Canyonlands National Park offers an extensive panorama of vivid canyons, mesas and buttes positioned along the Colorado and Green Rivers. The view is spectacular with the broad span in elevation amid its valleys and colorful cliffs. 
The park is divided into several sections, each with its own distinct attributes.  Island in the Sky is the most accessible district in the park offering an amazing visual experience overlooking the canyon countryside. The Needles, named for its red- and white-lined rock formations, hold an amazing selection of attractive sites including arches, spires, canyons, Native American ruins and pictographs. Lying in the most outermost area of the park, The Maze contains a network of veriegated fins and towering rocks. 
Designated a national park in 1964, Canyonlands covers a colossal 527.5 square miles. The park is legendary for its hundreds of miles of four-wheel-drive roads and river rafting.  Visitors also enjoy mountain biking and hiking over the rugged terrain, either autonomously or with the aid of a guide. White Rim Road is ideal for mountain biking though groups must stay on conventional paths. Permits are not required for day rides.
Backpacking across the large portion of the park’s undeveloped land has become a favorite pastime, especially in The Needles district. Rock piles (cairns) and signs indicate hiking trails, but purchasing a topographic map is advisable. Also, keep in mind that while pets are not prohibited in the park, they are not allowed on trails. Discovery Packs are available for children for a small fee and deposit.  The kit contains many fundamental items including a notebook, a naturalist guide, binoculars and a hand lens to aid in exploration of the park.
Miles of flatwater offer a pleasurable journey by raft, shallow boat, kayak or canoe while at the convergence of the Green and Colorado Rivers, in Cataract Canyon, the pace quickens for a spine-tingling ride with fourteen miles of Class III to Class V whitewater.
Sightseeing by car offers spectacular canyon views in addition to access to trails and expansive overlooks. To preserve area plant life and scenic beauty, the park requires that all vehicles be licensed and remain on established roads.
All-terrain-vehicles are not allowed in the park. 
Rock climbing in Canyonlands is allowed without permits in specified areas, typically in the Island in the Sky district.  Poor rock quality limits climbing in many other areas in addition to the banning of any landscape alteration, often caused by technical climbing gear.  Climbing on arches is likewise prohibited.
With so many sites to choose from, camping offers yet another enjoyable recreational activity with fees ranging from $3 per person to $10 per night in designated campgrounds.
Squaw Flat campground has a great location with its proximity to Chesler Park, Druid Arch, and the Joint Trail. Bathrooms, picnic tables, fire grates, water, and tent pads await the tenants of this 26-site encampment. Willow Flat is another popular campsite offering access to Green River Overlook and twelve camping spots with bathrooms, picnic tables, and fire grates. It is advisable to make reservations during busy seasons as the number of permits is limited.
The park is open year round with shortened hours in winter and daily entrance fees of $10 per vehicle or $5 per person.  Entrances lie at either end of the park 40 miles south of I-70 or 22 miles north of Monticello. 
Interpretive Programs are offered by the National Park Service from April through October each year. Rangers administer nightly talks in the Island in the Sky and Needles districts and current schedules are posted at the visitor center and campground bulletin boards. Guided hikes are also conducted through Horseshoe Canyon beginning at the West Rim parking lot on Saturdays and Sundays at 9 a.m.
While visiting Canyonlands National Park, a variety of lodging is available for those wishing to spend the night in beautiful Moab, Utah.

For additional Canyonlands National Park information contact:
435-719-2313 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or
435-259-4351
Canyonlands National Park
2282 SW Resource Blvd.
Moab, UT 84532
www.nps.gov or canyinfo@nps.gov
For whitewater, canoe shuttles, jet boat tours, 4WD tours contact:
Tag-a-long Expeditions
800-453-3292
(435)259-8946
www.tagalong.com
To order topographical maps visit:
www.cnha.org