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Our Memorial Day Weekend was packed with fun and adventure! We kicked things off by heading south to Mesa Verde National Park near Durango, Colorado. From there, we made a quick pit stop at the Four Corners before cruising west to Moab, Utah — home to Canyonlands and Arches National Parks.
You can read about our entire trip in our Rocky Mountain Road Trip blog post.
These Utah national parks have been on my bucket list forever, and they did not disappoint! The views were absolutely stunning, and it felt amazing to trade Colorado’s chill for some warm desert sunshine.
One helpful thing to know: Canyonlands doesn’t require any reservations or timed entry, which made visiting super easy. Arches, on the other hand, does — but more on that later!
Keep reading for all the highlights from our time in Canyonlands National Park, plus a few tips we picked up along the way!
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When to Visit
The best time to visit Canyonlands National Park is spring and fall. Both seasons offer mild weather, which is greatly appreciated for a place that can reach the high 90s and even the 100s in the summer months.
We visited during Memorial Day Weekend, and temperatures were already in the mid-80s. Thankfully, it was overcast when we visited Canyonlands, so the heat was not unbearable. I would love to come back when the weather is milder and also in the winter, when the red rocks are adorned with snow.
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Top Things to Do & See in Canyonlands National Park
We spent one day visiting Canyonlands National Park’s Island in the Sky region. We would have loved to spend more time here, but we also needed to visit Arches and head home. Here are the highlights we visited on this trip, but we’d love to return to see even more!
Grand View Point Overlook
We started our visit at the Grand View Point Overlook. By the time we got there, parking was already starting to fill up, so try to get there early! At the entrance, you can sometimes find rangers giving talks on various subjects related to the park.
The first section of the Grand View Point Overlook is paved and easy. Here is where you’ll enjoy stunning views of the incredible canyons and Needles district off in the distance. If you want to go further, there’s a longer hike over rocks with a little bit of an elevation change to get to the second viewpoint.
I highly recommend continuing on to the second viewpoint like we did! Take your time and take in the incredible scenery along the way. The other viewpoint shows you a different canyon and is absolutely stunning. It’s also super photogenic, so don’t forget to bring your camera!
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Mesa Arch
Mesa Arch is probably one of the most notable sites in all of Canyonlands. The massive 27-foot-long arch stands against the stunning backdrop of the Needles district of the park and the La Sal Mountains.
The most popular time to visit Mesa Arch is at sunrise, but it’s pretty magnificent any time of day. We got there right after noon and the views were amazing. It wasn’t super crowded, but there was a line to take a picture in front of the arch. We had to wait in line for about 10 minutes, which wasn’t too bad, especially being that it was Memorial Day Weekend.
The walk to the arch from the parking lot is short, but it’s pretty rocky and uneven. Take your time and make sure to watch your step.
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Green River Overlook
After our adventures at Mesa Arch and the Grand View Point Overlook, we decided to have lunch at the Green River Overlook. The Green River Overlook is where you can find the best view of the Green River, one of Canyonland’s most notable natural features.
The views are absolutely stunning and the river looks as if it goes on forever. It’s a short stop but perfect for a photo op. Lots of people like to go here to enjoy the sunset, but we didn’t stay at the park that long. (Sunset in the summertime can be as late as 9pm!)
If you want to enjoy lunch here like us, be advised that there are no picnic tables here. It can also be quite windy, so be sure to hold on to all of your trash until you can throw it into the proper receptacles. To the left overlook are some large boulders that are great for sitting and enjoying the view. We weren’t the only ones to have the idea to have lunch here!
Upheaval Dome
While it’s hard to choose the best one, Upheaval Dome features some of the most unique landscapes found in Canyonlands National Park. Scientists aren’t quite sure exactly how the dome was formed, but one of the most widely believed theories is that it was created when a meteorite hit the Earth and caused the giant crater.
The hike up to Upheaval Dome is short but very steep and rocky. It’ll definitely get your heart rate up! The views are absolutely amazing from the first overlook point. There’s a second trail that will take you from the first overlook to the second, but you’ll see much of the same views.
I stayed at the first overlook point to take in the views while Woodrow continued on the second trail. It took him about 20 minutes round-trip.
Shafer Trail Road Overlook
Our last stop in Canyonlands was the Shafer Trail Road Overlook. This stop doesn’t take too much time, but it’s a great overlook to take in the amazing views one last time before leaving the park.
From this lookout point, you can see the winding Shafer trail, which is reserved for 4WD driving only. It’s perfect for thrill seekers looking for something “off the beaten path”. The trail is extremely windy, bumpy, and challenging.
The Shafer Trail is named after the Shafer family, Mormon pioneer settlers who once used the trail to move cattle between their summer pastures and the canyon in the early 1900s.
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Where to Stay
Moab offers a ton of options when it comes to accommodations. Visitors can find everything from backpacking hostels to glamping and luxury hotels. There’s really something to fit any travel style.
We stayed at the voco Moab, which is an IHG property. It is brand new and we have loved our voco stays in the past. We enjoyed the brand new room, the breakfast, and the friendly staff. The only downside was the sound insulation. We could easily hear everything our noisy neighbors did, which wasn’t great when it was time to hit the hay.
Other great options we saw (hotel-wise) include the SpringHill Suites (Marriott), Red Cliffs Lodge (Marriott), and Hoodoo Moab (Hilton). We definitely want to come back and spend more time, so I think we’ll try a different hotel next time. The Red Cliffs Lodge looks absolutely stunning!
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Where to Eat
There are no lodging or dining facilities within Canyonlands National Park.
Just like accommodations, Moab has eateries to fit any taste and diet. Each morning after our breakfast at the voco, we headed to Red Rock Bakery and Cafe on Main Street to pick up to-go lunch. Their sandwiches and pastries are seriously amazing! The sandwiches are stacked and super filling — perfect for a long day of exploring!
Our first dinner was at Sunset Grill, which is perched atop a hill overlooking the stunning red rocks of Moab. The service was quick and the food was great. They also gave huge portions. I’m sure the sunset is beautiful, but we didn’t stay long enough to catch it. We were exhausted. And the drinks were really strong.
The next night, we indulged in delicious Mexican food at El Tapatio. Once again, the portions were HUGE! We ordered three quesobirria tacos and the carnitas plate, which came with rice, beans, and guacamole. We easily could’ve shared one plate.
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Tips for Visiting
- Bring a cooler. This has been a game-changer for us. We fill it with ice each morning and stash our extra water, snacks, and lunch for the day. Of course, this is easier to do if you’re roadtripping to Moab like we did.
- Wear sunscreen (AND reapply it). Seriously, the sun here is no joke. Even though I was wearing sunscreen (though I didn’t reapply) and it was mainly overcast on the day we visited Canyonlands, I STILL got sunburn on my shoulders, chest, and arms.
- Check off popular sites early. As the day progresses, the park becomes increasingly crowded. I recommend starting with popular attractions, such as Mesa Arch and Grand View Point, before venturing to other parts of the park.
Final Thoughts
Canyonlands National Park has been one of my favorite parks we’ve visited in the United States so far! There are so many different landscapes to explore; it just feels like you’re on a different planet! You can definitely spend a week (or longer) in Moab visiting all the gorgeous national and state parks in the area.
While we say this about many of our travel adventures, we will certainly be back in Moab to explore some more!
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