Off-Season at Canyonlands National Park: Sunrise at Mesa Arch

Our last national park on this trip was Canyonlands— its Islands in The Sky section is located just 45 minutes from Moab, Utah. The best way to experience the park is with an off-road vehicle or on a backcountry hiking and camping trip. There are many adventure outfitters offering trips that are perfect for seeing the colorful landscapes of steep canyons and unique rock formations created over the years by the Colorado and Green Rivers.

Setting off from Moab in complete darkness, our goal was to capture sunrise at the iconic Mesa Arch without having to jostle with dozens of photographers for the perfect shot. The Mesa Arch Trail is short and well-marked; however, having a flashlight is definitely a plus. After a beautiful sunrise and chatting with other visitors that had the same idea, we spent the remainder of the morning driving along the paved roads before stopping for some extra sightseeing at the Grand View Overlook.

Travel Tip: Canyonlands National Park includes Islands in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the detached Horseshoe Canyon Unit. Much larger than Arches National Park, you would need a few days of travel on unpaved roads to reach The Maze and the Great Gallery Petrograph at Horseshoe Canyon. We highly recommend booking a multi-day trip through Cataract Canyon and an off-road tour to expand your national park experience beyond the very few paved roads in the park.

Pros:

• The trailhead parking lots and popular scenic overlooks aren’t crowded, and parking is not an issue.

Cons:

• Tour operators may not be open yet or have limited tour options. The peak tour season runs from April through August.