Hipfig travel channel offers DIY travel video guides for more than 25 cities in
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or a comment. Hey nature lovers welcome to this
episode of Hipfig's beautiful America series for Canyonlands National Park
near Moab Utah. Hipfig's beautiful America series is dedicated to
highlighting nature's wonders in American and Canadian national parks,
monuments, and vistas. Canyonlands National Park is located near Moab Utah
and on the Big Five Utah National Parks. Canyonlands National Park is
337, 598 acres of canyons,
mesas, buttes, fins, arches, spires, and rivers. Water erosion coupled with
gravity have created this vast landscape. Hey did you know that Canyonlands is
divided into four separate districts: Islands in the sky, the needles, the maze, and
the rivers that flow through. It each district is distinct and offers
different opportunities for exploration and adventure but don't be fooled
these districts may seem close on a map but there are no roads that directly
connects them. Traveling between them will take two to six hours by car. The
two most accessible districts or sections are Island the sky and needles
the needle section or district forms the southeast corner of Canyonlands and was
named for the colorful spires of cedar Mesa sandstone that you will see all
over the place there. To get to the needle section of Canyonlands National
Park you'll have to get to Utah 211 highway which ends in the needles area
the maze district is the least accessible and most remote of all four
districts if you plan to come here you'll need a high clearance four-wheel
drive vehicle. You'll need to be prepared with the proper equipment and gear for
all needs and situations. Plan staying at least three days, you'll need a
permit or a reservation. Although there's the hands flat ranger station there are
no services, food, gas or potable water sources in the maze in
this Canyonlands National Park travel guide. We are covering the islands in the
sky district or section which is near Moab, Utah. We only had time to visit the
island of the sky district this time around. We will add the needles, maze and
river districts travel guide videos at a later date. the island of the sky section
of Canyonlands National Park is a Mesa made of sandstone cliffs over a thousand
feet above the canyon below. We drove about ten miles north from Moab on US
Highway 191 and then we made a turn onto Utah Highway 313 and drove another 22
miles southwest to the visitor center. Signs for Canyonlands are clearly marked
and easy to follow. Driving time to the visitor center for Moab is about 40
minutes. For your information Moab is the closest town for services, food, and
lodging. Please download a map to reach Island in the sky as cell service is
spotty in this area. As we continued on highway 313 we stopped at the entrance
of Canyonlands National Park where there is an entrance booth. The entrance fees
for Canyonlands are $30 for cars up to 15 passengers; $25 for motorcycles and
all riders; $15 for each pedestrian and cyclist. Youths
15 and under are admitted free. Admission to Canyonlands National Park is good for
seven days. We had an inter-agency annual Park Pass which covers all national
parks monuments and federal grounds. Hey here's a money saving tip if you plan to
go to at least three national parks in the year it may be worth it for you to
purchase an inter-agency annual pass which currently costs about
$80 different passes are available for seniors or geographical areas which also
may save you some money. Check on the NPS website or at the park entrance
before you pay. By the way do you know that there are five free days for
national parks January 21st, April 20th, August 25th, September 28th, and November
11th. After we showed our path to the ranger we continued on the main road
into Canyonlands visitor center. Island in the sky visitor center is open every day
except Christmas from March through December from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
January through early March the visitor center is opened Friday through Tuesday
and closed Wednesday and Thursday. They may have different hours of operation
depending on the weather at the Visitor Center. You can see exhibits, watch a
video, visit the bookstore, get a backcountry permit, picnic, enjoy wireless
internet, use facilities, and visit with Park Rangers on duty. Potable waters
available at the Visitor Center outside year-round. Electric outlets however are
not available. There are many trails and overlooks to visit in this section of
Canyonlands
we crossed the street from the visitor center and saw the sweeping Canyon below
the Mesa of the island in the sky which really gives you the feeling that you
are in the island floating in the sky
