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- Things to Do Around Canyonlands National Park
- Things to Do Near Canyonlands
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1. Mesa Arch
- Early-morning must. Half-mile, easiest in Park, trail guide
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- Hiking
- Island in the Sky
- Nile Expert Tip: Most gorgeous sunrise spot in Canyonlands
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2. Upheaval Dome Overlook Trail
- 1.6 mile r/t, easy hike to fascinating geologic features
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- Hiking
- Island in the Sky
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3. Cave Spring Trail
- A hike for history buffs. Less than a mile, great for kids!
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- Hiking
- Needles
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4. Whale Rock Trail
- 1-mile r/t, easy, steep, great for kids, climb sandstone
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- Hiking
- Island in the Sky
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5. Pothole Point Trail
- .6 mile, uneven slickrock surface. See nature's water holes
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- Hiking
- Needles
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6. Roadside Ruin Trail
- .3 mile, view ancient Puebloan grain storage called granary
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- Hiking
- Needles
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7. Aztec Butte Trail
- Steep, short, 2-miles round trip. Ancient ruins, mini-arches
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- Hiking
- Island in the Sky
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8. Big Spring to Squaw Canyon Loop
- 7.5 miles, varied terrain, exposed sections, campsites
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- Hiking
- Needles
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9. Elephant Canyon / Druid Arch
- One of the best views of the Needles. 11 miles
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- Hiking
- Needles
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10. Chesler Park Loop / Joint Trail
- 11 miles, sandstone spires, fairly level trail. Campsites.
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- Hiking
- Needles
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The Best of NileGuide
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It was tough to narrow down a list of top hikes in Canyonlands National Park. But we managed to round up the ones we think appeal to a wide range of hiking abilities with payoffs in terms of visual feasting. Check out these best hikes in Canyonlands when you visit.
Mesa Arch is a classic hike. Short and sweet, it's best at sunrise so you can catch the dawn rays shining through the arch itself. Upheaval Dome is easy and interesting, which is why it gets a nod from us. On the Cave Spring Trail, you get to climb ladders (optional) and check out preserved old cowboy belongings. Whale Rock Trail is short and fun, because that rock formation really does look like a giant whale beached in the dry desert. Pothole Point Trail takes you to desert potholes, which are depressions in the rock that catch rain, a vital resource for critters around here. Roadside Ruin Trail and Aztec Butte Trail both lead you to places where you can see remains of natural structures built by ancient human inhabitants.
In the Needles District, you'll find over 60 miles of intersecting trails both long and short. Here, we included our favorite longer ones. Big Spring to Squaw Canyon Loop is an excellent introduction to Canyonlands. Elephant Canyon/Druid Arch is often considered a favorite Canyonlands hike with the best views. Others vigorously defend Chesler Park for its own unique topography and backcountry serenity.
- Best Of Canyonlands National Park
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