The Perfect One Day in Canyonlands National Park Itinerary
Canyonlands National Park is the largest national park in Utah and is one of the most underrated national parks! The park offers beautiful views that allow you to see for miles.
Although you can spend weeks exploring every section of the park, you can see many of the must-see attractions in the Island in the Sky section in one day. We spent one day in Canyonlands National Park and were able to see and hike everything on our itinerary! This guide has everything you need to know to spend one day in Canyonlands National Park.
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Tips for Spending One Day in Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park has four districts. The four districts of Canyonlands National Park are Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the rivers. Because you only have one day in the park, I recommend spending it in the Island in the Sky district since it is the easiest to access. We spent our one day in this section and loved it!
Start your day early. Canyonlands National Park experiences heavy crowds, especially in the warmer months because of its proximity to Arches National Park, so I recommend arriving early. I found that arriving between 8:00 and 9:00 AM worked well. Canyonlands National Park also has small parking lots, so if you arrive early, you’ll be able to see the must-see sights before the crowds enter.
Pack food and water. Canyonlands National Park does not have places to buy food or water, so I recommend packing everything you need for the day. If you are driving, you can bring a cooler with the food and water you’ll need, so you don’t have to fight the traffic to come back into the park.
Bring a lot of sunscreen. Canyonlands National Park has little to no shade, so it is crucial to pack and wear sunscreen for your trip!
Always remember to leave no trace. It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some of these spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
How to Get to Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is located in the southeast corner of Utah. The easiest way to get to Canyonlands National Park is to fly into Salt Lake City International Airport. The Salt Lake City International Airport is only a four-hour drive to the park, making it the closest airport to Canyonlands National Park that has the most flight options.
There is a small airport in Moab that is closer, but it is very expensive to fly into, and it does not have many flight options. We flew into SLC because it had the best flight options, and we did not mind the long drive since the views were. beautiful.
I highly recommend renting a car for your drive to Canyonlands National Park because there isn’t a bus service from Salt Lake City to the park. There are a few shuttle options that leave from Moab to visit Canyonlands National Park, but it is much easier to have a car to visit the popular sights.
Where to Stay For One Day in Canyonlands National Park
If you want to spend a night near Canyonlands National Park, you can find accommodations in Moab. Moab has everything you need, including hotels, restaurants, and grocery stores.
We spent the night in Moab during our one day in Canyonlands National Park and loved our time there! It had many accommodations and plenty of food options.
If you have or can rent camping gear or a campervan, I highly recommend it because there are campgrounds close to Canyonlands National Park. If you are interested in renting a campervan, I highly recommend renting from Escape Campervans!
Best Hotels:
Best Campgrounds:
What to Pack for One Day in Canyonlands National Park
Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.
The Best One Day in Canyonlands National Park Itinerary
Are you ready for a fun-filled day in Canyonlands National Park? If you do not want to tackle any long trails, there is plenty to see that requires no hiking or an easy hike.
Watch the sunrise at Mesa Arch
Are you ready for a beautiful sunrise? When you think of Canyonlands National Park, one of the things you probably think of is Mesa Arch. Mesa Arch is an arch at the edge of the canyon that thousands of people hike. Because this is a popular spot for sunrise, I recommend arriving early.
The 0.6-mile roundtrip hike to Mesa Arch is easy and follows a path with rock cairns that leads you to the beautiful arch overlooking the canyon. Because this is the most popular spot to watch the sunrise, there will be many people. Usually, they are respectful of space and won’t get in your way for pictures.
Enjoy the views at Shafer Canyon Overlook
Once you experienced the beautiful sunrise at Mesa Arch, it is time to head back to one of the first viewpoints in Canyonlands National Park. Shafer Canyon Overlook is a short walk from the parking lot and overlooks the 18-mile Shafter Canyon Road that runs through the canyon. The viewpoint was one of our favorites!
Hike to Upheaval Dome
One of the few roads off Canyon View Point Road is Upheaval Dome Road, which has a few hikes. One of the most beautiful hikes is the Upheaval Dome, which has a beautiful and unique view of Canyonlands National Park. You can either hike the entire 1.6-mile roundtrip hike or only to the first overlook for a 0.6-mile roundtrip hike.
The hike begins at the end of the Upheaval Dome Road on the Upheaval Dome Trail. There is a trail junction near the beginning of the trail that connects with Syncline Loop Trail. You want to make sure to continue straight on the Upheaval Dome Trail because the Syncline Loop Trail is a strenuous 8.5-mile hike.
After a few minutes of hiking, you will see the first overlook to your right. The first overlook has stunning views, and if you don’t want to continue the rest of the trail, you can turn around here. The second overlook is a half-mile from the first and offers the best views on the trail, in my opinion!
Explore Whale Rock
Whale Rock is a short but steep 1-mile roundtrip hike that brings you to the top of a sandstone fin. The trail is easy to follow, and there are handrails to help you conquer the steep hike. Once you reach Whale Rock, you get beautiful views of the Upheaval Dome.
Drive to Green River Overlook
Green River Overlook is off the side road on Upheaval Dome Road and has one of my favorite views in Canyonlands National Park! And the best part? It only requires a short walk from the parking lot to the overlook.
Green River Overlook offers stunning views of Orange Cliffs, White Rim Road, and the Green River, carving through the canyon. You can see for miles from the overlook and can even see into the Maze District in the distance. It is a fantastic spot for sunset, too.
Enjoy the views from Candlestick Tower Overlook
Once you are back on Canyon View Point Road, there are a few viewpoints that offer beautiful views! Candlestick Tower Overlook is a small pullout that overlooks the canyon with rock features that resemble candlesticks. You can view it from the parking lot or walk on a short path to the canyon rim.
