Our family loves visiting national parks and this fall we were able to finish out the Utah Mighty 5! It was so nice to be able to easily visit three national parks in three days. I’ve already shared about our Arches National Park trip, but today I want to talk about a somewhat lesser known park. Canyonlands is still plenty popular and noteworthy though, so here are our tips for visiting Canyonlands National Park with kids.

Canyonlands National Park with kids

all about Canyonlands National Park

Native American tribes were in the area for thousands and thousands of years before settlers arrived on the scene. For early explorers the area was more of a stopping place, rather than a destination. Ranchers did use the area for winter grazing for their cattle, however it didn’t hold much appeal for visitors until the mid-1900s.

| Read: Tips for Arches National Park with Kids |

In the 1950s it was the superintendent of Arches National Park that first proposed a new national park to the west. Public Law 88-590 was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 12, 1964. This made Canyonlands a protected National Park–after a campaign that included jeep tours and Dutch oven dinners for government officials.

there are three sections of the park to explore

Canyonlands National Park is naturally divided into three sections by the Colorado and Green Rivers. One in particular is the easiest to access for the average visitor and is therefore the most visited. Note that no roads within the park system connects all the districts together.

Island in the Sky

Island in the Sky is the first section of the park you drive into. If you have limited time in the park, this is the area you want to spend your time in. There are several roadside pullouts along the scenic drive, and a handful of family-friendly hikes.

The Needles

The Needles district of Canyonlands National Park is a further drive but offers many opportunities for backpacking and backcountry camping. It is located in the southeast corner of Canyonlands and was named for the vibrant spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone that you can find in the area.

The Maze

The Maze is incredibly remote and only accessible if you have the right type of vehicle. Roads there require high-clearance four-wheel-drive and there are no amenities in the area. This is not a section of the park to visit in a day, but requires several days to explore.

| Read: Visiting Zion National Park with Kids |

family-friendly hikes

When visiting Canyonlands National Park with kids it’s important to plan your hikes accordingly. There are several easy options in Canyonlands if you’re hiking with children. However, there is little shade and you always want to be prepared with plenty of water and hats and sunscreen. I recommend that you keep in mind the ability of your own family. With that being said, here are some hikes that we recommend:

• Mesa Arch, .6 mile easy: Keep in mind that if you’ve already been to Arches National Park, the view of Mesa Arch might not be as impressive to you. However, it’s a really easy walk and nice opportunity to stretch your legs after being in the car. This is an especially great sunrise hike. The parking lot does fill up fast, but there are toilets at the trailhead.
• Upheaval Dome (first overlook), .6 mile moderately strenuous: This is another short hike but there is a lot of climbing and rock scrambling that may prove challenging. You can choose to turn around at the first overlook, or continue on to the second overlook and double your hike. This parking lot also offers a toilet at the trailhead.
• Grand View Point, 1.8 miles easy: This is a hike I wish we’d had time to do, as it offers fantastic views of The Maze and The Needles districts. Rangers also lead talks here spring through fall. IF you don’t want to hike it, you can also take a short, paved trail to a viewpoint.

where should you stay near Canyonlands National Park?

There are two campgrounds in Canyonlands National Park. Island in the Sky (Willow Flat) Campground is first-come, first-served and has 12 spots. The Needles Campground has 26 individual sites and 3 group sites, with some available to reserve ahead of time. Only Needles Campground offers seasonal potable water. However, Moab, Utah is very convenient to Arches National Park and this is where we stayed when we did our big national park trip. There are many options in Moab for hotels, camping, and vacation rentals.

We choose to stay at the Springhill Suites in Moab due to its location, room size, and hotel amenities. Springhill Suites is the closest hotel to Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. We stayed in a large suite with a King bed, sofa bed, and bunkbed that offered plenty of space. It also had a kitchenette that we were able to utilize during our stay. Our family loved the included breakfast buffet and the laundry facilities, but the real winner was the pool area. They had a large pool, splash area, three hot tubs, and a “warming pool”. It was such a nice place to relax after hiking around the parks all day!

what other activities can we do in Canyonlands National Park?

Besides hiking, Canyonlands National Park has a wide-range of activities that you can participate in. One popular activity is 4-wheel drive tours, especially in The Needles and The Maze. These are tricky roads and should be approached with expertise and caution. Many of these roads also require permits so plan accordingly.

| Read: How to Get into our National Parks for FREE |

Boating, climbing, and horseback riding are also popular activities in Canyonlands National Park. The required equipment and preparations for these are all dependent on the individual–no recreational services are provided by the Park Service. Click here for a list of authorized commercial guides for your Canyonlands adventure.

what else can we do with kids?

My kids love participating in Junior Ranger programs. They are a fantastic (free) way to learn more about the park you’re visiting. And I don’t just mean your kids–our whole family learns new things by talking about the things in their booklets as we’re driving through new national parks. You can pick up your booklet near the front entrance at the Island in the Sky Visitor Center near the park entrance. You can download a PDF version of the Junior Ranger Booklet to print at home and take the virtual Junior Ranger pledge by clicking here!

Have you ever been to Canyonlands National Park in near Moab, Utah before?