Canyonlands National Park

Welcome, curious travelers and students of the natural world, to Canyonlands National Park. We stand today upon a vast geological masterwork, a high mesa aptly named the Island in the Sky. …

We now arrive at the renowned May-sah Arch, arguably the most celebrated and photographed geological feature within the Island in the Sky district. A relatively short, three quarters of a mile round trip walk leads us to this…

Let us continue to the Green River Overlook, a vantage point that offers a profoundly different perspective on the park's topography. While many overlooks in Canyonlands present a sea of dry, red rock, this particular viewpoint…

We now approach one of the most enigmatic geological features in the entire national park system: the Ah-peev-al Dome. Located near the western edge of the Island in the Sky district, this fascinating formation presents a sharp…

Our journey now takes us back in time, shifting our focus from the deep geological past to the realm of human history at Aztec Butte. This trail, roughly a mile and a half round trip, offers an engaging physical challenge and a…

We have reached the absolute terminus of the paved road in this district: Grand View Point. Positioned at the southernmost tip of the Island in the Sky mesa, this location provides the most sweeping, unobstructed, and awe…

Though we spend much time on the Island in the Sky, our scholarly journey must briefly acknowledge the incredible wonders of the Needles District, located entirely in the southern portion of Canyonlands. The Needles district is…

As our exploration of Canyonlands draws to a close, we must acknowledge one final, awe-inspiring feature: the historic Shah-fer Trail. For those with a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle and nerves of absolute steel, this…