Often overshadowed by the Arches National Park, Island in the Sky Canyonlands National Park is a beautiful place to visit and explore as well.
Canyonlands is the perfect place for you to take a trip to experience the wilderness of innumerable canyons, blue skies, vast and endless stretches of spectacular landscapes, and mightily shaped buttes created by the Colorado River and its branches.
Rivers split the Canyonlands National Park into three different districts and rivers:
- Island in the Sky District
- The Needles
- The Maze
- The Rivers
These regions all have a primary desert-like environment, but each area also comes with different and wonderful scenic views and historic sites to enjoy and explore.
1. Where to Find the Island in the Sky Canyonlands National Park?
Canyonlands National Park is around three and a half hours from Salt Lake. The nearest neighborhood to Canyonlands is Moab. The area is mostly known for its two famous parks – the Arches National Park and the Canyonlands National Park.
Even though the former is more popular and gets more tourists and visitors, the Canyonlands National Park is not without amazing sites to see and things to do.
Distinguished from the other two Canyonlands neighborhoods (The Needles and the secluded area called The Maze), Island in the Sky Canyonlands is simpler to travel not just due to its nearness to Moab but also due to its specific terrain.
Among the neighborhoods and districts of this region, Island in the Sky Canyonlands presents a picturesque drive, while the other portions may be more agreeable for hiking lovers.
However, that does not remotely mean that you will not find some spectacular trails and hikes at the Island in the Sky Canyonlands district. And with this guide, you will discover the most scenic and wonderful hikes that you can try.
2. Island in the Sky Canyonlands National Park: 8 Best Hikes
If exploring trails and hiking the wilderness is something you love or is something that has been on your bucket list for a long time, then the Island in the Sky Canyonlands is just the place for you.
Here, you will find hikes of all kinds of levels – from easy to difficult, for beginners to experienced hikers; the Island in the Sky Canyonlands has hiking trails, treks, and overlooks for all kinds of visitors.
2.1) Mesa Arch
Mesa Arch is just the ideal trail for amateurs, visitors with little kids, or light walkers, and surely one of the Island in the Sky Canyonlands National Park’s most legendary lookouts.
It is simple and quick, and a comprehensive exhibit at the trailhead clearly illustrates how to trek the path. Even though the NPS regulates and oversees this route for beginners, it has a little something for every hiker, and after completing about half of the brief loop, you will be rewarded with the Grand Mesa Arch.
This lollipop loop of Mesa Arch Trail is pretty easy to trek and covers around 0.5 miles.
The Island in the Sky Mesa Arch is just on the horizon of a five-hundred-foot elevation, a fraction of a twelve-hundred-foot plunge into Buck Canyon. You can get a brilliant view of White Rim country against a backdrop of stunning blue skies right through the arch, and if you take back some steps, you will also be able to find the lofty and sometimes snowy La Sal Mountains along with the arch.
The path is sufficiently marked and partially on Slickrock. It is a pretty easy hike, but if you are exploring with little ones, keep your eyes on them every moment, especially around the arch. There is no barrier to stave off a dangerous fall. Never try to attempt to climb on the arch.
By observing minutely, you also can discover another beautiful arch from Mesa Arch Overlook. This one is famous as the Washer Woman Arch, which is located off to the left when overlooking the arch.
2.2) Murphy Loop
This one is nowhere near as easy as the Mesa Arch. A lengthy, hard day of a hike or even overnighter from the Island in the Sky Canyonlands to the White Rim Road and back forms the Murphy Loop.
Different from most other trails in the Island in the Sky Canyonlands District and located north of the Buck Canyon Overlook, the road to the Murphy Basin is a fine lollipop loop rather than an out-and-back journey.
A charming mile-long hike on White Rim Road unites the Murphy Hogback Trail with the Murphy Wash Trail to finish off the loop portion or segment of the path. It is reasonable to take on the road counterclockwise, which enables you to step down rather than up a ridge on White Rim Road.
The trail goes two ways at the bottom, from where you can choose your next destination. After you enter White Rim Road, walk southwards.
