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Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Looking for the best hiking in Canyonlands National Park? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Canyonlands National Park. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Canyonlands National Park

  • Moab, Utah

    Hike the West and East Rim Loop at Dead Horse Point

    5.0
    4.98 mi / 928 ft gain
    This is a 5.5 mile loop, if you opt out of the several in/outs to various lookout points, which extend the hike to about 10 miles -- do not opt out! These lookout points get better and better. However, you can skip the only modest part of the trail, where the West and East rims of the trail meet...
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  • Moab, Utah

    Hike the Big Horn Overlook Trail

    4.0
    3.5 mi / 0 ft gain
    As a pet owner, you probably know that bringing your pooch along on your National Park adventures can be a frustrating experience. Most of our Parks do not allow pets on trails, and for several good reasons, but if you bring your dog(s) with you to Moab country, you’ll be happy to know that there...
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  • Moab, Utah

    Hike the Cave Spring Loop in the Needles District

    4.0
    0.6 mi / 35 ft gain
    The Cave Spring Trail within Canyonlands National Park takes visitors past some well preserved pictographs and a cowboy camp complete with many original artifacts, all located in bluff "caves" below the overhanging cliffs of a low mesa.  The path later climbs to the top via a pair of wooden ladde...
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  • Wayne County, Utah

    Canyoneering High Spur Canyon

    5 mi
    From Moab, the drive to the canyon is approximately 4 hours long and much of it is on sandy or rocky dirt roads so it’s best to drive a 4x4 vehicle with good clearance. Drive past Hans Flat Ranger Station on the west side of Canyonlands National Park and make your way to the trailhead on Deadman’...
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  • Monticello, Utah

    Camp at the Ledges Camping Area off of Kane Creek Road

    5.0
    The turn off for Kane Creek Rd. is directly before the McDonald's on the right side of the road. A right turn takes you through small residential area and then places you on a dirt road continuing into the canyon. The road narrows a bit, switch backs, and becomes slightly rougher. Follow Kane Cr...
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  • Moab, Utah

    Camp in Hunters Canyon

    5.0
    2 mi
    Moab has become an increasingly popular adventure destination over the last few years. Its proximity to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks make it a popular spot for beginning day hikers as well as seasoned canyoneers, bikers, and climbers. It comes as no surprise that it can be a hassle to fi...
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  • Moab, Utah

    Hike Hunters Canyon

    5.0
    3 mi / 164 ft gain
    The hike into Hunters Canyon is extremely easy going. You can do the hike year round, but the further into summer you are, the hotter the canyon will be.  This is a great beginner hike as it has very little elevation gain. It's also perfect for dogs, thanks to the stream that allows for frequent ...
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  • Moab, Utah

    View the Petroglyphs at Birthing Rock

    5.0
    0.1 mi / 0 ft gain
    This roadside boulder is just a short ride down a dirt road from Moab.  From the McDonalds in Moab, head west down Kane Creek Drive.  You will pass a few BLM and private campgrounds as well as various trailheads.  The road will eventually become graded dirt.  Follow the road until you see an obvi...
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  • Moab, Utah

    Mountain Bike HyMasa Trail

    3.2 mi / 755 ft gain
    HyMasa trail is the latest in the fantastic Kane Creek Mountain Biking trail network and is now the preferred route for connecting to the iconic Captain Ahab Loop, allowing riders to bypass larges portions of the Amasa Back / Cliffhanger Jeep trail. To get there take Kane Creek Blvd. from Moab in...
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  • Moab, Utah

    Mountain Bike Amasa Back / Cliffhanger Trail

    9.1 mi / 1410 ft gain
    Amasa Back / Cliffhanger is the primary entry point into one of the most fantastic mountain biking trail networks in the Moab area, connecting into Captain Ahab, Rockstacker, HyMasa, and Jacksons Trails. To get there take Kane Creek Blvd. from Moab into Kane Springs Creek Canyon. The road will qu...
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  • Moab, Utah

    Visit the Poison Spider Petroglyphs

    4.3
    0.5 mi / 250 ft gain
    Not many people visit this petroglyph site because of the steep access trail. From the Poison Spider parking lot, walk the trail that leads to the slab with an obvious dinosaur track highlighted when people put plaster in the track to make a mold. This, of course, is prohibited.  Work your way up...
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  • Moab, Utah

    Camp at Williams Bottom Campground in Moab

    4.0
    Williams Bottom Campground and its 17 first-come first-serve campsites are tucked into the side of the Colorado River Canyon on Utah Highway 279 aka "Potash Road" just 15 minutes from downtown Moab. It is commonly known as one of *the* rock climbing campground on the west side of Moab, as there a...
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  • Moab, Utah

    Camp at King's Bottom

    4.0
    Kane Creek is a massive canyon, with the Colorado river at it's feet and red cliffs towering on either side. There are numerous trail heads and campgrounds the farther you explore into the canyon. However, these sites fill up fast. The canyon restricts camping to only designated sites, capping th...
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  • Moab, Utah

    Corona Arch Trail

    4.7
    2.32 mi / 525 ft gain
    This is an easy 2.3-mile hike to an amazing arch in Moab that ISN'T in Arches National Park. If you have every seen any “arch swing” videos this is where its done! Hangout under this massive arch without much of a crowd. This should only take a couple of hours round trip depending on hiking speed...
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  • Moab, Utah

    Night Photography at Corona Arch

    5.0
    3 mi
    First and foremost: Don't attempt to climb the arch at night. It's potentially unsafe and the BLM has banned roped activities meaning that you would have to go ropeless. Save this activity for the daytime or avoid it altogether. This is a quick 1.5 mile one-way hike to the arch. The trail is well...
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  • Moab, Utah

    Hike to Jeep Arch

    4.0
    4 mi / 1015 ft gain
    Jeep arch is located up the very scenic Culvert Canyon just outside Moab, UT. When coming into Moab from the north turn right onto UT 279/Potash Road and drive about 10.2 miles along side the Colorado river. You will come up to a pull out area on the right side of the road, near a large culvert u...
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