Island in the Sky Canyonlands: Everything to Know

Utah has 5 incredible national parks and Canyonlands National Park is the largest of them all.  But if it’s the largest park, where should you start?  A great place to start is the Island in the Sky District.  And here’s everything you need to know!

Canyonlands has 3 districts and the Island in the Sky District is the most visited district of the park.  This area has the most paved roads, easiest hiking trails, and has the quickest access from Moab, Utah.   

The other 2 districts are The Needles and The Maze.  These districts only receive a small percentage of visitors due to their remoteness and the high clearance vehicle requirements. 

But today we’re discussing EVERYTHING you need to know to visit the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park.  So let’s jump in!

Important Links

• Canyonlands National Park website
• Island in the Sky Map
• Backcountry Information
• Top Things to do in Moab, Utah
• A Guide to Canyonlands National Park
• Hiking Journal – Never Forget the Details of Your Favorite Hikes Again!

Location

Canyonlands National Park is located in eastern Utah and The Island in the Sky District is located in the northern part of the park.  The entrance is just 35 minutes from downtown Moab, UT.  The entrance to Canyonlands is only a 30 minutes drive from the entrance of Arches National Park. 

If you’re driving to the Island in the Sky, the entrance is 2 hours from Grand Junction, CO, about 5 hours from St. George, UT, and 4 hours from Salt Lake City, UT.  Once you get there, there’s a few fees and park hours to be aware of.  

Fees

As with all national parks, Canyonlands National Park has an entrance fee.  Whether you enter the park by foot, in a car, or on a motorcycle, there is a fee.  Here are the standard fees.

• Standard Vehicle: $30 (Valid for 7 days)
• Motorcycle: $25 (Valid for 7 days)
• Per Person (Walking): $15 (Valid for 7 days)

The typical person/family/couple will pay the standard fee of $30 per vehicle.   This will give them access to the park for 7 days without any additional entrance fees.  

But what about Annual Pass Options? 

Annual Pass Options

Whether you are looking to enter Canyonlands National Park multiple times in a year, or you want to visit multiple parks in a year, there are options for you!

• Annual Pass – $55 (Entrance to Canyonlands, Arches, Natural Bridges and Hovenweep)
• America the Beautiful Pass – $80 (Entrance to all federal recreation areas)
• Senior Annual Pass – $20 (Ages 62+ for Entrance to All Parks)
• Senior Lifetime Pass – $80 (Ages 62+ for Lifetime Entrance to All Parks)
• Military Annual Pass – Free (Entrance to All Parks in a year)
• Military Lifetime Pass – Free (Lifetime Entrance to All Parks)

The annual passes are good for 12 months and the lifetime passes are good for a lifetime.  You and your ID can enter any federal park with a car-full of guests with any of these passes.  So if you intend on visiting multiple parks in a year, you’ll be able to save a ton of money with one of these annual passes.  

Hours

• Island in the Sky Park Entrance: Open 24 Hours Per Day, 7 Days a Week
• Island in the Sky Visitor Center: 9am – 4pm (or seasonally 5pm)

Need to Know

Canyonlands is a beautiful and unique place, however there are a few things you should be prepared for when visiting.  Things like the elevation, the dry desert air, the temperatures, and so on.  Here’s a few brief points for you to consider.  

First off, Canyonlands is a high desert and the Island in the Sky District sits at an elevation of 6,000 feet.  If you are coming from a lower elevation, you might feel slightly out of breath when hiking or moving quickly.  Make sure you are drinking plenty of water to help combat the high altitude.  

The altitude also affects how close you are to the sun.  Since you are so much closer to the sun, you’ll want to bring plenty of sun protection.  Things like sun hats, sun shirts, sun screen and sun glasses are a necessity.  

Another element to consider is the dryness of the desert.  From dehydration, to chapped lips, to dry skin, you’ll need more water than usual to combat the dry conditions, even in the winter. 

And finally, we have to talk about the temperatures here.  As with most deserts, Canyonlands is blazing hot in the summer, but freezing in the winter.  We visited in August and could only spend a few hours because of how hot it was.  But if you are visiting in the cooler times of the year, you’ll want to make sure you pack plenty of layers.  So make sure you check the weather before your trip and don’t just assume it’ll be warm.  

