2 Days in Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park is not as well known as its neighbor Arches, but it’s worth the visit for its stunning desert landscape. The park itself is incredibly large, but I’ll focus on the most popular section, the “Island in the Sky.” This section is a massive flat-top mesa that you can drive onto that has many panoramic overlooks of the Colorado River. In this post, I’ll give you an idea of some things to do if you have 2 days to spend exploring Canyonlands.

Where To Stay

There aren’t any hotels inside Canyonlands, so the best place to stay in order to visit is Moab, Utah. Moab is only about a 30min drive to get to Canyonlands and even less to get to Arches National Park. This city has great restaurants as well. You can book and cancel easily using the Booking.com widget below.

Day 1: Canyonlands

Hike White Rim Overlook Trail

White Rim Overlook Trail is a 1.8-mile out-and-back low traffic trail with panoramic views of the White Rim area and the canyons below.

Walk the Grand Overlook Trail

Situated at the southernmost tip of the Island in the Sky scenic drive, Grand View Point provides a sweeping vista across vast stretches of undulating canyons, the rugged White Rim four-wheel-drive road, notable landmarks in The Maze and The Needles, and distant mountain ranges. A short paved pathway leads to an awe-inspiring overlook, with an optional 1.8 mile out and back trail to a second viewpoint.

Enjoy a Picnic at Sunset at Orange Bluffs Overlook

One of the most spectacular sunsets I’ve ever seen was from Orange Bluffs Overlook. As the sun dips below the expansive canyons and mesas, the rugged landscape is bathed in warm hues of orange and red, creating a mesmerizing play of light and shadows. The warm hues become more cool as the sun drops lower, becoming blues and purples. The vastness of the canyon vistas combined with the vibrant colors of the evening sky makes it a truly unforgettable and serene moment.

You can park here, no hiking necessary to get this view.

Day 2: Canyonlands

Hike to Mesa Arch at Sunrise

This short 0.7 mile loop takes you to the most famous Arch in Canyonlands, Mesa Arch. It lights up at Sunrise with a gorgeous canyon behind it. A beautiful sight, and hopefully you’ll get lucky and not have any crowds that early in the morning.

Photo by Andrey Grinkevich

Below is the view on an overcast midday.

Hike to Upheaval Dome

The hike to Upheaval Dome is a 1.7 miles out and back. It is characterized by a circular depression with raised rims, and its origin is the subject of ongoing scientific debate. The leading hypotheses is that it was formed either by a salt dome or by the impact of a meteorite millions of years ago. No ones knows for sure how this got here.

Check out the view at Green River Overlook

Green River Overlook faces southwest offering unparalleled vistas of one of Canyonlands' formidable rivers, the Green River, flowing deeply in its channel at a depth of 1,300 feet (396 m) below. Additionally, visitors can observe distinctive features of The Maze district and the winding White Rim Road.

You can park right by the lookout, no hiking required. This is also a great place for sunset if you decide yo rearrange your itinerary in any way.

Visit Dead Horse State Park

Dead Horse State Park is outside of Canyonlands, but you pass it on the way in and out of the National Park from Moab, and the overlook is a great sight to see with the river snaking through!

There are several routes of trails you can do depending on your energy level or timing. We decided to do the 3 mile out and back East Rim Trail, that takes you to two great sites.

First, you’ll come across the the brightly colored potash ponds. Potash refers to potassium compounds often extracted for industrial use, and mining activities for such compounds occur in the broader region around Moab, Utah.

Dead Horse Point is the most prominent and scenic overlook in this park. It offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Colorado River winding through the deep canyons below, with the La Sal Mountains serving as a dramatic backdrop. The name "Dead Horse Point" is thought to originate from a legend about a group of abandoned horses left on the point, fenced by the narrow neck of land and perishing due to lack of water. The state park features several hiking trails and is a popular destination for photography, offering stunning vistas of the rugged desert landscape.

Stop to see the Monitor & Merrimac on the way out

Monitor and Merrimac are distinctive rock formations located in the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park. Named after the famous Civil War ironclad warships, these formations are towering mesas with sheer cliffs, offering striking views of the surrounding canyons and landscapes.

Canyonlands National Park stands as a testament to the unparalleled beauty and geological wonders that nature has sculpted over eons. From the mesmerizing canyons carved by the Colorado River to the towering mesas and arches that define its unique landscape, every vista in Canyonlands tells a story of time and transformation.

Do you have any other great recommendations for visiting Canyonlands? Please leave them in the comments below.