Canyonlands (Island In the Sky)
Exploring Grand Views and Slickrock Hikes
USA
Canyonlands National Park is a breathtaking destination that covers a massive area of 337,570 acres. Located in southeastern Utah, it offers stunning landscapes and diverse geological formations. From deep canyons to towering mesas, the park is a true wonderland of natural beauty. The park has numerous backcountry sections that are accessible by 4x4 and high clearance vehicles.
The park has been carved by the Colorado River and the Green River, which divide the park into three districts – Island in the Sky, Needles and Maze. Island in the Sky is the most accessible and therefore most popular. The Needles district is across the river from the Island in the Sky district, but there are no roads that connect these two districts. The only way to get to the Needles is a 74-mile drive from Moab. The Maze is the least accessible district of Canyonlands. We had a day to visit and started our journey into the park at the Island in the Sky Visitor Center. This center had several rangers that were able to guide us on where to spend our day in the park.
Our first hike in the park was at Mesa Arch. This is a nice short (800 meter) loop trail that leads to the iconic Mesa Arch. The trail was easy to follow and gets you to an spectacular viewpoint.
After Whale Rock we made our way to the Green River Overlook. This river cuts through the park and restricts access to the Needles District. The view is expansive and we can certainly see the challenge of trying to build a road across this steep and rocky valley.
With such expansive views this park is absolutely breathtaking. The trails off the parking areas are short and make it possible to easily complete the key stops in the Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands in a day. Happy exploring!
Whale Rock is a popular hiking destination in Canyonlands, Utah. This unique rock formation resembles a whale, hence its name. The hike offers breathtaking views of the surrounding canyons and red rock formations.
The trail is moderately challenging, with some steep sections and rocky terrain. Once we reached the top of Whale Rock we grabbed a snack and took in the panoramic vistas of the Utah landscape. The trail is exposed the whole way so we would recommend bringing plenty of water, sunscreen, and sturdy hiking shoes.