Explore Buck Canyon Overlook
Buck Canyon Overlook is the next viewpoint and offers beautiful views of the canyon and the La Sal Mountains in the distance. It is one of the less popular overlooks in Canyonlands National Park, but I wouldn’t skip it!
Hike to White Rim Overlook
White Rim Overlook is another one of my viewpoints in Canyonlands National Park! You can see the views from the parking lot, but I highly recommend hiking the easy 2-mile roundtrip hike to the White Rim Overlook.
Starting at the White Rim Overlook Trailhead, the trail follows an easy-to-follow path for a mile until it reaches the overlook. The White Rim Overlook has stunning views of the canyon and the La Sal Mountains in the distance. It is easily one of my favorite easy hikes in the park.
Explore Orange Cliffs Overlook
Orange Cliffs Overlook is one of the last viewpoints before the end of the road and offers beautiful views. The overlook is only a short walk from the parking lot on a paved path.
Watch the sunset from Grand View Point
Are you ready to watch the sunset from one of the most beautiful spots in Canyonlands National Park? Grand View Point is my favorite overlook and offers views overlooking miles of Canyonlands National Park.
You can watch the sunset from the parking lot or hike the easy 2-mile roundtrip trail to the Grand View Point Overlook. No matter where you choose to watch the sunset, you will be in awe of the views!
The Best Hikes for One Day in Canyonlands National Park
If you want to hike in Canyonlands National Park, there are a few great hikes to add to your itinerary! Here is the best way to spend one day in Canyonlands National Park, hiking the day away!
Mesa Arch Trail for sunrise
When you think of Canyonlands National Park, one of the things you probably think of is Mesa Arch. Mesa Arch is an arch at the edge of the canyon that thousands of people hike, especially for sunrise. Watching the sunrise from here is unmatched!
The 0.6-mile roundtrip hike to Mesa Arch is easy and follows a path with rock cairns that leads you to the beautiful arch overlooking the canyon. Because this is the most popular spot to watch the sunrise, there will be many people.
Aztec Butte Trail
One of the few roads off of Canyon View Point Road is Upheaval Dome Road, which has a few hikes. Aztec Butte is one of the first hikes on the road and offers beautiful views of the canyon and granaries, which are ancestral Puebloan structures.
The 2-mile hike begins at the Aztec Butte Trailhead and follows along an easy-to-follow trail for the first half-mile. The final climb to the Aztec Butte is short and steep and can be difficult to follow if you aren’t looking out for the rock cairns. Once you reach the top, you can see granaries, which are small one- to two-room structures, and beautiful views of the canyon. On the way down the trail, you have the option of adding a short side trail to a smaller butte.
Whale Rock Trail
Whale Rock is a short but steep 1-mile roundtrip hike that brings you to the top of a sandstone fin. The trail is easy to follow, and there are handrails to help you conquer the steep hike. Once you reach Whale Rock, you get stunning views of the Upheaval Dome.
Upheaval Dome Trail
One of the few roads off Canyon View Point Road is Upheaval Dome Road. One of the most beautiful hikes along the road is to Upheaval Dome, which has some of my favorite views of Canyonlands National Park. You can either hike the entire 1.6-mile roundtrip hike or only to the first overlook for a 0.6-mile roundtrip hike.
The hike begins at the end of the Upheaval Dome Road on the Upheaval Dome Trail. There is a trail junction near the beginning of the trail that connects with Syncline Loop Trail. You want to make sure to continue straight on the Upheaval Dome Trail because the Syncline Loop Trail is a strenuous 8.5-mile hike.
After a few minutes of hiking, you will see the first overlook to your right. The first overlook has stunning views, and if you don’t want to continue the rest of the trail, you can turn around here. The second overlook is a half-mile from the first and offers the best views on the trail!
Murphy Point Trail
One of the least hiked trails in Canyonlands National Park is Murphy Point. The 3.6-mile roundtrip hike offers a peaceful trail with beautiful views. It begins on the Murphy Overlook Trail and follows an easy-to-follow wide dirt path. After a half-mile, you will reach a trail junction with the Murphy Hogback Trail, where you will stay to the right to continue on the Murphy Overlook Trail.
Once the trail begins to descend toward the viewpoint, you will need to keep an eye out for rock cairns. Once you reach Murphy Point, you will have miles of beautiful views. Murphy Point is a great place to watch the sunset, too!
White Rim Overlook Trail
White Rim Overlook is one of my favorite viewpoints in Canyonlands National Park! You can see the views from the parking lot, but I highly recommend hiking the easy 2-mile roundtrip hike to the White Rim Overlook.
Starting at the White Rim Overlook Trailhead, the trail follows an easy-to-follow path for a mile until it reaches the overlook. The White Rim Overlook has stunning views of the canyon and the La Sal Mountains in the distance.
Grand View Point Overlook Hike for SUnset
Although you can watch the sunset from many locations in Canyonlands National Park, Grand View Point Overlook is one of the best! The hike begins in the Grand View Point parking lot and follows along the canyon rim for a mile before reaching the final and most beautiful viewpoint
The trail is easy to follow and offers views along the entire hike. The Grand View Point Overlook will take your breath away, especially during the sunset. If you want to avoid the crowds at Mesa Arch during sunrise, you could watch the sunrise here! It is easily my favorite spot in Canyonlands National Park, so I know you will love it!
This guide is the perfect place to start when planning one day in Canyonlands National Park. If you want to spend more than one day in Canyonlands National Park, you can spread out the must-see sights and plan your hikes for different days.
If you are looking for an epic Utah road trip to all five of its national parks, you can create the ultimate 7-day itinerary. If you have another day in Moab, you can spend one day in Arches National Park, too!
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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