Canyonlands National Park is an incredible showcase of geology. Visitors of the park can witness incredible wonders such as canyons, cliffs, spires, domes, sandstone arches, and much more.
In this blog post we will share our experience at Canyonlands National Park and rate the park on both our general experience and on dog friendliness.
General Information
Canyonlands National Park is located in southeastern Utah near Moab. The park itself is divided into 3 sections by the Green River and the Colorado River. The three districts are as follows: Island in the Sky district, Needles district, and Maze district.
Island in the Sky District is located in the north of the park, close Moab. Island in the Sky is accessible from UT 313.
The Needles district is in the southeast corner of Canyonlands. The Needles is about an hour outside of Monticello ad is accessible by UT 211.
The Maze district is the most difficult district to visit. Maze is located in the western portion of the park and is accessible by taking unpaved roads from UT 24.
Size: Canyonlands National Park is approximately 527 square miles (337,598 acres).
Climate: Canyonlands is located in a region known as the high desert. High desert climates are characterized by having extreme temperatures that fluctuate greatly through the day, sometimes in excess of 40 degrees.
The most popular times to visit Canyonlands National Park are fall and spring due to the temperatures being the most moderate during these times of the year. During spring and fall, daytime highs average 60 to 80 degrees F and lows average 30 to 50 degrees F
Summers are incredibly hot with triple digit temperatures being common. Winters rival summers with their extreme conditions, with highs averaging 30 to 50 F, and lows averaging 0 to 20 F.
Cost: According to nps.gov, on August 8, 2020 the fees to visit Canyonlands National Park are as follows:
History
Canyonlands National Park was formed primarily by erosion caused by intense winds and rivers throughout the region.
Evidence of humans in this area date back approximately 10,000 years when hunter-gatherers would comb the region for edible plants and wildlife.
Evidence of these hunter-gatherers has been found throughout the park in the form of tools and projectiles that have been left in the region.
Other human artifacts have been found in the region that date back approximately 5,000 years. It is suspected that during this time period, people routinely lived in the region and left traces of their inhabitation that can still be seen today. This inhabitation continued by various indigenous groups throughout history.
Visitors to Canyonlands can see evidence of these early inhabitants by visiting cave paintings, ruins, and much more.
In the 1700s, westerners began exploring the Canyonlands region to identify trade routes and wagon routes.
The area remained mostly uninhabited until the late 1800s when people officially settled in the region and used the land for cattle ranching and mining,
On September 12, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson established Canyonlands National Park.
On November 12, 1971, Canyonlands was expanded to its current size when the Maze, the Land of Standing Rocks, as well as Davis and Lavender canyons were added to the park
Our Experience
Pros
1. The views were absolutely incredible!
2. The roads throughout the park were well maintained.
3. Plenty of turnoffs and parking lots to take in the sites.
4. If you are a hiker, the park boasts some of the best hiking in the United States.
Cons
1. Access to the national park is remote. We felt like we had to drive for quite some time to get the entrance of the park.
2. We were not comfortable leaving the dogs unattended in the vehicle. If we wanted to see something that required leaving a parking lot or roadside pullout, one of us had to stay with the dogs in the van while the other person went to the viewpoint.
3. The information presented to visitors when you arrive to the park does not do a sufficient job covering all there is to do and see in the park.
4. I learned so much about the park while researching for this post that was not included in the park information. I wish we would have done more thorough research prior to visiting the park because we missed so much!
5. The weather is unpredictable and extreme.
We ranked Canyonlands National Park 5/5 stars.
Make no mistake, this park is INCREDIBLE!
The scenery is unparalleled to any park that we have visited. We spent the entire time in the park in absolute awe over the landscapes.
We were also lucky enough to visit on a cool, cloudy day. This weather made our experience so much better as we were able to stay cool as we drove through the park and took in all the sites. Also, the clouds added an additional depth to the landscapes that made them seem as though they were alive.
We rated Canyonlands National Park 2/5 bones.
Pets are allowed in Canyonlands National Park, but activities for pets are extremely limited.
Pets are not allowed at any of the scenic overlooks, on any hiking trails, or near the rivers.
Additionally, pets are completely prohibited from backcountry roads – even if they are in your vehicle.
You are allowed to leave your pets in your vehicle to take in sites, but it is not recommended as the temperatures in the area are extremely unpredictable and can change without notice. This means that your pet’s health could be in jeopardy if they are not closely monitored.
The national park’s website recommends not leaving your pets in your car if temperatures rise above 68 degrees F.