Half Day Tour

Before we dive into all the things you can do on your own, or with permits, let’s discuss the option of taking a Half-Day Tour of Canyonlands National Park.*  This tour will take you out in a 4×4 vehicle and give you an easy, but exciting adventure. 

For 4 hours you and up to 19 other guests will be driven around Canyonlands for the views, the history, and the safety of a professional driver. So if you want to experience the ruggedness of Canyonlands without worrying about your car or the logistics, this Half Day Tour of Canyonlands is for you!

Things to Do Here

Now that you know the location, the hours, the fees and a bit about the elements, let’s dive into what there is to do in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park.  

First and foremost there is some great hiking here.  The trails here are a mix of easy, moderate and there are also a few that provide a bit of a challenge.  There is also biking, specifically there is biking along the White Rim Road, which we’ll get to in a minute.  

If you want to go camping, there is a campground in the Island in the Sky district, and there are also backcountry campsites along the White Rim Road.  Which leads me to the more rugged experiences you can have here.  

There is off-roading here for jeeps/4×4 vehicles.  You can take a half day and drive on the high clearance roads throughout this section of the park, or you can drive the 100-mile long White Rim Road.  

Finally, there is some great boating on the Colorado River, there’s rock climbing, horseback riding, and of course stargazing.  

Hiking

Just briefly, there are dozens of hiking trails in the Island in the Sky District.  Trails ranging from easy and flat, to moderate trails and even a few strenuous trails that lead you down into the canyon.  

If you’re looking for easy trails, make sure you hike the Mesa Arch Trail and the Grand View Point Trail. Both of these trails are less than 2 miles and will give you amazing views without breaking too much of a sweat.

For a few more difficult trails, you could try the moderate Upheaval Dome Trail that offers some great views.  And if you’re up for a challenge that hikes down into the canyon, the Gooseberry Trail will lead you there.     

There are many more trails that you can explore here in the Island in the Sky District, check out the map here.  However,  people who love difficult hiking will probably prefer the Needles District.  

Biking

Biking in the Island in the Sky District is limited to the paved roads around the park, a few high clearance roads, and White Rim Road.  Yes, there are other backcountry roads, but they are not suited for bikes.  

If you are hoping to take a biking day trip on either the Elephant Hill Road, the Lavender Canyon Road or the Peekaboo/Horse Canyon road, you’ll want to head to the Needles District.  You will also need a Day-Use Permit which can be found here.    

But since we are discussing the Island in the Sky District, we’ll need to read more about  White Rim Road.  

White Rim Road

White Rim Road is a 100 mile loop around the Island in the Sky District.  This road is challenging and exclusively for high clearance vehicles or multi-day bike trips.  

Biking this road typically takes 3-4 days and off-road vehicles typically take 2-3.  You DO need permits to ride this road, either a day permit or an overnight permit.  You can find all the information here if this is an adventure you are interested in.  Remember, you also need to reserve your campsite(s) ahead of time.

Off-Roading

Speaking of off-roading, there are several high clearance roads in Canyonlands National Park.  Two high-clearance roads in the Island in the Sky District do not require a permit and are a great way to see if you’re into off-roading.  **Be warned, if you need a tow out here, it will cost you over $2,000, so drive with caution!**

The first road for AWD or 4×4 vehicles is Shafer Trail Road, which is considered an easy 5 mile unpaved road.  If you continue off of Shafer, and onto White Rim Road, a permit is required, so know where you are.

The second road in this district that doesn’t require a permit, is the Potash Road.  Potash Road is approximately 35 – 40 miles and will take about 3-4 hours to complete.  This is also cited as an easy unpaved road, but shouldn’t be underestimated.  

Rock Climbing

The Island in the Sky District attracts the most rock climbers in the park because of the established routes and the sand stone towers in this area.  The Needles and the Maze don’t have the same rock quality.  You do not need a permit for rock climbing in the park, but you do need a permit if you intend to climb near/along White Rim Road.  

With climbing routes available in Shafer Canyon, Taylor Canyon, Monument Basin and the NW Basin you’ll want to stay very informed about the area.  I’d highly recommend checking out this link for all information about climbing in Canyonlands.  Or you can call the park at 435-719-2313 to ask any questions you may have.

Horseback Riding

All pack and saddle stock are welcome on the backcountry roads of Canyonlands National Park.  Day Use permits are free and unlimited in most of the park.  For all the details about horseback riding, check out this link.  

