How to Spend One Day in Canyonlands National Park: Best Things to See and Hikes to Do

If you’re short on time but still want to experience the magic of Canyonlands National Park, don’t worry, you can see a lot in just one day, especially if you focus on the Island in the Sky district. I recently did a half-day adventure here and managed to squeeze in several of the park’s most scenic hikes and overlooks. If you’re planning your own visit, here’s exactly how to spend one amazing day in Canyonlands National Park.

For my entire Utah National Park Road-Trip breakdown, you can check out that out HERE.

Quick Tips for Your Day in Canyonlands National Park

  • Entrance Fee: $30 per vehicle (valid for 7 days)
  • Best Time to Visit: Spring and fall for cooler temps and fewer crowds
  • What to Bring: Water (lots of it), keep a gallon or two in your car so you can keep refilling it after each hike as there is no water outside of the visitor center.
    • Bring lots of snacks, sun protection, good hiking shoes and take a park map
  • Start Early: Try to arrive when the park opens to beat the heat and the crowds. We got to the park before 8am and there were not many people there at all which was great.

Top Hikes and Viewpoints for a One-Day Itinerary

Mostly all the hikes are along the Grand Viewpoint Road making them easy to get to and not much driving in between each one.

1. Mesa Arch Trail

  • Distance: 0.5 miles round trip
  • Time: ~30 minutes
  • Difficulty: Easy

Start your day here, especially at sunrise if you can! This is the first and easiest trail you will come across on your drive through Canyonlands.

Mesa Arch is one of the most iconic sights in Canyonlands, and the short loop trail makes it super accessible. The arch perfectly frames the canyon below, and if you time it right, the early morning sun glows under the arch like it’s lit from within. Super cool view-point as you can get right up to the arch and look below.

Mesa Arch Trail

2. Aztec Butte

  • Distance: 2 miles round trip
  • Time: ~1–1.5 hours
  • Difficulty: Moderate (with some rock scrambling)

This hike is a bit more off the beaten path, and that’s part of what makes it special. This was actually one of the most fun hikes i’ve done. The trail splits off to two different directions. One leads to ancient granaries tucked into the rock (super cool and well-preserved), and the other, which we decided to do, takes you to the top of Aztec Butte with sweeping views over the surrounding mesas.

There’s a good bit of rock scrambling on this trail where you have to be technical with your steps and climbing, which is part of what makes it so fun. It’s not super difficult however and the trail is marked so you know the general direction of where to go. The views at the top are definitely worth it however

Aztec Butte Day in Canyonlands National park

3. Grand View Point Trail

  • Distance: 2 miles round trip
  • Time: ~1–1.5 hours
  • Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

This is one of the best trails in the park and my favorite trail. You’ll be walking along the edge of the canyon the whole time, with incredible views over the White Rim and far into the Needles and Maze districts. There’s very little elevation change, so it’s doable for most fitness levels. Just make sure to bring water, as it gets hot and there’s no shade.

Towards the end of the trail you can choose to climb on top of the peak with some rock scrambling or just sit down at the edge and enjoy a quick snack while overlooking the canyons. I mean come on? Look at those views!

Grand View Point Trail

4. Murphy Point Trail

  • Distance: 3.6 miles round trip
  • Time: ~2 hours
  • Difficulty: Easy – Moderate

Murphy Point doesn’t get as much love as some of the other trails, but it should. This one’s perfect if you’re looking for a quieter hike with big views. The trail is relatively flat and leads you to a panoramic overlook of the Green River and White Rim Road.

We were pretty much the only ones on this trail. It was super peaceful and a nice hike to end your time here. I recommend doing this one in the late afternoon or even for sunset.

5. White Rim Overlook Trail

  • Distance: 1.8 miles round trip
  • Time: ~45 minutes to 1 hour
  • Difficulty: Easy

This is a quick trail with a huge payoff. You’ll get awesome views over the Colorado River and the massive White Rim sandstone bench that stretches for miles. It’s another great sunset spot if you don’t do Murphy Point later in the day. There’s very little elevation gain, making it ideal for one of your last hikes, especially if you’re feeling a little worn out by this point.

Bonus Stops

Even if you’re short on time, don’t miss these pull-offs along the scenic drive:

  • Shafer Canyon Overlook – You’ll get a great view of the winding switchbacks of Shafer Trail Road.
  • Buck Canyon Overlook – A quick stop with dramatic views straight into the heart of the canyons.
  • Green River Overlook – One of the best panoramic viewpoints in the park.
Grand View Point Trail

Suggested Itinerary for One Day in Canyonlands

Here’s how I’d recommend organizing your day:

Morning:

  1. Arrive early and stop at visitor center to grab a map and fill up on water
  2. Hike Mesa Arch trail
  3. Stop at Buck Canyon overlooks
  4. Hike Grand View Point Trail
  5. Eat lunch or snack at the Grand View parking lot or picnic area
  6. Head to Aztec Butte Trail
  7. Hike Murphy Point or White Rim Overlook (If you’re tired, I recommend doing the White Rim Overlook, if you still feel good then Murphy’s Trail)
  8. Stop at Green River Overlook before heading out

Tours and Activities!

Want the full experience of Canyonlands without having to worry about driving or knowing what to do? Take a half-day tour from Moab with an experience guide to drive you around! Check out the link here to the popular tour!

Want some more thrill? Take a 4×4 jeep tour over Canyonlands! Go exploring through the switchbacks and go off trail in this thrilling tour

Looking to go all out? Take a helicopter tour over Canyonlands National Park and behold the beauty of it from up in the sky

Final Thoughts

Canyonlands National Park is large in terms of land, so focusing on Island in the Sky is your best bet if you only have one or even half a day. You’ll get a great mix of short and fun hikes, iconic viewpoints, and lesser-known trails without feeling rushed. I left feeling like I had seen so much, yet still wanting to come back for more (especially to explore the Needles district next time!).

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Canyonlands but it really surpassed my expectations. The park was awesome, the hikes were fun and the views were insane.

Let me know if you have questions or if you’ve done these hikes. I’d love to hear what your favorite was!