this short paved trail leads you to the Schafer Canyon overlook. From the
Shafer overlook you'll get a good view of Shafer Canyon. Here's a safety note
please make sure to remain on the trails and don't get too close to the edge of
cliffs. Make sure that you bring and drink plenty of water. Hiking trails also
have few areas for shade so wear sunscreen and hats especially in the
summer. Once we've finished in this area we went back to the parking lot and
drove on the main road then we took a right at the signs for the Green River
overlook and upheaval dome. This road ends at a upheaval dome so you'll also
have to take it back to the main road
our first stop on this (upheaval dome) road was a Aztec Butte. We took the two mile hike to a
Aztec Butte trail which is flat until you go up to the steep Rock Hill. This steep
Rock will lead you to the Puebloan granary and view of Taylor Canyon. On
this road on the left-hand side you'll also see Holman Canyon overlook
next we drove towards whale rock which gets its name from its shape. Whale rock
is a rounded, eroded, sandstone fin that is fun to climb. Handrails are provided
to help people reach the top where you can be rewarded with great views of a
upheaval dome and the surrounding area. Many people really enjoy climbing the
rock. The hike is considered easy and is 1 mile round-trip. The trailhead is
located near the end of Upheaval dome Road. You'll have to hike down the way
you came up after Whale Rock we continue to drive on a upheaval dome Road to a
Upheaval dome. Once we got to a upheaval dome overlook trail we took a walk and saw
the views of the spectacular geographical formation of a mile wide
crater. They think this crater was caused possibly by a meteorite because of the
way that the rocks along the trail are tilted away from the dome. There are two
overlooks on this trail and the distance is about a mile and a half. You'll gain
an elevation about 301 feet and you'll have to go back on the trail that you
came on. This trail is easy until the first overlook and then after that
considered moderate to the second overlook. Once we completed our hike here
we went back to the car and drove back towards the main road (scenic drive) and took a right
to the Green River overlook which is the on the opposite side of the Aztec
Butte on that road. Signs for the Green River overlook are clearly marked on the
road. Here at the Green River overlook there's a campground at this Canyonlands
National Park. It has spectacular views of the deep canyons and the Green River
flow. This campground is called willow flat. The greener overlook is a .2
mile paved trail. This is an easy flat trail and is ADA
accessible. At the end of a cement walkway you'll be treated to a viewpoint
on the west rim of the islands of the sky Mesa. There are panoramic views of
the Green River Basin with its many deep canyons and with the white rim
white rim in the foreground and the Henry mountains in the distance. If you
come at the right time of the year this is also a great place to catch a sunset
after the Green River overlook we drove to the Grandview point which is at the
end of the main road. Grandview point lies at the southernmost edge of the
island the sky scenic drive. The view point is about 15 minutes drive from the
visitor center from the parking lot. You can walk a paved hundred yard trail to
the first view point. This part of the trail is ADA accessible
Along the trail you'll see outdoor exhibits describing the view and also
Rangers often are here giving geological talks. From this viewpoint you'll see
parts of the white rim, the maze, and the needles and if you hike to the second
viewpoint you'll be gifted with even more awesome views. You can get to the
second viewpoint through an unpaved trail which goes about another
mile you'll have to go downstairs and along uneven surfaces and cliff edges
this portion of the trail will take about an hour and a half round-trip. The
grandview point offers tremendous views to the east, south, and west. After our
hike on the way back to the island in the sky Visitor Center we stopped at
mesa arch off the main scenic road. Mesa arch is a pothole arch on the eastern
edge of the island the sky mesa. From the parking lot it's an easy half-mile trail
down to the arch although it's not flat
The mesa arch is a spectacular stone arch and very popular for photos. This
stone arch is at the edge of a cliff and you can see views of the canyons rock
spires and Lasalle mountains in the distance. Mesa arch is a popular spot
during sunrise and parking can be an issue at times
Canyonlands National Park is huge and will take at least a week if you want to
do all four districts. It is a spectacular area combine
Canyonlands with arches national park if you have time. Happy Travels. Go to hipfig.com
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