Boating

In Canyonlands National Park there are many opportunities to go boating. ALL boating options require some sort of permit. With levels of boating that vary from flatwater to whitewater, you’ll want to do as much research as possible.  And you can start right at this link.

If you’re a beginner or looking to have a relaxing ride, you’ll be interested in the easy flatwater boating options that the Colorado or Green River offer. Permits are required for all flatwater rafting.  

However if you’re looking to take a more adventurous boating trip, you’ll be interested in the whitewater or multi-day trips.  For the most extreme option, there is the Cataract Canyon section of the Colorado River.  This stretch of river has 14 rapids that reach up to a Class V rapid.  Check out this link for all of those options. 

As for overnight trips on the water, you’ll want to start here for all the information you’ll need to do.  Overnight trips require a permit, which you can buy here. 

And finally there are the commercial tours that you can book so you don’t have to worry about any of the details!

Commercial Tour – Paddle the Colorado

Paddleboarding the Colorado River is a mild and family-friendly water option.  First up is this Stand Up Paddleboarding on the Colorado River Tour*.  This tour lasts about 3-4 hours and a guide will lead you along the flatwater area of the Colorado River.  You’ll enjoy all the beauty of the red canyon walls and the Colorado River, without worrying about the rapids. To book your very own Stand Up Paddleboarding Tour, simply click here and book it!

Commercial Tour – Raft the Colorado River

Next we have the highest recommended rafting tour in this Half-Day Rafting Trip on the Colorado River*. With only mild Class II rapids, this is a very family-friendly float trip option.  You’ll see the stunning surrounding cliffs while safely experiencing the Colorado River.  Obviously, water levels also determine the amount of adventure for this one, but to book this relaxing float trip, simply click this link and book it.

And if you are looking for a different type of boating trip, you can research and reach out to these other Commercial Guides.  

Stargazing 

Another amazing thing that you can do in Canyonlands National Park is to go Stargazing.  On a moonless night, the darkness might surprise you.  The total and complete darkness allows you to see thousands of stars, even with the naked eye.

The Island in the Sky District has so few towns/cities nearby, that it’s a great place to view stars and meteor showers.  For all the information about stargazing in Canyonlands, check out this page.  There will be dates of new and full moons as well as other astrological phenomenons.   

Camping 

And finally, we’ve reached the camping section.  In the Island in the Sky District, there is the Willow Flat Campground.  These 12 sites cost $15 per night, are first-come-first-serve, and are open year round.  However, they do fill up pretty quickly in the spring and fall.  There are toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings in the campground, but no water or showers.  

As for backcountry camping near White Rim Road, there are 20 designated camping spots that must be reserved ahead of time.  You can find everything you need to know about those in this Backcountry Camping section of the NPS website.  

There is also the option to go camping in the nearby Dead Horse Point State Park. While this is more expensive, ($40/ with a tent, or $50/night with a camper), it’s a great nearby location to camp an enjoy the great outdoors.

This is just about everything you’ll need to know about the Island in the Sky District, but if you are looking for more information about Canyonlands National Park, you can read this Canyonlands Guide.  

Things To Do in the Area

Now that you’ve figured out a lot of the logistics for the Island in the Sky District, and hopefully more in this Canyonlands Guide, here are a few things to do in the area! 

For other National Parks, you’ll want to check out Arches National Park and hike to the Delicate Arch and hike the Devils Garden Trail.  You could also take a side trip to Hovenweep National Monument if you’re interested in Native American History.

If you are headed into Moab, here are The Best Things to do in Moab, Utah.  And if you are looking to head to an amazing Utah State Park, you’ll love visiting and hiking in Dead Horse Point State Park.     

Conclusion

The Island in the Sky District in Canyonlands National Park is an amazing, remote place in Utah.  With dozens of things to do for just about every level of visitor, you won’t want to miss this Utah national park!

Whether you want to go hiking, biking, rock climbing or whitewater rafting, there is something for everyone.  

As always, feel free to reach out to me at averagewildexperience@gmail.com and I’ll do my best to help you plan or answer any questions you have.  

-Happy Adventuring!

*Tours are affiliate links.  This means I get a small percentage of pay when you book an adventure, at NO extra cost to you.*