Photo Tips USA – Canyonlands National Park

„Wherever we look there is but a wilderness of rocks; deep gorges, where the rivers are lost below cliffs and towers and pinnacles; and ten thousand strangely circarved forms in every direction; and beyond them, mountains blending with the clouds.“
John Wesley Powell, A Canyon Voyage

• Altitude 1120-1195 m (3,674-3,920 ft) on the river banks and 1500-2130 m (4,920-6,988 ft) on the plateaus
• An average of 750,000 visitors per year, most of whom visit the Island in the Sky Mesa
• The main month of visitation is May

How, Where, What

Gazing down from a high point at the White Rim, that prominent, bright erosional step, one can’t help but feel that the forces of erosion have taken more of this land and rutted it much deeper than most other areas in the Southwest. And one senses the power and primitiveness that´s proudly called True Wilderness. An area full of wide canyon panoramas, river bends and mesas where you can enjoy silence and solitude long lost to many other parks.

The park protects the remarkable erosional landscapes around the confluence of the Green River and Colorado River. This area, some of which is difficult to access, is divided by the two streams into three parts: the easily accessible Island in the Sky Mesa to the north, the less accessible Needles to the southeast, and the very inaccessible section the Maze to the southwest. In addition, there is the Horseshoe Canyon Unit located away from the main park area to the west. Four-wheel drive is not a luxury here; without it, you’re limited to the established viewpoints and miss the wild heart of this country.

Directions

Island in the Sky and the Needles are easily accessible from Moab via Routes 279 and 211, respectively. Both parts of the park have a visitor center and a basic campground (26 sites in the north; 12 sites in the south; RVs up to 28 feet; no hookups). Outside the park boundaries, free camping is allowed on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Access to the various overlooks is paved. The Maze in the southwest is accessible only by 4WD, which requires good driving skills and appropriate equipment.

There are no utilities in the park; Needles Outpost, Moab, or Monticello are the closest options for shopping. You can reserve a permit for backcountry camping several months in advance, preferably online.

Minimum program and daily schedule for all of Canyonlands NP

Because of the division of the landscape and the resulting long distances, it is difficult to prescribe a program. If at all possible, you should at least cover the three large park sections as follows: Walk the Great Gallery on ½ day, spend one day on the Island in the Sky and camp one night in the Needles.

Next Photo Tips Island in the Sky Mesa

Main Photo Tips USA – Utah

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