Here, you will find the Murphy Vehicle Campsite and will get to address many road trip necessities. Proceed down White Rim Road for some time till you find the Murphy Wash Trail.
The trail remains in the dry wash till the great elevation to Island in the Sky Canyonlands, and here, the Hogback Trail meets from the left.
The hike feels much scarier from below than it looks from above. The ridge is like a complete rock with no chance of an easy trail; however, when you reach the top, the spectacular view will be worth the difficult and daunting trip.
2.3) Aztec Butte
A quick but fairly tough ascent to a spectacular viewpoint of the Island in the Sky Canyonlands region. After reaching the roof, you will see time-honored Puebloan formations known as granaries.
This one is an incredible hike but can be quite complicated for beginners. The initial part of the route is adequately defined and on tight sand, but when you are nearing the end of the trek, you follow cairns as you ascend approximately two hundred feet up a tough Slickrock slant.
The ascent up the Slickrock incline to the crown of the butte is harder than climbing Whale Rock, and there are no guardrails. Always make sure that you are equipped with proper boots and gear, and make the climb carefully.
When you reach the top, you will find the ancient granaries on the buttes. Never touch or go into any of these formations. Here, you can also get a kick out of the incredible vistas, especially the scene at the headwall of the huge Trail Canyon towards the northwest.
On your return journey, you can go up and around the roof of another butte between the two – Aztec and the trailhead.
2.4) Syncline Loop
The Syncline Loop trail is most likely the perfect choice for a lengthy loopy hike on the Island in the Sky Canyonlands National Park. Opt for an early trip, particularly if you wish to complete the whole trail within 24 hours.
This one can be a lengthy and heated trek in the canyon kingdom. The entire hike comes with a relatively tough passage of rock climbing, so much so that the NPS has displayed a sign at the trailhead notifying walkers of how arduous this trek can be.
Add the heat of summer to this, and the difficulty level is doubled.
The whole Syncline region has an interesting and vague geological past.
So, if you are looking for a long day hike or even an overnighter, the Syncline Loop is possibly the exclusive hike on Island in the Sky Canyonlands district.
2.5) Upheaval Dome Overlook
The hike of Upheaval Dome Overlook is an extraordinary way to see and explore the geological marvels of the Upheaval Dome region without having to take the strenuous Syncline Loop Trail.
In the case of beginners, this is undoubtedly the better option. Not to mention, you get a nicer view of the beautiful crater from this brief and moderately easier trail.
This short and simple, straight and steep trek is most likely the best option to get the most incredible view of possibly the most fascinating geological aspect of Utah.
Some geologists dub the Upheaval Dome “the most peculiar structural feature” of the southeastern part of Utah, and the ancestry of the dome is the basis of extensive and unending discussions.
For some odd yet incredible reason, rocks previously concealed a mile from the ground are presently on the exterior of the basin. The two most widespread assumptions are the “salt dome” concept and the “meteorite impact” notion – which are illustrated in a pamphlet found at the Island in the Sky visitor center.
2.6) Alcove Spring
Another long 24-hour journey or overnighter with stunning sights and scenery, the Alcove Spring is an out-and-back difficult hike.
The initial part of this trail from Island in the Sky Canyonlands is a bit rocky but comes with plenty of steps established to make trekking down and clambering back up much simpler, and the final four miles are simple “wash walking.”
The path slowly switches down with a single extended expanse along a truly enormous cliff with a vast alcove, after which the trail is given its name.
From here, you can head to the Trail Canyon.
While on the last part of the journey, you will be treated to extraordinary views of Zeus, Moses, and Aphrodite – some of the spectacular spires of rock on the northern frontier.
2.7) Whale Rock Trail
The hikers who plan to take the Upheaval Dome Road can also opt for the Whale Rock Trail. On the right direction of the street from the visitor center, after the intersection with Grand View Point Road, you will be able to find a rock structure that looks like a whale.
After leaving the car in the parking lot, you can ascend to the height of the hill to watch the canyons of the park in the expanse. The whole trail is around a one-mile round journey and is a simple but beautiful hike on the Island in the Sky Canyonland National Park.
