Canyonlands National Park provides another look at the wonders of erosion, about 300 miles up the Colorado River from better-known Grand Canyon National Park. Canyonlands is located around the confluence of the Green River and the Colorado, which divide the park into three regions: Island In The Sky, Needles and The Maze.
Island in the Sky is the most accessible by car, on the northern side of the park and a little over 30 miles from Moab, Utah. Paved roads lead to the visitor center and beyond to scenic spots such as the Green River Overlook, the appropriately-named Grand View Point Overlook and the area near Upheaval Dome. If you’ve got a 4-wheel drive vehicle – and aren’t afraid to use it – there are many more miles of road that will take you all over Island in the Sky.
The Needles area comprises the southeast portion of the park and is also accessible by paved road. The Needles visitor center is a 75 mile drive south-ish from Moab. Beyond the visitor center, paved roads can take you as far into the park as Squaw Flat and Big Spring Canyon Overlook. Needles is full of hiking trails that frequently follow along tributaries of the Colorado River.
The Maze is on the western edge of Canyonlands and is by far the least accessible part of the park. Roads into The Maze are only for 4-wheel drive vehicles and can only be entered through the neighboring Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Moab is the town closest to the Island in the Sky visitor center, with quite a few places to stay ranging from chain hotels to the 4-star Sorrel River Ranch Resort Spa. Staying in Moab also puts you just a few miles from the entrance to Arches National Park. The town of Monticello is closer to the Needles visitor center and has a couple of places to stay.
