Visiting Canyonlands any time of the year is an amazing sight to see. You might have seen Bryce Canyon or Zion Canyon but Canyonlands offers a completely different canyon to look at.

The expansiveness of the canyon feels like it goes on forever and ever. There are actually four places to visit in Canyonlands and they are all unique.

We suggest you visit the Island in the Sky district as it is the most accessible and closest to Moab. If you are looking to remove yourself from the crowds further, check out the Needles district or The Maze district.

One of the best parts about Canyonlands is easy to access from Moab. It is a short 1-hour drive into Canyonlands from Moab which makes it an easy day trip.

Canyonlands is also a place that you can explore in a day or in a lifetime. There is so much area to cover and so many places to see that you could never get bored in a place like this.

Disclosure: Links throughout the Mindful Nomadics site may make us a small commission at no additional cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure for more information.

Perks of Visiting Canyonlands During the Offseason

Visiting Canyonlands during the offseason means the weather is better and the people are less. This lets you explore more of the park with fewer crowds and you don't miss a thing. That's why we highly recommend you visit Canyonlands during the offseason.

Fewer Crowds

Visiting during the offseason to any park will mean dealing with fewer crowds. This is especially true in Canyonlands where you do a lot of driving and dealing with crowds can really put a damper on your trip.

Visiting the Island in the Sky district means you will have to deal with more crowds but to really go off the beaten path you can visit the Needles or the Maze. It is still better to visit earlier in the day

Better Weather

The weather in Canyonlands gets warm during the summer so it is best to visit when it is cooler. Then you can do more hiking without suffering too much in the summer heat.

During the winter the highs are down in the 40's and 50's with minimal rainy days. Make sure you remember to bring water even in the winter and bring layers to wear.

Hiking in Canyonlands

Mesa Arch

This is one of the shortest hiking trails we have ever been on, being only 0.5 miles roundtrip. The hike is an easy hike from a parking lot but the resulting view is a stunning arch where you can see the expansive canyon behind it.

Because this is such an accessible hike, make sure you get here early, even in the offseason. The nice thing is this is one of the first hiking trails you come across as you drive into the park so getting here early is easy to do.

Grand View Point

The name says it all about this trail, it really is a grand viewpoint. The drive up to the trailhead brings you uphill so you can see all around on all sides.

The hike itself is not that strenuous, being two miles round trip. There are plenty of stopping points along the way which have great views so you don't have to even complete the whole hike to get some awesome views.

The trail takes you along the canyon rim as it snakes to it's highest point. At the end, you are on an overlook that looks out over all of the Island in the Sky district and you can see the canyon as it spreads out below you.

Upheaval Dome

This is definitely a unique feature of Canyonlands and one you definitely should check out no matter what season you go. Having gone in the summer and dealt with the crowds, this hike and area are definitely better when you go in the offseason.

Upheaval Dome is like a crater with a giant pile of rocks inside of it. It is a really cool sight to see at first and following the two-mile roundtrip trail takes you along the rim to another overlook.

We suggest getting away from the crowds by going off trail a bit. When you get to the first of two overlooks, look to your right and you will see a hill.

That hill is easily accessible with a little bit of light scrambling. Not only is the final overlook here higher than the first overlook but it's also more secluded.

Aztec Butte

This is an easily accessible trail that you can find very close to Mesa Arch on the way over to upheaval dome. Once you are parked you will easily see where you are going to be heading as Aztec Butte looms over you the whole way.

The trail is only two miles roundtrip but there is a decent amount of scrambling. There are also some ledges and some slick rock here that you need to be careful on, especially if it is raining out.

The top of Aztec Butte can actually be camped on but we just did the day hike. The whole butte can be walked around in a circle and gives you cool views of your drive into and out of the park as well as some of the surrounding Canyonlands.

Lodging around Canyonlands

If you want the best lodging near Canyonlands National Park then stay in Moab and you will be good to go. *Keep in mind that staying in Moab is a great way to see both Arches and Canyonlands. The lodging section below is the same for both destinations.*

Hyatt Place Moab

We love staying at Hyatt hotels no matter where and this was no exception. They have the typical Hyatt Place rooms but in a place like Moab, the simplicity of Hyatt Place is great.

If you are traveling with a family or group of people they even have casitas which include 3 beds and sleep up to 8 people. They are right by the pool as well so you can cool down after a hot day of hiking with a swim.

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Moab

We stayed in SpringHill Suites when we visited Zion and we loved it! It is a little more expensive than Hyatt Place Moab is but they have all the amenities you would want in a hotel in Moab.

They have free breakfast, a pool, laundry machines, and large expansive rooms that give you room to spread out all your gear for your Canyonlands adventures. Plus they are part of Marriott so you can book with Marriott points or transfer in points from American Express Membership Rewards cards like the Platinum Card (use our referral link to get yourself some bonus points).

The other big benefit of SpringHill Suites is how close it is to the park. It is the first hotel you will see as you travel back to Moab from Canyonlands which makes it a great choice to get into and out of the park quicker.

Best Western Plus Canyonlands Inn

If you want to stay more in central Moab, Best Western Plus Canyonlands Inn is the place to pick there. Their rooms are giant and they offer very good pricing, comparable to Hyatt Place Moab.

The big draw here is obviously location. You are within walking distance to restaurants, grocery stores, shopping, everything Moab has to offer.

They also have the main staples you need when you visit a hotel in Utah. Laundry machines, free breakfast, pool and fridges and microwaves in every room make this feel like a full-service hotel for a great price.

Canyonlands is a great park to visit no matter what time of year you visit. But if you want to enjoy more of your time hiking in great weather with fewer crowds, visiting Canyonlands during the offseason is the way to go!