Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is located in eastern Utah near the
city of Moab. Canyonlands preserves a colorful landscape eroded
into countless canyons, mesas and buttes by the Colorado River
and its tributaries. The rivers divide the park into four
districts: the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze and the
rivers themselves. While these areas share a primitive desert
atmosphere, each retains its own character and offers different
opportunities for exploration. The rivers divide the park into
four districts: the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze and
the rivers themselves. While these areas share a primitive
desert atmosphere, each retains its own character. The park
covers 527.5 square miles. Canyons are carved into the Colorado
Plateau by the Colorado River and Green River.
Canyonlands National Park Hiking and Biking
400,000 people visited Canyonlands annually. The geography
of the park is well suited to a number of different
recreational uses. Hikers, mountain bikers, backpackers, and
four-wheelers all enjoy traversing the rugged, remote trails
within the Park. Rafters and kayakers float the calm
stretches of the Green River and Colorado River above the
confluence. Below the confluence Cataract Canyon contains
powerful whitewater rapids, similar to those found in the
Grand Canyon. The Island in Sky district, with its proximity
to the Moab, Utah area, attracts the majority of park users.
The Needles district is the second most visited, drawing 35
percent of visitors.
Canyonlands Visitor Centers
ICanyonlands is open year-round, 24 hours a day. Each district
has its own visitor center with operating hours that differ
depending on the season. All visitor centers are closed on
December 25th and January 1st.
Island in the Sky Visitor Center
Late March to late October: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Late October to late March: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., clsoing early
(at 1:00 p.m.) on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 2010.
Maze Visitor Center
The Hans Flat Ranger Station is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30
p.m.
Needles Visitor Center
The Needles District Visitor Center is open daily from 8:30 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m., with extended hours March through October. It will
close early (at 1:30pm) on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 2010.
