Can you die without walking? Journey to American National Parks (8) Island of the Sky Canyonlands National Park

You'll drive north from Monument Valley and head north for about 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach Canyonlands National Park The Needles.

More than the word majestic, this place also creates an extraordinary landscape that will give you the illusion that you have come to another planet or planet. A straight road that runs through the boundaries, various terrains, rocky rocks with interesting elements, and an oversized space.

The Canyonlands is the largest of Utah national parks, weighing 337,598 acres (approximately 1,366 m2). You can't express the size here unless you step in and get them to actually look at it. This very wide and majestic national park is divided into three parts by the Colorado River and the Green River that flow through the park. You can enter with the same ticket whenever you go to three areas.

1. Island in the Sky is an area with many viewpoints that are easy to access by car. As the name suggests, there is an island floating in the sky there.
2. The Needles is an area with few people and many hiking trails.
3. The Maze area only allowed by 4WD or mountain bike

These three parts are not connected within the park, so the only way to do this is to go outside the park from each entrance to the entrance of each part and drive back into the entrance. It's so spacious that it's not easy to go around in one day, and it takes time.

Island in the Sky is a long, paved road, with several viewpoints along the way and parking, offering views with little walks. The most popular area for tourists. This is a place where the name given to it is "Island of the Sky."
(There are also a variety of hiking trails in this area.)

The Needles has many trails, making it a great area for those who want to take a thorough hike! Above all, once you step into the trail, there are almost no people around, so you can enjoy yourself and the space of nature.

The Mays is extremely poorly accessible and is not easily accessible to ordinary tourists, but it is perfect for those who like mountain biking and off-roading. It is a place that continues to be a maze-like terrain that is still known as an unexplored land. Only access is available on foot, mountain bikes and 4-wheel drive vehicles. (Mountain bikes can be rented at sports shops in the nearby town of Moab.)

How to get to Canyonlands National Park, the Island of the Sky

Time required

• SLC Salt Lake City International Airport is approximately 4 hours' drive from Canyonlands Island in the Sky (it takes another 2.5 hours to get to The Needles).
• Approximately 7 hours by Canyonlands Island in the Sky from LAS McCarran International Airport (Las Vegas)
• Approximately 2.5 hours by car from Monument Valley to The Needles (areas with many hiking trails)
• Approximately 3.5 hours by car from Monument Valley to Island in the Sky
• It takes about a 40-minute drive from the city of Moab to Island in the Sky Entrance in Canyonlands National Park. (It takes 2.5 hours to get to The Needles.)

Example of a way of travel plan

　The nearest international airport is (SLC) Salt Lake City International Airport.

• Starting from (SLC): Go back to Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Deadhorse Point State Park, Monument Valley and more.
• Starting at (LAS): Go back to Grand Canyon National Park, Antelope Canyon (Horseshoe Bend), Monument Valley, Canyonlands National Park, and more.

There are various ways to combine them with nearby national and state parks.

Accommodation

A small town called Moab is nearby, starting from there, you can access Archees National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Dead Horse Point State Park. Best to stay in Moab for 2 or 3 nights and take a trip to the surrounding national parks together. Outdoor enthusiasts can sign up for tours such as mountain bike tours, four-wheel drive tours and river rafting in the Colorado River area here. Starting in the city of Moab, there are many Airbnbs, motels, resort hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and gift shops, and everything you need is easy to get. Moab is busy during busy seasons such as summer vacation, so if you can't stay in Moab, there are other areas where you can stay, such as Grand Junction, Colorado, if you go south, Monticello, and Branding, but Moab is convenient.

Admission Fee (as of March 2020*)

There is no need to proceed in advance to enter the park. You only need to pay the entrance fee at the entrance.

• General car (private car) $30.00 (valid for 7 days)
• Bike $25.00
• Non-car bicycles and hiking people are $15.00 per person

Opening hours

The entrance is open 24 hours a day, all year round.

Visitor Center (Special opening days are available on public holidays)

There are visitor centres depending on the area, but opening hours vary.

Island in the Sky

• November to March: 8am to 4pm　
• April to October: 8am to 5pm

The Needles (hiking area)

• Winter: Close
• March to April: 8am to 3pm　
• May to October: 8am to 5pm
• November: 8am to 4pm

The Maze (Hans Flat Ranger Station)

• Opening annually: 8am to 4pm

weather

Canyonlands is a desert area and is also an area where temperatures fluctuate more than 40 degrees per day depending on the season.
The warmest and most popular seasons are spring April to May and fall September to October, with daytime highs averaged 15 to 25 degrees and lowest temperatures averaged 0 to 10 degrees.
Summer temperatures often exceed 35 degrees, making it very hot and hydration very important.
Winters are cold, with the highest temperatures averaged from 0 to 10 degrees and the lowest temperatures averaged from 0 to -5 degrees.
Hydration is very important in every season as it is dry. Summer is especially difficult to hike due to the heat of the desert. Recommended hiking seasons are from April to June and from September to October.

