The Ultimate RV Guide to Canyonlands National Park

When you find yourself near Moab, the call to RV to Canyonlands National Park is one you can’t ignore. Even though this national park is more for the overlander or off-road adventurer, there are still things to see and do if you’re RVing through the area.

Some Quick Facts About Canyonlands

• Largest national park in Utah
• Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Best times to visit: Spring & Fall
• Consists of 3 Districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, and Maze
• Divided by the Green and Colorado Rivers
• Pet-friendly options are limited

Canyonlands is one of the most beautiful national parks in the U.S., but it’s also one of the most primitive. When you’re out amongst the canyons, you will need to be able to take care of yourself and come prepared with all the essentials.

Canyonlands is truly a place where you can experience the solace and beauty of the desert without any distractions. What more could you ask for?

Our Agenda for Canyonlands

During our trip, we decided to visit the Needles district as it was the closest entrance to the park as we drove up from Monument Valley a few hours south of the park.

At the time we visited the park, we had our dog, Rory, with us, so we didn’t get to drive down into the canyon. That’s because pets are not allowed, not even inside vehicles, or on unpaved trails and roads. But, we did see quite a few things around the park that didn’t require 4×4 clearance.

VISITORS CENTER

We stopped at the Visitors Center where I grabbed a handful of souvenirs, including an amazing book titled End of Night, by Paul Bogard. I also asked the Park Ranger for a little more information about the park.

Be aware that there are no pet-friendly options outside of the campgrounds and paved lots in the Needles district. We then drove down the road to take in the views at various pull-outs and trails. That’s where we witnessed the desert weather turn from sunshine to downpour in the distance.

Throughout this guide, I will add notes here and there of the things we’ve learned while visiting Canyonlands to help you decide which district is the best one for you!

Pick A District and Plan Your Exploration

Canyonlands offers over 300,000 acres of wilderness to explore, but you won’t be able to visit all of it at one time without driving several miles between each district. The Green and Colorado rivers divide the park, so you cannot cross from one district into another.

So pick your districts wisely to use your time most efficiently! Or make multiple trips and spend several days in each spot to discover Canyonlands’ deepest nooks, crannies, and secrets.

PREPARE FOR UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER

Like most places in the high desert, the weather can change in an instant. As soon as we exited the Visitors Center (roughly 20 minutes spent indoors), the sky changed from blue to a dark and tumultuous gray in the distance. Be prepared for wind, rain, and sunshine…all on the same day!

There really is something for everyone at Canyonlands National Park. From rafting to horseback riding, you can experience the canyon above, below, and on the water. If you’re RVing with toy haulers, mountain bikes, or climbing gear, there are places throughout the park you should explore.

Here are the most popular outdoor adventure activities to consider when visiting Canyonlands:

We tend to avoid the crowds, so we didn’t visit the most popular district in the park, Island in the Sky. Roughly 40 miles from the town of Moab, most visitors flock to this section of the park as it offers spectacular views from every angle, hiking trails, and 4×4 roads down into the canyon that are as breathtaking, if not more so, than the views from the top of the canyon.

Information Center

The Visitors Center here is open 7 days a week Spring through Fall and 5 days a week in the winter. At the Visitors Center, you can purchase backcountry permits, souvenirs, and learn more about the park.

Island in the Sky Camping

Island in the Sky offers 12 campsites that are first-come, first-served and stays are limited to 7 days. These campsites do not offer electric hookups and do not have access to WiFi or cell service.

There isn’t any lodging or water available in this district either, so if you want to be living luxuriously you should top off all of your supplies and fuel in Moab or any of the surrounding towns.

At Island in the Sky, RVs and trailers must be shorter than 28 feet to set up camp at the campground.

What to See & Do at Island in the Sky

Island in the Sky is a popular place to visit for RVers and National Park lovers alike because it offers so much in one district. From hiking to biking, there’s plenty to do and see if you spend a few days at Canyonlands.

MESA ARCH TRAIL

Mesa Arch is one of the most popular hiking trails in Canyonlands. This arch is often where you can find photographers hanging out before sunrise because it offers one of the most beautiful views in the entire park.

A little over a half-mile of walking and you’ll find yourself in front of Mesa Arch overlooking the canyon.

WHITE RIM ROAD

White Rim Road is a 100-mile loop that is open for offroading, biking, and hiking. If you choose to travel by vehicle, you can circle the entire road in 2-3 days, while biking will take you an extra day or two.

You must have a day or overnight permit, no matter how you travel on the White Rim Road as the road is unpaved and the weather conditions can change instantly, making the route impassable.

All that said, the White Rim Road is not something to miss as it takes you below Island of the Sky and down into the canyon for the best views.

This is your chance to get dwarfed by those canyon walls!

The Needles district rounds off the southeast corner of Canyonlands and features the famous Needles hike. A little further out of the way from Moab, the Needles district is the second most-visited district in Canyonlands.

Information Center

The Needles visitor center is open daily from spring to fall and offers a few more amenities than Island in the Sky. With WiFi and water accommodations, you can reset and recharge when you stop by for park information. Ranger programs are hosted most nights March through October, so be sure to ask for details if you plan to stay the night.

Camping at Needles District

The Needles Campground hosts 29 campsites, 26 individuals and 3 group sites. You can reserve campsites in the spring and fall, but other times of the year it’s first-come, first-served. Each site comes with a campfire set up and access to restrooms and picnic tables.

Similar to Island in the Sky campgrounds, RV camping is designed for vehicles that are 28 feet or less in length. That said, there are a few spots for longer vehicles. Remember, it is a seasonal first-come, first-served campground so if you have a larger vehicle, be sure to have a backup plan.

I recommend that you call ahead of time to check with the Visitors Center to ask about current visitor levels and whether or not there may be a spot available.

Things to Do in the Needles District

Just like Island in the Sky, you can see and do just as much in the Needles district. Some of the best parts of this district are right off the paved roads, while others require a little more off-roading ability and experience.

PORTHOLE POINT

Pothole Point is a neat little area that showcases just how wonderful nature (and years of erosion) can be. This gigantic rock formation is covered in “potholes,” which are the result of uneven erosion over the years.

TREAD LIGHTLY

On rainy days, like the day we visited, the potholes fill up with water and come to life with little desert water creatures, like tadpole shrimp. We didn’t see any little guys, but a Park Ranger will tell you that little tiny eggs live under the dirt that spring to life when the rain pours down.

Do your best. Please do not to walk in the potholes, whether they’re wet or dry, to avoid hurting the micro-ecosystem these little critters call home. Feel free to take a peek and see what’s swimming in them before moving on.

ENJOY VIEWS OF THE CANYON

Pothole Point is a great place to take in the views of the canyon, too, so be sure to stop and linger here for a while. We witnessed the desert sky unleash a downpour in the distance as the wind blew past us. We left with sand between our teeth, but I smiled the whole way back into town.

NEEDLES TRAILS

Visiting the Needles can be done on foot or in a vehicle. With 50+ miles of road to travel and 60 miles of trails, you can have the adventure of a lifetime no matter how you travel.

You’ll need a permit for day or overnight use, so don’t forget to stop at the Visitors Center to grab one before heading out.

ELEPHANT HILL

All roads are 4×4, high-clearance trails that only allow vehicles, trailers, and motorbikes under 21 feet in length to travel through. Elephant Hill is probably the most well-known 4×4 road in the Needles district and is home to some of the most adventurous (and treacherous) trails for mountain bikers and overlanders.

DRUID ARCH

The trail to Druid Arch is roughly 11 miles, but it offers an amazing view of the park as you look through the arch. This uniquely angular arch is one you don’t want to miss while exploring Canyonlands because you won’t be able to find one like it anywhere else, not even in Arches National Park which is just north of Moab.

We didn’t have time to trek 11 miles into the canyon, but next time we visit this arch is first on our list!

Last, but not least is the Maze district. The Maze is the least accessible district in Canyonlands due to how remote and rough the roads are there. This is not the most ideal place to visit in Canyonlands with an RV or trailer, but it may be worth visiting sometime if you are well-prepared for offroading, self-sufficiency, and self-rescue if necessary.

There is no place to set up camp with an RV here either, so your best bet is to camp in Island of the Sky or the Needles campgrounds and drive out to the Maze separately for a daytime excursion.

We’re always up for some Type 2 fun and we hope to visit the Maze next time we wander through Canyonlands. I say Type 2 fun because Canyonlands National Park recommends bringing 25+ feet of rope to help you lower and raise your pack over high points as you traverse the backcountry.

What’s cooler than creating a rope system to help you move your things through narrow, high places? My mom might say everything, but what’s life without a little challenge?

Horseshoe Canyon

We can’t forget to add Horseshoe Canyon to the list of things to see and do at Canyonlands. This part of the park is disconnected from the other three districts and offers more than just hiking. This area is known for its Native American rock art. If you choose to add this stop to your list on your way into or out of the Maze or Island of the Sky districts, you should:

• Hike to see the Great Gallery: A seven-mile hike to see life-size petroglyphs and pictographs up close and personal.
• Take a Ranger Guided hike: Learn the history behind the Native Americans who took up rock art in the area to tell their stories.
• Witness the trees and scenery: Besides the rock art, the views Horseshoe Canyon offers are much different than the ones deep inside Canyonlands. For the flower-lovers, the cottonwoods and wildflowers that bloom inside this canyon throughout Spring and Fall are worth stopping for.

Bringing a Pet is Too Complicated (For Us)

Now that we’ve been through the Needles district, we’ve learned that bringing the dog with us just isn’t feasible. At some national parks, bringing a pet is doable, but we got the vibe that the Park Rangers had to deal with pets more often than they’d like (and they weren’t super friendly about it.)

We love bringing Rory with us to hike, but for our next trip we hope to rent a few motorbikes, pack it up, and ride it out in the canyon for a few nights. Rory will just have to stay home. But don’t worry, we’ll bring home a souvenir for her from the gift shop!

Check the Weather

Just because the weather is going to be nice in Moab doesn’t mean it will be when you get into Canyonlands. Always check the weather before descending down into the canyon because we could have easily found ourselves in a sticky situation if we had gone below the rim the day we visited.

We Love Canyonlands

Even though we didn’t get to see as much of the park as we wanted because we had the dog with us, we can’t imagine a better place to find ourselves lost. Canyonlands is truly a beautiful expanse of desert that is relatively untouched and you can see it just by walking a 100 yards from the Visitors Center.

This park goes unnoticed by many National Park tourists because it requires preparedness, effort, and permits for most activities. But for us, we want the challenge of a difficult hike, a strenuous rock climb, and rushing whitewater rafting trip. This park is truly a remarkable place for views but also for challenging yourself and leaning into the desert silence.

When you’re out in the park, you truly understand how powerful and beautiful nature can be. Just by witnessing the sunset, the massive red pillars of arches, and the rush of the rivers, you feel at home even if you’re far away. And to us, that’s what’s most important.

You Can’t Go Wrong with the Desert

The desert is a place where many go to reconnect with the wildness we miss out on every day. This National Park is truly one you can’t miss while traveling through Utah because it offers so much more than just a great view.

From its history to its long list of available outdoor activities, Canyonlands is a place where an adventurer of any skill level can enjoy the solace of a place so different from the roads and cities we frequently travel as RVers. Visit Canyonlands and see for yourself how easily it recharges and refills you in ways you could never expect.

“What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupery

If you enjoyed this post, here are a few more guides to our incredible U.S. National Parks:

• Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming: A Guide for RVers
• The Best Time to Visit Glacier National Park in Montana
• Rocky Mountains Trip Bucket List

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Erin Maxson

Erin is rooted in South Dakota, but wanders every chance she gets to see the beauty that nature holds. From hiking to climbing, there’s not an adventure she’ll turn down. After renovating her 1976 Airstream Argosy, Erin knows the ins and outs of living life on the road and trailer maintenance. Whether she’s on the road with her dog and partner or at home curled up with a good book, Erin is always planning her next adventure because life is meant to be lived outdoors.