How to Spend One Perfect Day in Island in the Sky: Canyonlands National Park

As a native Utahn, I think that Island in the Sky: Canyonlands National Park is one of the most underrated national parks in Utah. I say Island in the Sky because this park is comprised of four distinct districts: the Needles, Island in the Sky, the Maze, and the Rivers of Canyonlands.

Island in the Sky is a mesa that rests on steep sandstone cliffs over 1,000 feet high. This means it’s basically an area made for someone who is a sucker for a good view (like me). Each hike/scenic viewpoint offers a slightly different perspective of the amazing surrounding area.

Every overlook offers a different perspective on Canyonlands’ spectacular landscape. I like to describe it as overlooking canyons within canyons within canyons within canyons. It’s pretty awesome and definitely gives the Grand Canyon a run for the money.

The closest district/area to Moab (the nearest town in the area) is Island in the Sky making it easier to access. Plus, it’s gorgeous with easy to moderate hikes and easy overlooks whereas some of the other districts require much more advanced skills or energy for strenuous activities.

Really, if you have time, I hope you can visit all five of Utah’s amazing national parks. However, if you are going to be in the Moab area, I highly recommend you spend at least one day in Canyonlands National Park along with your other plans. You can even download this inexpensive Canyonlands self-guided driving audio tour to listen to awesome commentary along the way to get the most out of your day trip to Canyonlands.

And now, compiled from my experience visiting Canyonlands a couple of times, I have created my idea of a perfect itinerary of what to do in Canyonlands in one day.

*There are affiliate links in this post.  Read my privacy/disclosure policy to learn more.

Where is Canyonlands National Park?

The entrance to the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands is located just 35 minutes from downtown Moab, Utah (one of my favorite places in the world). And Moab is located in southeastern Utah about a 4-hour drive from the Salt Lake International Airport or a 6.5-hour drive from the Las Vegas, Nevada Airport. The park is also in somewhat close proximity to other Utah national parks like Arches National Park (the closest), Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Capitol Reef National Park which makes Canyonlands a great stop on a southern Utah road trip.

When is the Best Time to Visit Canyonlands National Park Island in the Sky?

You can expect temperatures within the park to reach the high 90°s-100°s F in the summer making it the least ideal time to visit. In December the highs will be around 40°F with lows around 15°F (meaning you’ll definitely want to bundle up especially in the mornings and evenings).

Because of this, I recommend spring or fall as the best time to visit Canyonlands to avoid blazing or freezing temps. Trust me, hiking Canyonlands National Park is miserable in the middle of summer in the Utah heat. You’ll have a much better time if you plan your trip during a more mild time of year like spring or fall.

I have visited in September and at the end of November with both visits being enjoyable. On our September trip, I was wearing leggings with a t-shirt and on our November trip, I was wearing leggings, a sweatshirt, a puffy jacket, and a beanie.

Arches vs Canyonlands?

This is a tough question to answer because I really do love both Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. I have visited Arches countless times from the time I was three years old to now and have visited Canyonlands twice. Arches will always hold a close place in my heart because of the many memories I’ve made there over my lifespan. However, once I made it to Canyonlands as an adult, I was shocked at how stunning it was and shocked that I had never visited before.

Both of these parks are located close to Moab, Utah which makes them very easy to access without a change in lodging. Personally, I’d recommend scheduling enough time to spend at least one day each in both Arches and Canyonlands. I definitely don’t recommend trying to fit both of the parks in within the same day. If you try to see both in one day you won’t be able to see much in each park and you will waste a lot of time driving.

