy Finch · Black-billed Magpie · Black-capped Chickadee · Black-chinned Sparrow · Black-headed Grosbeak · Black-necked Stilt · Black-tailed Gnatcatcher · Black-throated Gray Warbler · Black-throated Sparrow · Blue Grosbeak · Blue-gray Gnatcatcher · Brewer's Blackbird · Brewer's Sparrow · Brown Creeper · Brown Thrasher · Brown-headed Cowbird · Bullock's Oriole · Bushtit · Canyon Wren · Cassin's Finch · Cassin's Kingbird · Cedar Waxwing · Chihuahuan Raven · Chipping Sparrow · Chukar · Clark's Nutcracker · Cliff Swallow · Common Nighthawk · Common Poorwill · Common Raven · Common Yellowthroat · Cordilleran Flycatcher · Dark-eyed Junco (Gray-headed) · Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) · Dark-eyed Junco (Pink-sided) · Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) · Dusky Flycatcher · European Starling · Evening Grosbeak · Gadwall · Golden-crowned Kinglet · Grace's Warbler · Gray Catbird · Gray Flycatcher · Gray Jay · Gray Vireo · Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch · Green-tailed Towhee · Hammond's Flycatcher · Hermit Thrush · Horned Lark · House Finch · House Wren · Indigo Bunting · Juniper Titmouse · Lark Bunting · Lark Sparrow · Lazuli Bunting · Lesser Goldfinch · Lesser Nighthawk · Lincoln's Sparrow · Loggerhead Shrike · Lucy's Warbler · MacGillivray's Warbler · Mallard · Marsh Wren · Mountain Bluebird · Mountain Chickadee · Nashville Warbler · Northern Goshawk · Northern Mockingbird · Northern Rough-winged Swallow · Northern Shoveler · Northern Shrike · Northern Waterthrush · Olive-sided Flycatcher · Orange-crowned Warbler · Phainopepla · Pine Siskin · Pinyon Jay · Plumbeous Vireo · Purple Finch · Red-breasted Nuthatch · Red-winged Blackbird · Rock Wren · Ruby-crowned Kinglet · Rufous-crowned Sparrow · Sage Thrasher · Sagebrush Sparrow · Savannah Sparrow · Say's Phoebe · Scott's Oriole · Song Sparrow · Sora · Spotted Towhee · Steller's Jay · Townsend's Solitaire · Townsend's Warbler · Tree Swallow · Vesper Sparrow · Violet-green Swallow · Virginia's Warbler · Warbling Vireo · Western Bluebird · Western Kingbird · Western Meadowlark · Western Tanager · Western Wood-Pewee · White-breasted Nuthatch · White-crowned Sparrow · Willow Flycatcher · Wilson's Warbler · Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay · Yellow Warbler · Yellow-breasted Chat · Yellow-headed Blackbird · Yellow-rumped Warbler
Small mammalsAmerican Beaver · Black-tailed Jackrabbit · Botta's Pocket Gopher · Brush Mouse · Bushy-tailed Woodrat · Canyon Mouse · Common Muskrat · Crawford's Desert Shrew · Deer Mouse · Desert Cottontail · Desert Woodrat · Great Basin Pocket Mouse · Hopi Chipmunk · Mexican Woodrat · North American Porcupine · Northern Grasshopper Mouse · Ord's Kangaroo Rat · Pinon Mouse · Plains Pocket Mouse · Rock Squirrel · Western Harvest Mouse · Western White-throated Woodrat · White-tailed Antelope Squirrel
PredatorsAmerican Badger · American Black Bear · Bobcat · Common Gray Fox · Coyote · Long-tailed Weasel · Mountain Lion · Northern Raccoon · Northern River Otter · Red Fox · Ringtail · Striped Skunk · Western Spotted Skunk
Hoofed mammalsBighorn Sheep · Elk · Mule Deer
BatsAllen's Big-eared Bat · Big Brown Bat · Big Free-tailed Bat · Brazilian free-tailed bat · California Myotis · Fringed Myotis · Hoary Bat · Long-eared Myotis · Long-legged Myotis · Pallid Bat · Silver-haired Bat · Spotted Bat · Townsend's Big-eared Bat · Western Pipistrelle · Western Small-footed Myotis · Yuma Myotis
Activities
Activity guides for this park Camping in the national parks · Canoeing and kayaking in the national parks · Hiking in the national parks · Horseback riding in the national parks · Rock climbing in the national parks · Stargazing in the national parks
Weather & climate
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.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Canyonlands?
Entrance is $30 per private vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, and $15 per person on foot or bike. Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less) and all its occupants.
Source: National Park Service
Which passes work at Canyonlands?
The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee here, and a Canyonlands-only annual pass is $55.
Source: Is the pass worth it
Can I pay the entrance fee in cash?
No. Canyonlands takes cards only at the entrance.
Source: National Park Service
When is entrance to Canyonlands free?
Next on October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. 2 fee-free days are left this year, for US residents only.
Source: Free entrance days
Do I need a reservation to enter Canyonlands?
No. There is no timed-entry or entrance reservation at Canyonlands. Camping and some tours have their own reservations.
Source: National Park Service
Is Canyonlands open year-round?
Yes. The grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Source: National Park Service
Can I camp in Canyonlands?
Yes. The Park Service lists 3 campgrounds in Canyonlands: The Needles, Island in the Sky (Willow Flat), and The Needles District Group Campsites. 2 take reservations through Recreation.gov.
Do any Canyonlands campgrounds have hookups or showers?
No. None of the 3 listed campgrounds report showers, electric hookups, or a dump station.
Source: Campgrounds
Do camping fees at Canyonlands include the entrance fee?
No. Camping is charged per night on top of the entrance fee or a pass; The Needles is $20 a night.
Source: Campgrounds
Is anything closed at Canyonlands right now?
1 active alert as of October 14, 2026: Trip-planning tips for 2026.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Canyonlands?
796,057 recreation visits in 2025, number 81 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is Canyonlands good for stargazing?
Yes. Canyonlands is a certified International Dark Sky Park.
Source: Dark sky parks
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
