This article is part 3 of the Might Five Series! Do you have a free weekend and want to do a quick road trip to two of Utah's amazing national parks? Read on, Reader!
When to Go and Where to Stay
We fit both Canyonlands and Arches into a weekend trip (Saturday morning to Sunday night) in mid-May. That is probably too short of a trip for both national parks. We have been to Arches many times, so just popped in to check it off since we wanted to go to all five national parks in one year, but we didn't want to spend much time there. You could potentially fit both parks into a weekend by spending one day in the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands and the other in Arches.
May is the beginning of the heat of summer. If you don't want to get stuck in the heat, you are safer going earlier in the year. By the end of May, it will be HOT until the fall. We got unlucky and after a week of gorgeous mid-70s (Fahrenheit) weather, it hit the high 90s the weekend we were there.
The best place to stay is in Moab. There are hundreds of hotels, hostels, RV sites, and camping spots. Camping will be the cheapest (if you bring your own gear). We camped in the Salt Flats Recreation area just outside of Moab. At the time it cost $15 per car per night. Split between 4 people, that is a steal!
Note that food is really expensive in Moab since it is a touristy area! There are some fast food chains that are still reasonable, but be prepared to spend a little more on food. Main street sure is cute though, even if expensive.
What we did in Canyonlands
Canyonlands is a vast national park covering more than 300,000 acres of amazing desert scenery. In my opinion it is the most epic and adventurous of Utah's national parks.
There are four districts: Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Rivers, and the Maze. The entrance to Island in the Sky is close to Moab making it the most convenient and accessible. This district offers amazing views and short hikes. The Needles is the second-most accessible district, although it is about an hour drive south of Moab. The Rivers and the Maze require guides and specialised equipment. Read more about the districts here.
We spent half a day at Island in the Sky and one day in The Needles.
Island in the Sky
Island in the Sky is a huge mesa overlooking a vast landscape of canyons and rivers far (over 1,000 ft!) below. There is one main road that takes you to both ends. There are tons of little hikes and viewpoints lining the road. Here are some that we did that I recommend.
Mesa Arch
Mesa Arch is an easy 0.7 mile loop that ends in an impressive arch and great views. You don't even need to go to Arches (kidding;))!
Upheaval Dome
Three miles across and visible from space, this huge crater is worth the short hike to peer down inside of it. Experts don't know how it was formed but one theory is that it was made from a salt bubble (lame) and another is that it was formed by a meteorite millions of years ago (much cooler). We had a heated debate about which theory we believed as we hiked which was a great way to pass the time (#teammeteorite).
Grand Viewpoint Overlook
This one can't be missed! Here you can walk along the edge of the mesa and stare at the insane landscape below. It was so freaky and cool to stand on the very edge of the 1,000 ft cliffs. Just remember to keep an eye on young kids (and reckless husbands).
There are lots of other hiking trails and viewpoints. Check out the official national park website for a full list of hikes in Canyonlands.
The Needles
We balanced out a day of easy hiking with a super intense hike in the Needles district on the second day. And it was EPIC. After looking at the twisting canyons and rock formations from above the day before, it was exhilarating to walk through them.
Druid Arch
The reason we came to the Needles District was to hike to Druid Arch. It is an 11 mile out-and-back relatively flat trail that meanders through a canyon and ends in a massive and impressive arch.
BE WARNED: The Utah desert is merciless. And hot! We were dumb and didn't realize that the trailhead was fully a two hour drive from Moab and had gotten a late start to the day. MISTAKES. We didn't start the hike until 11am. VERY BAD IDEA. The rangers we met at the visitor center really warned us about the heat (it was around 90°F) but we had a tons of water and sun protection and agreed that we would be honest with each other and turn around the moment we felt like we should. We made it, but it was a SLOG even though the scenery was insane. I can't help thinking how much more I would have enjoyed it had it been cooler. So learn from our mistakes and go in the early spring, late fall, or just get on the trail before sunrise if you go in the summer! If I am still recommending it so highly even after hiking it in terrible heat, then you really should check it out.
What we did in Arches
We fit Arches National Park into the second half of our first day after Island in the Sky. Like I mentioned earlier, we just popped in to check it off since we had been many times before. We entered the park as the sun was setting. Let me tell you, there is nothing quite like a sunset over the red rocks of Utah. It's an event unto itself. Something fun to note is that both Arches and Canyonlands are open 24/7! So you can enter at night, escape the heat and crowds and make some midnight memories.
We stopped at Double Arch and laid on the still sun-warm stone, enjoying the cool evening air, and looked at the stars. It felt like summer. We also took some ~incredible~ night mode pictures.
If you want to spend more time at Arches (which you really should), you can't miss the iconic Delicate Arch. I also recommend an adventure in the Fiery Furnace (ranger tour or individual permit required). Watch out for cryptobiotic soil!
Nearby Activities
Dead Horse Point State Park
If you are up in Island in the Sky, you can't miss a quick visit to Dead Horse Point State Park. My husband, Jake, and I visited it on one of our very first trips together and it is still one of our favorite places. The views are, in a word, unbelievable.
Read the final article of the Mighty Five series: Zion National Park!