One Day in Canyonlands at a Glance:

• Morning: Visitor Center/Overlook
• Shafer Trail Overlook ( view of 4WD road descending over 1,500 feet down a sandstone cliff)
• Mesa Arch Trail (gorgeous sandstone arch famous for sunrise pictures but beautiful at any time of the day)
• White Rim Overlook Trail (hike to awesome canyon overlook)
• Lunch: at picnic spot on map
• Aztec Butte Trail (hike to ancient Puebloan ruins)
• Grand Viewpoint Overlook (100 yard accesible trail to stunning viewpoint, or continue on to a further viewpoint)
• Dinner: Milt’s Stop & Eat in Moab

*Use this interactive map to see where all the top spots are for a great day in Canyonlands*

check out this post: 11 Best Utah State Parks You’ve Got to Visit

Things to do in Canyonlands National Park in depth itinerary:

1. Visitor Center and Overlook

I always recommend starting at the visitor center when visiting any national park. It’s a great place to pick up any extra maps you may need or ask the park rangers for their top recommendations. The visitor center also has toilets and water. There is no water available within the park, so you will want to make sure you carry plenty of water with you and fill up at the visitor center if needed.

I also always love perusing the gift shops at national park visitor centers. We collect these awesome vintage-style postcards and stamped pennies from every national park we visit so the visitor center is always our first stop.

Across the street from the visitor center is a lovely overlook that gives you a sneak peak of some of the things you will see as you visit Canyonlands National Park the rest of the day.

2. Shafer Trail Overlook

Shortly after your visit to the visitor center, you’ll find the Shafer Trail Overlook. At this overlook, you have incredible views of the of the Shafer Trail which descends over 1,500 feet down a massive sandstone cliff. The Shafer Trail is an insane dirt road with sheer drop-offs which has been used since the time of the Native Americans (of course in different variations).

Nowadays, you can only access this road with a high-clearance, 4-wheel-drive vehicle and with proper off-roading safety precautions and knowledge. However, if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see 4WD vehicles descending the Shafer Trail and live vicariously through them😅. Or, even better, you can book an awesome 4WD tour to descend the Shafer Trail yourself!

3. Mesa Arch Trail

The Mesa Arch Trail is one of my favorite Canyonlands National Parks hikes because it’s short (only .5 miles roundtrip) and it features both an arch and incredible canyon views. This spot is a very popular stop for photographers trying to catch the sunrise. However, the arch and overlook is gorgeous at anytime of day.

Like a lot of hikes in Canyonlands National Park, once you’ve reached the destination, I recommend taking time to find a cozy spot to sit and take in the gorgeous canyon views. But please make sure you follow the safety signs and do not climb atop the arch as it is super unsafe plus it ruins the experience of other hikers trying to enjoy the beautiful natural wonder. Trust me, no matter how many Instagram photos you’ve seen of people posing on the arch… just don’t do it.

4. White Rim Overlook Trail

The White Rim Overlook trail is my next favorite Island in the Sky hike. It’s a 1.8-mile, roundtrip, out-and-back trail with interesting terrain and stunning views at the end. Since you are on the Island in the Sky Mesa, you are around 1,000 feet above the next level of ground which then has another huuuuge canyon within that. It’s pretty crazy.

The canyon you see has a cool white line along the rim (hence the name, White Rim Overlook) plus you can see the Colorado River and the La Sal Mountains in the distance. Also, another small favorite thing of mine are the little round balls of rock at the end of the hike. They are so cute and such a strange natural wonder!

We haven’t had any issues with the sun on our visits to the park since we have gone in the fall. However, if you visit the park on a hot sunny day, be aware that there is basically no shade on this hike (or any of the hikes) so pack tons of water, sunscreen, and hats.

5. Lunch at White Rim Overlook Trailhead Picnic Spot

There are no places to buy food within Canyonlands National Park, so you definitely need to make sure you bring your own (along with plenty of water). And if you are someone who likes to sit down at a picnic table for lunch (or maybe you’re traveling with some kiddos) there is a great picnic area at the White Rim Overlook trailhead.

