Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [86]
SEASONS & CLIMATE
Summers here are hot, with temperatures sometimes exceeding 100°F (38°C). Winters can be cool or cold, dropping well below freezing at night. The best time to visit, especially for hikers, is in the spring or fall, when daytime temperatures are usually from 60°F to 80°F (16°C–27°C), and nights are cool. Late summer and early fall visitors should be prepared for afternoon thunderstorms.
If You Have Only 1 Day
Canyonlands is not an easy place to see in a short time. In fact, if your schedule permits only a day, skip the Needles and Maze districts and drive directly to the Island in the Sky Visitor Center. After looking at the exhibits, drive to several of the overlooks, stopping along the way for a short hike or two. Make sure you get to the Grand View Point Overlook, at the south end of the paved road. Among the best trails for a quick trip is the Grand View Trail, which starts at the overlook and is especially scenic in late afternoon. Allow about 1½ hours for this easy 2-mile walk. Also recommended is the Upheaval Dome Overlook Trail, which should take about a half-hour; it brings you to a mile-wide crater of mysterious origins.
Perhaps a better choice for a quick visit to the park, especially for those with a bit of extra cash, is to take a guided trip by four-wheel-drive vehicle or raft. See the "Organized Tours & Ranger Programs" and "Outfitters Based in Moab" sections, below.
Exploring the Park by Car
No driving tour has yet been designed to show off Canyonlands National Park. The Island in the Sky District has about 20 miles of paved highway, some gravel roads accessible to two-wheel-drive vehicles, and several view points. The Needles District only has 8 miles of paved roads. Many (but not all) of Needles' view points and trailheads are accessible only by high-clearance 4WD vehicles or plain old foot power. The Maze District has only two main roads, neither of them paved. Both lead to trailheads.
If you happen to have a serious 4WD, and if you are equally serious about doing some hard-core four-wheeling, this is the park for you. See "Other Sports & Activities," below. Because of the constantly changing conditions of dirt roads, we strongly suggest that you discuss your plans with rangers before setting out.
Organized Tours & Ranger Programs
In summer, rangers offer evening campfire programs at Squaw Flat and Willow Flat campgrounds, and also frequently give short morning talks at the Island in the Sky Visitor Center and at Grand View Point.
Canyonlands by Night & Day (☎ 800/394-9978 or 435/259-2628; www.canyonlandsbynight.com) offers a variety of excursions in the area, including an evening river trip, operating spring through fall, that combines a sunset boat ride with stories of outlaws, rock formations, and a sound-and-light show against the backdrop of the canyon walls. The office and dock are just north of Moab at the Colorado River Bridge. Dutch oven dinners on a covered patio, with live country-western entertainment, precede the boat trip. Cost for the boat trip and dinner is $50 for adults and $36 for children 4 to 12. Reservations are recommended.
FLYING TOURS
Canyonlands is beautiful, but many of its most spectacular sections are difficult to get to—to say the least. One solution is to take to the air. Slickrock Air Guides, Inc. (☎ 866/259-1626 or 435/ 259-6216; www.slickrockairguides.com) offers 1-hour scenic flights over Canyonlands National Park and nearby areas for