Can you just drive through Canyonlands?

Q: How long does it take to drive Canyonlands?

White Rim Road is a popular, unpaved road thats about 100 miles long, and is great for 4WD cars or mountain bikes. In a car, it takes 2-3 days to complete the whole thing, and its more like a 3-4 day trip on bikes...but its worth it for the views around the top of the Island in the Sky mesa.

Be prepared for sensory overload when driving through Canyonlands National Park. Whether you explore just one district of the Park or all four, you will take in mind blowing landscapes that are baffling to comprehend. You won’t believe the number of times the inside of your car will echo with these phrases, “simply amazing”, “incredible!” and “How is that possible?”

Table of Contents Show

Island in the Sky
Unpaved Roads
Can you drive a car through Canyonlands National Park?
Is there a scenic drive through Canyonlands?
How long does it take to drive Canyonlands?
Do you need a reservation to enter Canyonlands?

Unless you’re planning to drive through the park for several days, you’ll likely want to pick one district of the park where you can focus your attention. Here’s a quick description of each to help you decide.

Island in the Sky

This towering mesa section of the Park, is aptly named. Sheer cliffs and steep drop offs make for inspiring panoramic views. Due to its paved roads, close proximity to Arches National Park and the town of Moab, Island in the Sky is the most popular and accessible area of Canyonlands National Park.

Needles

The Needles district is home to a garden of colorful sandstone spires shooting up from the desert floor. Needles is famous for it challenging 4x4 trails, endless backpacking trails, hidden arches, and petroglyphs and pictographs which date back to the indigenous people of Moab.

The Maze

The Maze is the most remote and least accessible district of Canyonlands National Park. The maze district is a siren call to visitors looking for Solitude in an unfathomable redrock wilderness. Travel to the Maze requires a greater commitment of time, typically three to seven days, and a good degree of self sufficiency and competence in a rugged environment.

The River

With so many ways to recreate within Canyonlands National Park, one of the most sought after is rafting. The Colorado River, through Canyonlands National Park, offers pristine and tranquil flat water sections, as well as some of the country’s most taunting and tumultuous whitewater rapids. The incongruencies of Colorado river, powerful enough to cut through canyons,so nurturing Great Blue Herons, Canyon Wrens, river otter and even people frolic in its waters and bask along it’s shores, has enticed humankind for centuries.

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Duration:8 minutes, 11 seconds

This film will help you prepare for your backcountry technical four wheel drive trip at Canyonlands National Park. Helpful tips and advice provided in this video will help you plan your trip and Leave No Trace while out in these pristine areas.

Unpaved Roads

There are hundreds of miles of unpaved roads in Canyonlands, providing access to various campsites, trailheads, and viewpoints in the park's backcountry. Most roads require high-clearance, low range four-wheel-drive. These roads range in difficulty from intermediate to extremely technical. Research your route thoroughly before attempting these roads.

White Rim Road at Island in the Sky (moderate)
Four-wheel-drive Roads at The Needles (moderate to technical)
Four-wheel-drive Roads at The Maze (mostly technical)

If you plan to enjoy the park's four-wheel-drive roads, please be aware of the following:

A high-clearance, low range four-wheel-drive vehicle is required on the White Rim Road and all backcountry roads at The Needles and The Maze. Other vehicles with two-wheel drive or all-wheel drive do not have the ground clearance or low gearing to negotiate the rough slickrock, loose rocks, deep sand and steep switchbacks found on these roads.
All vehicles must remain on designated roads.
ATVs, UTVs and OHVs are not permitted. Motorbikes must be equipped and licensed for interstate travel.
All vehicles must be registered and operated by a licensed driver.
Pets are not permitted, even in the vehicle.
Road conditions can change quickly following rain or snow. Check road conditions.

Do I need a permit?

Day Use: You must have a permit for day use on White Rim Road, Elephant Hill Road, Lavender Canyon Road, and Horse Canyon/Peekaboo Road.
Overnight: You must have a permit for all overnight trips in the backcountry. During the spring and fall, demand for permits frequently exceeds the number available. If you plan to visit Canyonlands during peak season, especially to camp along the White Rim Road, we recommend that you make reservations well in advance.

Rental Vehicles

Most vehicle rental agreements restrict vehicles to paved roads. Check your contract and be aware that the rental company can charge you for damage to the vehicle outside of the contract agreement specifications.

Towing Charges

Drive carefully! Towing charges are very expensive. People caught in the backcountry of Canyonlands with disabled vehicles can expect towing fees in excess of $2,000. AAA and other towing insurance may not be valid on backcountry dirt roads.

Last updated: April 30, 2022

Can you drive a car through Canyonlands National Park?

There are hundreds of miles of unpaved roads in Canyonlands, providing access to various campsites, trailheads, and viewpoints in the park's backcountry. Most roads require high-clearance, low range four-wheel-drive.

Is there a scenic drive through Canyonlands?

The Island in the Sky District offers the wonderful opportunities for sightseeing by car and is the most accessible. The 34-mile round-trip scenic drive features awe-inspiring overlooks, from a 1,000 feet above, of the valleys below and the other districts of the park.

How long does it take to drive Canyonlands?

White Rim Road is a popular, unpaved road that's about 100 miles long, and is great for 4WD cars or mountain bikes. In a car, it takes 2-3 days to complete the whole thing, and it's more like a 3-4 day trip on bikes...but it's worth it for the views around the top of the Island in the Sky mesa.

Do you need a reservation to enter Canyonlands?

You must have an overnight backcountry permit for all overnight trips into the backcountry. Permit reservations can be very competetive. All backcountry overnight permits become available on a seasonal basis, four months before the start of the season.