Utah's Mighty 5

Canyonlands National Park

The largest and wildest of Utah's Mighty 5 - a vast maze of mesas, buttes, and river canyons carved by the Colorado and Green rivers, just across the valley from Arches near Moab.

Three Districts, One Enormous Landscape

Canyonlands is split into districts separated by the rivers. Island in the Sky, a high mesa closest to Moab, offers the biggest views for the least effort - sweeping overlooks and the famous Mesa Arch, which frames the sunrise in glowing orange. The Needles to the south is a hiker's district of colorful rock spires, while The Maze is one of the most remote and rugged places in the lower 48.

Getting There From Zion

Like neighboring Arches, Canyonlands is roughly a five-hour drive east of Zion near Moab - the far anchor of a full Mighty 5 loop rather than a day trip. Most first-time visitors focus on Island in the Sky, easily paired with Arches over a couple of days. Bring water and fuel; services inside the park are minimal.