Visiting Canyonlands National Park with Kids: A Guide
Exploring Canyonlands with kids is the perfect addition to your Moab, Utah, vacation!
This incredible park is the least visited national park in Utah, but it is still well worth your family’s time.
Although Canyonlands National Park has a reputation for being too wild or too difficult for the average visitor to enjoy, I’m here to dispel that rumor and give you plenty of ways that you and your children can enjoy this beautiful part of the Utah desert.
Below, you’ll find everything you need to know to set started on your kid-friendly visit to Canyonlands from suggested activities to tips on how to make your trip safe and memorable.
This park might only be 45 minutes from Moab, but the awe-inspiring overviews and landscapes will make you feel as if you’re on another planet.
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Family Vacations at Canyonlands: An Overview
The first thing to know about Canyonlands—and one of the reasons why people can be hesitant to visit—is that it is massive.
Unlike visiting nearby Arches National Park with kids, which is manageable even with a short weekend visit, Canyonlands can feel so large as to be overwhelming.
There are 3 different districts spread out across 337,000 acres.
It’s about the same size as Grand Teton National Park, yet Canyonlands feels so much wilder and bigger. Some of this vastness comes from the fact that the sections of Canyonlands cannot be accessed from one another, unlike the areas of most of the other national parks we’ve visited.
There are 2 rivers that converge in the middle of the park, and there are no bridges across them, so you have to drive around each river to get to the other sections.
The three districts in Canyonlands are Island in the Sky, the Needles and the Maze.
Island in the Sky District
Island in the Sky is so named for the soaring mesas, plateaus, and overlooks along the Green River. This district is located southwest of Moab and has an entrance off of Highway 313.
It is bordered by the Green River and Colorado River.
It has the most infrastructure including a staffed visitors center, paved scenic roads, 2 campgrounds, and well marked trails.
The Needles District
The Needles is best known for its hoodoo formations and slickrock hiking trails.
This district is located more directly west from Moab with entrance access closer to Monticello, Utah. It is bordered by the Colorado River.
The Needles does have a ranger station, and 2 campgrounds, but limited infrastructure beyond that.
The Maze
The Maze is incredibly remote with zero infrastructure. There is no paved entrance road, ranger station, restrooms, or the like.
To access it, you’ll need to travel nearly 5 hours from Moab via Hanksville with a high clearance 4x4 vehicle through the Glen Canyon Recreation Area or get dropped off via a boat on the Colorado River.
Because of the lack of amenities, difficulty in accessing this section of the park, and remoteness, I do not recommend taking children to this part of Canyonlands without a guide or serious pre-planning.
Where to Focus Your Time in Canyonlands
Since you’re visiting with kids, I highly recommend that you focus your time in Canyonlands on the Island in the Sky district. It is the most visited area of the park and the easiest to access with kids.
Plus, it’s the closest district to both downtown Moab and Arches National Park if you’re exploring those on the same visit.
You won’t need to have a specialized vehicle here, either, unless you plan on doing the Shafer Trail or other backcountry route (which I also don’t recommend for a first time visit with kids as it requires some both local knowledge and a considerable amount of prep work).
Because of this, I will focus my suggestions and itinerary tips on the Island in the Sky district, though there are a few suggestions if you’d like to add a second day in the Needles district. The 2 districts are about 1.5 hours away from one another, so you really need a day in each.
If you’re interested in learning more about what to expect in Arches vs. Canyonlands, check out my head-to-head post!
When is the best time to visit Canyonlands with Kids?
If you only have one day at Canyonlands, you’ll want to head out to the park as early as possible.
Out here, you’re not worried as much about crowds as you are at Arches National Park or Zion National Park, but it will give you the best option for having a full day, guaranteeing a spot at the most popular trailheads, and provide early morning hiking opportunities before the day warms up.
Since getting to the Island in the Sky visitors center (or the ranger station at Needles) is a bit of a hike in and of itself, an early start means you’re in the park before most people in Moab have finished with their breakfast.
It’s not a park that you can easily drive back and forth from, so plan to spend the entire day—or at least several hours—exploring.
In the hotter months, the best time of the day to go hiking in Canyonlands is going to be from 6 AM-10 AM, and then from 7 PM-sunset. The days are very long here in the summer, and temperatures sometimes don’t stop dropping until at or after sunset. Keep that in mind as you plan your day.
Canyonlands, Season by Season
In terms of the best season to visit, Canyonlands is ideal in the late spring and early fall. The temperatures are glorious for hiking and outdoor exploration, typically hovering in the low-70s mid-day.
This shoulder season before the summer vacation crowd is usually slower in general, so you’ve got fewer people to work around in the park. Seeing as how Canyonlands is ever truly crowded, you’re going to have the place nearly to yourself outside of peak season.