Along the road/parking area there are private pullouts with individual picnic tables. We picnicked here with our group that was visiting the park because we had a lot of food to pull out of the car. However, you could also skip this picnic spot and instead bring your food on the White Rim Overlook trail to enjoy lunch with some awesome views.

related post: 27 Amazing Things to do in Utah that Aren’t National Parks

6. Aztec Butte Trail

I have yet to hike the Aztec Butte Trail, however, I added it to this itinerary because it’s a great way to see Native American history while in Canyonlands. The hike is 2-miles roundtrip with a split in the trail. If you take the fork to the left, you will climb a smaller butte and then drop below the top to find two ancestral Puebloan granaries. The Pueblo people were some of the first farmers in the American Southwest and they stored corn, beans, and squash in these granaries.

If you take the fork to the right, you’ll go to the top of Aztec Butte with views down into Taylor Canyon.

7. Grand Viewpoint Overlook

At Grand Viewpoint there are two ways you can experience the stunning view. The easiest way is to walk a paved 100-yard trail that is wheelchair/stroller accessible. This is what we have done and have enjoyed the short walk and beautiful view. Keeping this viewpoint walk short, allowed us to have more time and energy for the other hikes we took on this itinerary.

If you are looking for great views like what you can find on the above-mentioned White Rim Overlook trail, but without the hike, this is the viewpoint for you!

The longer option for Grand Viewpoint is an unpaved trail that continues past the paved trail for one mile (2 miles roundtrip). This rim trail goes downstairs and along cliff edges to another viewpoint.

check out this post:Things to do in Bryce Canyon in Winter: The Perfect 1-Day Itinerary

8. Dinner at Milt’s Stop and Eat in Moab

Like I mentioned before, Moab Utah is one of my favorite places in the world. Partly because of its proximity to both Canyonlands and Arches but also because it’s such a chill, laid-back town. So after a long day of hiking and exploring within the national park, I recommend making the 30-ish minute drive to Moab for dinner at an iconic walk-up burger stand called Milt’s Stop and Eat.

Milt’s has been around since 1954 and makes awesome burgers, fries, and shakes (as you’d expect). And no worries, they also offer a veggie burger if someone in your group wants that! I almost always visit Milt’s when in Moab and love it every time. The line can get long (which shows how good it is) but they have a great outdoor eating area with tables under a large shady tree and even some toys for the kids.

Canyonlands Tours

If you are someone who sometimes loves a good tour with a knowledgeable guide (I know I do) then here are some awesome tours in Canyonlands to choose from. These tours vary from 4-wheel-drive adventures to river rafting and more:

• Sunset Scenic Tour of Canyonlands National Park & Dead Horse Point State Park (get the best of both worlds and see Dead Horse Point State Park AND Canyonlands on a guided tour)
• Self-guided driving audio tour of Canyonlands National Park (inexpensive and gives awesome commentary on your drive)
• Colorado River Rafting and Canyonlands 4X4 Tour (with lunch) (have an extreme adventure while seeing Canyonlands in a day)
• Canyonlands National Park Half-Day 4WD Adventure From Moab (take a half day to see Canyonlands with an expert)

Additional Things to do Near Canyonlands

The area around Canyonlands really is one of my favorite areas in the whole world (yes, the whole world). So, if possible, I recommend adding a few extra days to your Canyonlands National park itinerary to explore the surrounding area. All of these places I mention are very close to the Island in the Sky Utah district of Canyonlands (we are talking like 20 minutes-40 minutes from the entrance of the park).

• Arches National Park
• Deadhorse Point State Park
• Dinosaur Tracks and Fossils in Mill Canyon
• Sands Flat Recreation Area Bike and Jeep Trails
• Downtown Moab (such a cute fun town, be sure to custom make a Canyonlands or Moab t-shirt at The T-Shirt Shop!)

And that is my recommendation on what to do in Canyonlands National Park! Please let me know if you have any questions about other things to do in the area. I’m a native Utahn and love talking all things Utah.

Check out these other posts, I know you’ll love them:

• 11 Best Utah State Parks You’ve Got to Visit
• 27 Amazing Things to do in Utah that Aren’t National Parks
• Things to do in Bryce Canyon in Winter: The Perfect 1-Day Itinerary
• Yellowstone with Kids: The Ultimate 2 Day Itinerary

Like it? Pin it!