Canyonlands is vast and quiet. Where the Colorado and the Green River meet, they have carved a huge maze of gorges, mesas and towers over millions of years. The park is divided into several sections that are barely connected to one another. For most travelers, Island in the Sky is the right one, a high plateau with wide views, comfortably reached by car.
Island in the Sky
The plateau sits hundreds of meters above the land. From its edges you look out over an endless sea of canyons. The viewpoints lie close together and are easy to reach, even without a long hike.
The Mesa Arch
The best-known spot in the park. The low stone arch on the edge of the cliff frames the canyons behind it. At sunrise its underside glows orange-red, a picture almost every photographer wants to take once.
Wild and lonely
Canyonlands is much quieter than nearby Arches. If you prefer solitude, this is the place. The more remote sections like The Needles or The Maze are true wilderness, only for experienced and well-equipped travelers.
When to come
Spring and autumn are ideal. In summer it is hot and without shade. The Mesa Arch at sunrise is there all year, in summer just very early.