That being said, I know it’s tough to pull your kids out of school in late April, May, late September, or early October. If they have a summer or fall break during those times and you can make it work, I’d recommend those times first.
If you cannot go until the summer, plan your vacation as close to the start of June as possible. The park’s summer season isn’t really in full swing yet, and the temperatures are less likely to be scorching.
Do I need a reservation for visiting Canyonlands?
Unlike nearby Arches National Park and other parks such as Glacier in Montana and Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico that have strict reservation systems for entering, Canyonlands has resisted implementing the same.
Given that the reservations systems at the aforementioned parks for spreading out crowds, Canyonlands probably won’t need a reservation system anytime soon. There is plenty of room across the three districts, so the number of visitors the park sees is dispersed enough to void any need for that.
You will need to pay an entrance fee to get into the park, but, other than that, you can simply show up. You’ll pay the entrance fee via the ranger stations at the entrances to Island in the Sky and the Needles, or at the Hans Flat ranger station at the edge of the Glen Canyon Recreation Area (you have to go through this area to get to the Maze). The latter is accessible by a sandy unpaved road.
NOTE: If you are planning to visit more than 2 NPS sites in one 12 month span, I highly recommend getting the America the Beautiful Pass. This annual pass is $80, but allows you to get into NPS sites for free or a greatly reduced price. (I’m not an affiliate, just a happy card holder!)
If you are visiting Canyonlands National Park as part of a larger Utah Mighty 5 with kids road trip, you will see considerable savings over buying each entrance pass individually.
What Can You Do in Canyonlands with Kids?
In general, Canyonlands doesn’t have as much to do with younger kids as Arches or other national parks we’ve been to. Since so much of the park includes harder hikes or backcountry driving, older kids will be able to more fully appreciate what Canyonlands has to offer.
However, that doesn’t mean that you should shy away from this park with younger kids. You can still have an excellent visit with planning and the right expectations.
Visitors Center Interpretive Materials
The visitors center at both Island in the Sky and the Needles are small, but they are still worth a stop before you get deeper into either district.
There are a handful of displays, posters and photos in the visitors center to help you and your family get oriented with the park.
There is a metal 3D map in the Island in the Sky visitor center than my 7 year old was fascinated with. It shows a topographical view of the entire park with the major viewpoints and rivers marked.
There’s also a short park film in the Island in the Sky visitor center if you’d like additional information on the park’s landscape, history, and animals before you head out.
Junior Ranger Program
Before leaving the visitors center, chat with the rangers at the information desk and pick up a Junior Ranger booklet.
If you’re new to the national parks and are unfamiliar with the Junior Ranger programs, they are free booklets that encourage kids—and kids-at-heart—to delve into each park’s unique attributes.
The Junior Ranger booklet at Canyonlands guides children through a variety of activities, including word searches, matching pages, and short answers to learn more about the history, geology, and biology of the park.
If you return the completed booklet to the ranger on duty before you leave the park, your child will get sworn in as a Junior Ranger and will receive a free badge.
Scenic Drives
Canyonlands is ALL about the scenic drive!
While some like the Shafer Trail or the White Rim Trail are backcountry drives appropriate for experienced drivers with 4x4 vehicles, there are several more approachable scenic drives in the park for those visiting with kids.
If you do want to take on those backcountry trails but your rental car or your confidence in your own driving isn’t up to the task, I would recommend doing a guided 4x4 tour in the Island in the Sky section of the park. This full day tour takes you into the backcountry of Canyonlands so you can drive along part of both the White Rim and Shafer Trails. Kids of all ages can do this tour, but you’ll need to provide a car seat for kids under 7.
Sometimes when traveling with kids, all you can do is soak up what you can—and that might mean driving through the park and stopping at the best overlooks before heading to your next road trip stop.
Or, if you have kids who’ve fallen asleep in the backseat, one of the scenic drives is an excellent option for everyone else.
Island in the Sky Road runs from the visitors center to the Grand View Point Overlook, passing several other overlooks and trailheads along the way.
Upheaval Dome Road, which is a spur off of Island in the Sky Road, takes you from Green River Overlook to Upheaval Dome. You’ll pass multiple overlooks that tend to be less crowded than those along Island in the Sky Road.
In the Needles district, the Needles Access Road runs from the Needles visitors center to the Big Spring Canyon Overlook. Here, you can see some of the beautiful orange-red rock fields that this part of Utah is known for, as well as uniquely shaped hoodoos and textured cliffs.
Must Have Canyonlands Audio Tour!
We swear by the GuideAlong audio tours when we’re driving around the national parks, and I highly recommend that you add the Canyonlands tour to your phone to maximize your time in this park.
Once the tour is downloaded, it doesn’t require Wifi, making it excellent for those remote areas. The sections of the tour start and stop automatically as you approach points of interest, and you can skip or go back to specific sections.
We love these as our kids (and us!) learn so much about the history, important figures, geology, and wildlife as we drive around. For less than the cost of admission to the park, you can get hours of audio to accompany your experience.
Scenic Overlooks
There are really no bad choices when it comes to the overlooks scattered throughout the Needles and Island in the Sky districts. From the nearly 360 degree views at the Grand View Point Overlook to the isolated beauty of Big Spring Canyon Overlook, they all have the ability to take your breath away.
That being said, of all of the overlooks in Canyonlands, the Green River Overlook might be my favorite. Not only is it convenient to just about anywhere you’d like to explore in the Island in the Sky district, but there’s plenty of parking, several interpretive signs leading up to the overlook, and iconic views of the vast landscape.
It was at this overlook that my kids said, “We didn’t know that canyons could have canyons!” and they are so right. Because of the geological forces at work here, there are layered cliff faces and canyons unlike anywhere else we’ve been.
Whereas the Grand Canyon essentially has one major drop from rim to canyon floor, the canyons here drop around 1400 feet to a plateau that then drops again to the Green River. It’s truly a spectacular—and mind blowing—site to see.
This is a fun stop to do with kids since you can talk about perspective while staring out at the seemingly endless canyons. You can point out the White Rim Trail far below, which is so small as to look like it is a track for Matchbox cars!
Hiking with Kids in Canyonlands
While many of the trails are too long for most families, there are several easier trails in Canyonlands that I’d encourage you to try.
Getting out of the car and onto one of these trails puts you in the middle of the action instead of being a passive observer. Plus, it can help your kids burn off some energy before the return trip to Moab!
When selecting a trail at Canyonlands, be sure to read all information at the trailhead and/or talk with a ranger beforehand. Many of the trails in this park require rock scrambling, hiking on an incline on slickrock, or other more technical hiking that might not be appropriate for younger kids or less experienced families.
Mesa Arch Trail
This trail, located in Island in the Sky, is a must-do when visiting Canyonlands with kids. It’s less than 1 mile (0.6 miles) round trip with little elevation gain. There are some stone steps to climb, but it’s nothing that most kids, even younger ones, can’t handle.
At the viewpoint is a gorgeous stone arch which looks as if it would be more at home in Arches National Park than here. But Canyonlands is surprising and has a bit of everything!
Whale Rock Trail
While there aren’t any actual whales here in this section of Island in the Sky, this giant chunk of white rock does look a bit like a beached whale on the red desert floor if you squint hard enough.
This 0.8 mile trail does have some elevation gain (about 140 feet in total), but most kids will find this a fun challenge.
If your kids are part-mountain goat like mine are, they will love the manageable areas of rock scramble to the overlook on the dome. If you’re hiking this with really small kids who might be too adventurous for their own good, watch them towards the top as there are several areas where they could fall down the steep hillside.
Upheaval Dome Trail (to first overlook)
For years, scientists had many theories on what caused Upheaval Dome. The name might suggest some sort of tectonic activity, but the leading theory now is that it is a meteor crater.
You can take the Upheaval Dome Trail to 2 different overlooks, but I would suggest sticking to the first overlook when hiking here with younger kids.
The loop to the first overlook is 0.6 miles, but it is quite steep, ascending 115 feet in just over a quarter-mile. The views from that first overlook are wonderful and worth the effort. You can help your kids made sense of what they’re seeing with the interpretive signs placed on the trail.
The second half of the trail to the 2nd overlook is marked by cairns and is partially on slickrock, so you really have to pay attention to the trail and your footing.
Upheaval Dome is in the Island in the Sky section of the park at the end of Upheaval Dome Road.
NOTE: This trail intersects the much more challenging Syncline Trail, so be sure to follow the correct signs. The Syncline Trail sees the most deaths of anywhere in the park each year, due to its remoteness and lack of shade. Don’t wander onto the Syncline Trail unexpectedly.
Pothole Point Trail
This 0.6 mile trail in the Needles might not have the endless vistas of Upheaval Dome, but it does take hikers through a unique ecosystem in the park.
Formed by temporary pools of rain that carve into the soft sandstone, these seemingly barren places explode with life after a big summer rain. Even if the potholes aren’t filled with water, it’s a worthwhile experience.
This trail does include navigational cairns in the slickrock areas, but they are overall easy to follow.
Cave Spring Trail
Located in the Needles, this easy trail is perfect for budding archeologists and historians. Follow the flat trail to learn about 2 areas of the park’s history. The first area was once part of a ranch, and you can see where the cowboys would’ve used this for shelter. On display are tables, chairs, old cups, and farm equipment.
A bit further down the trail is a series of prehistoric marking on the cliff walls. These may be as old as 7,000 years old and speak to the ancestors of the tribes who still live in this part of Utah.
You will have to navigate up and down 2 wooden ladders (about 12 feet tall) on this trail, so I would recommend this hiking experience for kids 6 and up. I wouldn’t bring babies in carriers due to how hard it would be to balance that while scaling the ladders.
Stargazing
Canyonlands is a Dark Sky certified park, which means that you can see millions of stars without light pollution here.
The park is open 24 hours a day, so if you can manage it around your kids’ bedtimes, it is well worth it to stay late (or return right before bed).
The skies here are incredibly bright so you’ll be able to pick out constellations that you might not see back home. If you need to polish up on your night sky, check out the Stikky Night Skies book, one of our favorite guide books for kids.
Check at the information desk before it closes to see if there are any nighttime ranger programs available during your visit. These are free and an excellent way to learn more about astronomy in a real life star laboratory.
Tips for Visiting Canyonlands National Park with Kids
Watch your kids at the overlooks.
While there are fences around some of the overlooks, there are many areas of the park that have steep drop offs and no railing.
I know that kids are usually cautious around big drops, but it never, ever hurts to remind them to stay on the paths and on the correct side of the fence.
There are even some large boulders at these overlooks that look as if they’d be great to climb, only to find that there are deep drop offs on the opposite side.
We saw some very risky choices being made by others—and grown adults, at that!—while visiting Canyonlands this past summer. One man decided to hop the fence at the Green River Overlook, which offers just a couple of inches between the fence and a 1400 foot sheer dropoff, all in the name of a selfie.
Just use discretion and be safety conscious.
The weather can get very, very hot here.
Peak season for the park is between March and October with many families visiting during those summer break months.
If you are visiting during these months, be aware that the temperatures can change drastically from early morning to mid-day, thanks to the desert ecosystem. The mornings, even in the summer, can be mild, only to have temperatures rocket into the 90s or even low 100s by lunch.
Adding to this consideration is the fact that there is little shade or access to water anywhere in the park.
In fact, the only water sources in Island in the Sky district are at the visitors center and in the campgrounds. You will need to fill up your water bottles—and bring extra water—while exploring the park.
Every year, the park has visitors who suffer from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, or dehydration. In the most extreme cases, visitors have lost their lives from a combination of exposure and dehydration, like the tragic story of a dad and his adult daughter who went hiking in the summer of 2024.
Wear clothes that work with the desert elements.
If you’re visiting Canyonlands in the late fall, winter, or early spring, layering is key. Start with lightweight baselayers for those chilly mornings and add top layers that you can remove as the day warms up.
In the warmer months between March and October, your focus should be on staying cool and protected from the sun.
Wear a brimmed hat, either a baseball hat or a wide brimmed sun hat (like this women’s hat here or this one that both of my children have). This may be your only source of shade on many trails and overlooks in the park.
Wear loose but protective clothing. Breezy athletic shorts and a breathable long sleeved sunshirt are great options. I’ve also started hiking in a dress regularly, and a wool tank dress is a great option if you want to go that direction.
Wear and reapply sunscreen. Again, there are very few trees or places to get out of the sun, and no one likes a vacation sunburn.
Comfortable shoes are key, as there are some great hiking options here and you want your feet to be prepared. The hiking trails in the park are unpaved, and typically on packed dirt and/or slickrock.
I suggest a breathable hiking sandal like the Keen Newport H2s, my go-to hiking shoe in the summer. This is also what my kids typically wear on our summertime hikes.
Top off your gas before your visit.
We’ve been to remote parks before, but usually these (like Petrified Forest National Park in the middle of nowhere Arizona) have a gas station nearby or even inside the park.
You won’t find anything of the kind here in Canyonlands, and the closest gas station is at the Sun Outdoors Canyonlands Gateway at the intersection of Highway 191 and State Road 131, 23 miles from the Island in the Sky Visitors Center.
Between getting to the park and then doing multiple scenic drives in Island in the Sky, you could easily drive 100 miles or more in a day here, so be prepared. This isn’t the time to be playing chicken with the empty light on your dashboard.
Pack in everything.
While Island in the Sky has a visitors center, it doesn’t offer up more than ranger information, a couple of vault toilets, a bookstore, and a small interpretive center.
There isn’t a cafe or even a vending machine anywhere in the park.
So, before heading out for a day of fun in Canyonlands, have a picnic packed, bring a cooler of drinks with ice, and stash away extra snacks. If your kids are still young enough to need diapers, formula, or baby food, include extras in your diaper bag.
The closest grocery stores are going to be in Moab. I prefer the City Market to the Village Grocery, as the City Market has more options and lower prices (especially if you use their loyalty card).
I would go so far as to suggest bringing a trash bag so that you can then pack out everything. There are a few trash cans around the property, but they are far and few between.