2 to 3 hours (Approx.)

Mobile Ticket

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Overview

Recommended: Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!

Explore the sweeping canyons, deep valleys, and gigantic mesas of Canyonlands National Park with this self-guided driving tour. Discover Mesa Arch and its iconic sunrise, admire a stunning landscape from the White Rim Trail, and learn about the cowboys who once tried to tame this wild and wonderful land. This self-guided tour allows you to explore Canyonlands with maximum flexibility and value.

After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. The preceding steps require good internet/wifi access. Simply follow the audio instructions and the route from there.

This is not an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

New, extra validity — now, it’s yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!

Description

Stop At: Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Canyonlands National Park in southeastern Utah is known for its dramatic desert landscape carved by the Colorado River. Island in the Sky is a huge, flat-topped mesa with panoramic overlooks. Other notable areas include the towering rock pinnacles known as the Needles, the remote canyons of the Maze, and the Native American rock paintings in Horseshoe Canyon. Whitewater rapids flow through Cataract Canyon.

Note: This 62+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Canyonlands National Park in 2-3 hours.

Duration: 10 minutes

Pass By: Cataract Canyon, Colorado River, Utah

Cataract Canyon is a 46-mile-long canyon of the Colorado River located within Canyonlands National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in southern Utah.

Stop At: Green River Overlook, Utah 84532

The Green River Overlook offers some of the most unique views of Canyonland’s Island in the Sky District. You’re able to see the Green River continuing its work on the canyon walls. The river is the largest stream in Utah at 730 miles. The name probably comes from the green soapstone that can be found along its banks.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Island in the Sky, Utah

Stop by the Visitor Center coming up ahead. It’s a great place to grab supplies, use the bathroom, and fill up your water bottles. As you’ve already seen, this park doesn’t have much infrastructure, and being dehydrated out here is no joke.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Dead Horse Point State Park, Sr 313, Moab, Utah 84532

Dead Horse Point — it’s a creepy name, isn’t it? According to local legend, wild mustangs used to be corralled here to be broken in the early 1800s. Once all the desirable horses had been broken and claimed by the cowboys, the undesirables were left to go free.

Duration: 10 minutes

Pass By: Corona Arch, Potash Road, Moab, Utah

Corona Arch is a natural sandstone arch near Moab. The arch is located within the same rock formation as Pinto Arch and Bowtie Arch.

Stop At: Shafer Canyon Overlook, Utah

This overlook offers views from three sides. It may be a bit daunting if you're afraid of heights since there’s nothing between you and the Canyon. However, the incredible view is worth it.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Plateau Viewpoint, Utah, USA

Coming up on your left is a turn out for Plateau Viewpoint. Pullover if you want photos of some spectacular views! There’s also a handicap accessible toilet and an information panel on anthropological work in the area.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: White Rim, White Rim, Utah 84532, USA

In such a beautiful landscape, you can’t escape the lure of exploring off the beaten path. But watch out! If you do go off the path, you might be trampling on soil that’s alive. You might think I’m joking, but throughout Canyonlands, Arches, and Moab is something called a biological soil crust.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Monitor and Merriamac Rock Formations, Utah 84532

Look to the right. All you can see at the moment are tall rock walls. That’s because we’re near the floor of Sevenmile Canyon. As we continue to drive, we’ll emerge from the canyon and be able to see two very distinct features in the distance to the right -- the Merrimac and the Monitor.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: The Neck, The Neck, Utah 84532, USA

The area we’re traveling over is known as the Neck. Why? Well, remember that this Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands is a huge mesa surrounded by lowlands. Well, there’s a strip of land that connects this mesa to other mesas — just like a natural bridge!

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Lathrop Canyon, Utah

A lot of natural landmarks and trails in Canyonlands are named by or after cowboys and ranchers. In fact, Ned Chaffin’s father and one of his brothers had a spring named after them.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Big Mesa Viewpoint, Utah, USA

Coming up on your right is Big Mesa Viewpoint. Pause for a quick look at some stunning scenery. The enormous mesa looks like it was plonked down here by accident, and then forgotten.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Aztec Butte Trail, Island in the Sky, Utah

What makes this trail special? Simple: the granaries left here by Native peoples. They’re visible from the base of the last hill if you just keep your eyes open. These granaries are hundreds of years old, so be careful when approaching.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Whale Rock, Utah

In front of you is perhaps the world’s largest whale. Don’t see it? The whale’s head is on the left side of the rock.

There’s an easy one-mile hike that takes you up along the whale’s back. When you get on top of this cetacean, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of the Upheaval Dome.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Mesa Arch, Utah

Ahead, pull over for Mesa Arch. This is a must-do at Canyonlands.

Once you’ve parked, walk along the short trail to the arch.

As you walk, notice the juniper and pinyon trees around you. These are popular in Canyonlands so keep an eye out for them elsewhere too.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Candlestick Tower Overlook, Utah

In the distance, do you see three giant candles sticking out of the landscape? That’s Candlestick Tower! Doesn’t this sandstone formation look like a layered birthday cake, topped with candles? * The bottom layer is white, the middle a reddish-brown, and the top is red.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Basin Overlook Parking, Horse State Park, Moab, UT 84532, USA

Despite being relatively small, there’s a lot to do here. First, what might catch your eye is the overlook itself, which has a view of the Colorado River. There’s also a cafe to reenergize.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Buck Canyon Overlook, Grand View Point Road, Utah

Here you’ll see spectacular views of Buck Canyon and the La Sal mountains. The short trail is paved, making it one of the most accessible places in the park. There’s also a rail that stands between you and the canyon, so if you are scared of heights, this overlook is perfect for you.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: White Rim Overlook Trail, Utah

This is a great place to rest and enjoy a quick meal! There are only eight tables, so be sure to claim one if there are any available.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Orange Cliffs Overlook, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah 84532

The cowboys used the Orange Cliffs extensively. They called a part of these cliffs “Under the Ledge” — since it was a distinct area that sorta appeared to be underneath a huge, rocky ledge.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Grand View Point Overlook, Utah

We’re now at the end of the Canyonlands National Park tour. I hope you’ve enjoyed the journey! If you enjoyed the tour, check out our other tours of nearby Arches, Bryce, Zion, and more!

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Upheaval Dome, Utah 84532

Remember how the park’s rocks have been formed in layers? In most of the park, these layers haven’t been disrupted since their formation. What you see is what was deposited, all those hundreds of millions of years ago.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Murphy Point Trail, Grand View Point Road, Utah

The trail that leads to Murphy Point Overlook is quite easy, adding up to 3.5 miles roundtrip. While the hike itself doesn’t offer much in the way of scenery, the overlook provides a stunning view of Stillwater Canyon and the Green River.

Duration: 10 minutes

Schedule

What's Included

What To Bring

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and an instructions email. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular
How to start the tour: Once onsite, open the Action's Tour Guide App: • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If there are multiple tour versions, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
Amazing savings: • Driving Tours: Save money by purchasing a single tour for the entire vehicle, avoiding individual fees per person like on a bus tour. Connect your phone to the car speakers to share the audio.
Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It's perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app's features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.