2.8) Grand View Point Overlook
As its grand name suggests, it is the place that surpasses the grandeur of all. If you were ever curious as to why this place is named Canyonlands, here you will find the answer in the form of the widespread stunning spectacle that stretches out at this part of Canyonlands National Park’s Grand View Point.
The National Park Service has posted many amazing interpretive figures at the Grand View Trailhead, along with a picturesque sign that holds many of the well-known and distinguished formations in the neighborhood, like the Totem Pole as well as the White Rim Road spiraling its way surrounding the Island in the Sky Canyonlands District.
This track is flat but sloppily distinguished in spots, with several cairns indicating the path. Make sure to be cautious and never go too near the cliffs – it is a long and fatal fall down.
At the trail’s end, you can sit and bask in a brilliantly spectacular view, pondering over how nature remade what was previously an unremarkable plain land into this wonderful miracle of scenic beauty.
3. FAQs on Island in the Sky Canyonlands National Park
Still have queries on this district of the national park? Well, read on to find the answers to the most frequently asked questions on Island in the Sky Canyonlands.
3.1) Where is the Island in the Sky Canyonlands National Park?
Canyonlands National Park is approximately three and a half hours from Salt Lake. The immediate vicinity of Canyonlands is Moab.
The region has two popular parks – the Arches National Park and the Canyonlands National Park.
While the former is more prominent and known around the world and gets more tourists and visitors, the Canyonlands National Park is not without incredible sections to see and lovely things to do.
Somewhat different from the other two Canyonlands areas (The Needles and the isolated area called The Maze), Island in the Sky Canyonlands is far easier to navigate not just because of its vicinity to Moab but also due to its particular kind of terrain.
3.2) What are the best trails and hikes at Island in the Sky Canyonlands?
The lands of the Island in the Sky Canyonland are full of scenic trails and spectacular structures. No matter which area of the neighborhood you feel like exploring, you will be rewarded with amazing and mesmerizing views.
Among the best and most amazing trails and hikes at Island in the Sky Canyonlands are Aztec Butte, Grand View Point, Upheaval Dome Overlook, the White Rim Overlook Trail, Syncline Loop, and Mesa Arch.
3.3) What are some of the best things to do at Island in the Sky Canyonlands?
While the place is known for some of the greatest hikes in not only Utah but also the whole world, there are plenty of other amazing things to do at Island on the Sky Canyonlands National Park.
Apart from taking walks, you can also try the spectacular overlooks of this area. Some more lovely things to try are camping under the starry skies or having a picnic by the blue-green rivers.
Or if you are looking for something more, then go observing the wildlife, still through nature, get mesmerized by the beauty of the Colorado River and the Green River Overlook, views of Monument Basin, Orange Cliffs, Dead Horse Point, Soda Springs Basin, Taylor Canyon, Gooseberry Canyon, and the fascinating geological features of the area.
Better yet, have a complete road trip to have the best journey of your life. With the Utah National Parks Road Trip, you will be able to visit and explore the lands with the magical mighty five.
3.4) Which is the best time to visit the Island in the Sky Canyonlands National Park?
All around, Island in the Sky Canyonlands can be traveled all year round, but the most common and preferred seasons with blue skies, sunshine, and pleasant weather to take a trip to this national park are spring and autumn. However, every season and month comes with a unique elegance and splendor to the park.
The intense heat of the summer months is not popular among tourists, but still, the month gets quite several visitors. The mild winter season is a nice time to visit to witness the snow-capped wonders. Visiting Canyonlands National Park Island in the Sky in the colder months is also a good idea if you want to avoid crowds.
Closing Thoughts: The End of a Journey
So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags with your best hiking boots and gear to explore the spectacular sights of the Island in the Sky Canyonlands National Park.
Therefore, when in Utah, make sure to take the National Parks Road trip to have the best possible experience. While the Arches National Park, Zion National Park, and Bryce Canyon National Park get more love, fame, and crowds, the Canyonlands National Park is also a remarkable place to visit.
So only if you visit and explore the wonderful Island in the Sky Canyonlands National Park your trip to Utah will be complete and feel truly magical.
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology