Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [85]
GETTING THERE & GATEWAYS
For directions to Moab, see "Getting There & Gateways," in chapter 2.
To get to the Island in the Sky Visitor Center from Moab (about 34 miles), take U.S. 191 (which runs north-south through eastern Utah from Wyoming to Arizona) north to Utah 313, and follow it south into the park.
To reach the Needles Visitor Center from Moab, leave U.S. 191 at Utah 211 south of Moab, and head west into the park. It's about 75 miles.
Getting to the Maze District is a bit more interesting. From Moab, take U.S. 191 north, then go west for about 11 miles on I-70, crossing Green River, and then take Utah 24 south. Watch for signs and follow two- and four-wheel-drive dirt roads east into the park.
The detached Horseshoe Canyon area of the park is about 120 miles from Island in the Sky. To get there by two-wheel-drive vehicle, follow I-70 west from Green River to U.S. 24, and then go south about 24 miles to the Horseshoe Canyon turnoff (near the WATCH FOR SAND DRIFTS sign), where you turn left. Follow this maintained dirt road for about 30 miles to the canyon's west rim, where you can park. This is the trailhead for the hike to the Great Gallery (see "Day Hikes," below).
The Nearest Airport & Renting a Car. See the sections "The Nearest Airport" and "Ground Transportation," in chapter 2.
INFORMATION
Contact Canyonlands National Park, 2282 SW Resource Blvd., Moab, UT 84532 (☎ 435/719-2313; www.nps.gov/ cany). Area information is available in advance from the Moab Area Travel Council, P.O. Box 550, Moab, UT 84532 (☎ 800/635-6622 or 435/259-1370; www.discovermoab.com). In Moab, be sure to stop at the Moab Information Center, in the middle of town at the corner of Main and Center streets and open daily 8am to 9pm in the summer, with shorter winter hours.
Canyonlands Natural History Association offers a number of helpful books and maps for sale (see "Information," in chapter 2). A good guide for serious hikers is Hiking Canyonlands and Arches National Parks, by Bill Schneider.
VISITOR CENTERS
Canyonlands National Park operates Island in the Sky Visitor Center, in the northern part of the park, and Needles Visitor Center, in the southern section. At both, you can get advice from rangers as well as maps and free brochures on hiking trails.
FEES & PERMITS
Entry to the park (for up to 7 days) costs $10 per private vehicle or $5 per person on foot, bike, or motorcycle. The camping fee at Squaw Flat Campground in the Needles District is $10; camping at Willow Flat Campground in the Island in the Sky District costs $5.
Backcountry permits, available at either visitor center, are required for all overnight stays in the park, except at the two established campgrounds. Permit reservations can be made in advance (☎ 435/259-4351; www.nps.gov/cany/ reserve.htm). Permits for overnight four-wheel-drive and mountain-bike trips are $30; for overnight backpacking trips, $15. The permit for white-water boating through Cataract Canyon is $30; flat-water boating costs $20.
Visitors bringing motor vehicles, horses, or mountain bikes on roads into Salt Creek/Horse Canyon and Lavender Canyon in the Needles District pay a $5 day-use fee.
SPECIAL REGULATIONS & WARNINGS
Backcountry hikers must pack out all trash, and wood fires are prohibited. Canyonlands National Park is not a good place to take pets. Dogs, which must be leashed at all times, are prohibited in public buildings, on all trails, and in the backcountry. This includes four-wheel-drive roads—dogs are not permitted even inside your vehicle. In addition to the regulations, you should be aware that because of its extreme heat and rough terrain, this park can be extremely hazardous to pets.
Indeed, the varied terrain at Canyonlands can be brutal not just for pets but for people, too. The main safety problem at Canyonlands is that people underestimate the hazards. It's important that you know your limitations as well as the limitations of your