The Canyonlands National Park is located in Moab, Utah, and is divided into four sections by the rivers: Islands in the Sky, The Needles, the Maze and the Rivers. Although these sections are all part of the Canyonlands, you have to visit them separately because they do not overlap. The areas can be made into their own individual day or weeklong vacations since they are all known for different natural attractions, trails and rafting trips.
The Island in the Sky section is located to the north. The Mesa Arch is a popular site in this section, as well as Grand View Point, which some believe to be the best view of the park. The Island sits 1,000 feet above the other areas, and offers several trails and roads fit for off-road vehicles. The area also offers Willow Flat Campground, but it only has 12 sites that are claimed on first-come, first- serve basis for $10 a night. If you are spending a whole day at the Island, it is recommended to hike along several mesa top trails to see the Mesa Arch, Whale Rock or Aztec Butte. You can also take a ranger-led tour of the different sites to learn more about the rocks and how they were formed. The White Rim Road is another attraction at the Island. This 100-mile road loops around the mesas providing spectacular views. The road can be taken by bike or by four-wheel drive vehicle.
The Needles is located in the southeastern part of the park. The area has an array of sandstone spirals popping up from the ground. This district has an immense trail system that winds through the spirals, including Tower Ruin, Confluence Overlook, Elephant Hill, Joint Trail and Chesler Park. This area also has interpretive programs led by park rangers to provide you with more information about the Needles and the park as a whole. The Needles' has Squaw Flat Campground, which houses 26 campsites on a first-come, first-serve basis for $15 a night. Use this as a base camp to take your time traveling on different trails while visiting this section.
The Maze section is the least accessible area in the Canyonlands. The area is remote and travel on the trails and roads is difficult. Maze visitors often do not spend more than three days in this area since it is so hard to get around. The Hans Flat Ranger Station offers maps and books, but no food or gas. The most popular activity in the maze is four-wheel driving through Flint Trail, but this trail is dangerous and drivers are recommended to bring a spare tire, extra water and gas, a jack and chains for all four tires. A few trails also exist in The Maze, but they often drop off into canyon bottoms. Hikers are asked to come equipped with rock-scaling equipment to get in and out of the canyons.
The Colorado River and the Green River are the two main rivers in the Canyonlands. Both rivers offer sections of calm water for canoeing and kayaking and sections of rough rapids for white water rafting. All launch areas for the rivers are located outside of the Canyonlands National Park and in smaller state parks nearby, the trails in the Canyonlands are often too rugged to create suitable launch points. One popular white water trip is the Cataract Canyon. This area consists of 14 miles of rapids, which range in difficulty to the most difficult, Class V rapids. The section is somewhat isolated from the Colorado River and the water level fluctuates frequently. To travel through the Canyon, you must have a permit. Visitors may take flat-water trips on either river until they reach the confluence of the rivers when the water starts to get more choppy.
