Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
585
Moments
A Bird's-Eye View of Canyonlands
Canyonlands is beautiful, but many of its most spectacular sections are difficult
to get to—to say the least. One solution is to take to the air.
Slickrock Air
Guides, Inc.
(
&
866/259-1626
or 435/259-6216; www.slickrockairguides.com),
offers 1-hour scenic flights over Canyonlands National Park and nearby areas for
$140 per person; 2
1
/
2
-hour flights that take in Canyonlands and Monument Valley
cost $260 per person.
least several days to see even a few of its sites, such as the appropriately named Lizard
Rock and Beehive Arch.
Essentials
GETTING THERE
To reach the Island in the Sky Visitor Center, 34 miles west of
Moab, take US 191 north to Utah 313, and follow it south into the park. To reach the
Needles Visitor Center, 75 miles southwest of Moab, take US 191 south to Utah 211,
and follow it west into the park. Getting to the Maze District is a bit more interesting.
From I-70 west of Green River, take Utah 24 south. Watch for signs and follow two- and
four-wheel-drive dirt roads east into the park.
VISITOR INFORMATION
Contact
Canyonlands National Park,
2282 SW Resource
Blvd., Moab, UT 84532 (
&
435/719-2313;
www.nps.gov/cany). Books, very useful
maps, and videos are available from the nonprofit
Canyonlands Natural History Asso-
ciation,
3031 South US 191, Moab, UT 84532 (
&
800/840-8978
or 435/259-6003;
www.cnha.org).
Island in the Sky Visitor Center,
in the northern part of the park, and
Needles
Visitor Center,
in the southern section, provide maps, free brochures on hiking trails,
and, most important, advice from rangers. Both are open 9am to 4:30pm daily, with
expanded hours in summer.
We cannot overemphasize how brutal the terrain at Canyonlands can be. It's impor-
tant to know not only your own limitations but also those of your vehicle and other
equipment.
FEES
Entry to the park (for up to 7 days) costs $10 per vehicle, $5 per person on foot,
bike, or motorcycle.
Permits, available at visitor centers, are required for all overnight stays except at the
established campgrounds. Call
&
435/259-4351
or check the park website (see “Visitor
Information,” above) for rates and reservations.
RANGER PROGRAMS
On summer evenings at Squaw Flat and Willow Flat camp-
grounds, rangers offer campfire programs on various aspects of the park. Short morning
talks take place in summer at the Island in the Sky Visitor Center and at Grand View
Point.
Seeing the Highlights
Canyonlands is not an easy place to see in a short time. In fact, if your schedule permits
only a day or less, we suggest skipping the Needles and Maze districts entirely and going
directly to the
Island in the Sky Visitor Center.
After looking at the exhibits, drive to
several of the overlooks, stopping along the way for a short hike or two. Make sure you
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