What is the information center at the park? Can I replenish my food and equipment?

There are three visitor centers each, so you can gather information such as maps there, but it is difficult to purchase food and drinks outside of Island in the Sky, so be sure to prepare in advance. The distance you drive is long, so be sure to put in plenty of gas before you go.

Island in the Sky　

Regarding food, there is a kiosk located right next to the Island in the Sky Visitor Center, where you can get food and more.

The Needles

Food and other items are not sold at The Needles Visitor Center, so you must prepare them in advance in advance. There is a campsite called Needles Outpost, where you can buy it there, but it is outside the park and is not open due to the distance and season, so be sure to prepare some water and food before you go on a hike.

The Maze

As for The Maze, there is no nearby shop, so you will need to prepare in advance.

Good things to carry on hiking

• Drinks (more in the summer) When going on hiking, I think you need about 4 liters in the summer. It's really dry.
• Cold weather wear that can adjust the temperature
• Trekking shoes
• hat
• sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Snacks and more for eating while hiking
• If you have a regular medicine, first aid such as medicine or band-aid
• rain gear

Hiking information for Canyonlands National Park (The Needles)

Chesler Park ViewPoint 6 miles (10km) 3-4 hours

Optional: (Chesler Park Loop Trail 11.6 miles (18.56km) Elevation Gain: 1,935 feet (elevation difference: approximately 590m) 5-7 hours) *A minimum of 4 liters of drinking water is required.

Trailhead: Elephant Hil

There are many trails at The Needles, but we'd like to introduce you to a 10km round trip hiking route that runs from the trailhead at Elephant Hil to Chesler Park ViewPoint.

Originally I was planning to walk a looped trail on a long hiking route called the Chesler Park Loop Trail, but I walked in August, midsummer. I realized that the 2 liters of water I brought with me wasn't enough, so this time I headed to Chesler Park ViewPoint on the way and headed back on the same path as the one I came from there.

This red line will be the Chesler Park Loop Trail 11.6 miles (18.56km). This time I went to Chesler Park, which was halfway through. 6 miles (10km) From there we headed back the way we had arrived.

Note: We recommend bringing at least 4 liters of water. (More needs in the summer.)

You can drive from Moab or from Monumenn Valley on Highway 191 and head to US-211. That's the way to The Needles.

There is a sign at the entrance, but from here you will find an additional 34 mile (approximately 55 km) until you enter Canyonlands NP. America is wide. The driveway also has a stunning view, making driving very pleasant.

Once you arrive at Needles District, head to the Visitor Center first. (About 50 minutes after turning to US-211) You can get the map and the necessary information here. There is also a toilet.

To the trailhead

Go to the trailhead at Elephant Hill. The car is about a 30-minute drive from the Visitor Center. You'll have to drive about 1 mile on dirt roads at the trailhead of Elephant Hill.

The road surface is smoother than I expected, but there are many curves, and the road width is just about the corner, and oncoming traffic is also coming in, so be careful. Passenger vehicles and 4-wheel drive vehicles are fine, but large vans with more than 12 people are prohibited from passing through.

There is a parking lot at the trailhead at Elephant Hill, so we parked there and finally set off for a hike. (This is the Elephant Hill trailhead, in addition to a parking lot for hikers, there is also a road for those driving off-roaders. If you are hiking, you will park your car here.)

Depart for a trekking

The climb continues for the first 10 minutes, then you will walk on a fairly flat plateau.

A unique world surrounded by unique rock rocks. It is a landscape that is rare in Japan, such as the rocks that look like the feet of a statue, cylindrical shapes, and pointy mountains.
Thankfully, Cologne is everywhere and provides directions.

Walk around searching for cologne, find shade and take frequent breaks. It was dryer than I imagined, so when I walked, I felt like I wasn't able to drink enough water, and halfway through I was nervous as the water was disappearing more and more. lol

The altitude is also high, so be careful not to slow down from the start. I had my first fork about 45 minutes after I started walking.

1.4mile (2.3km) one way to Chesler Park

There is a cologne in a place where it is easy to get lost, and there are solid signs at the fork, making it easy to see. On the trail, there are places like this surrounded by rocks (shady and cool)

Go further and walk surrounded by unique rocks and you'll come back to a flat area again.

The scenery has changed rapidly and is a trail that can be enjoyed while walking. From here, you can reach Chesler Park by 0.8mile 1.32km one way

The sun was strong, it was light and I really needed water. I walked in August, midsummer. I knew it was hot in my imagination, but it was really too hot. . I walked along the way, consulting with the ever-depleted drinking water and my physical strength. He seemed to be fine, but he had to stop the hike before the water runs out, and I really realized this hike that it's not good for him to say that there's no water left. Lol That was a good lesson. I once again felt that I had to carry it with me, even if it was heavy.

About 2 hours later, we arrived at Chesler Park.

What surprised me was that there were very few hikers and the space was really quiet. I had no idea that there would be anyone hiking here in such a hot August, but I only met a ranger and two couples along the way, and the rest was just nature and myself. Just your footsteps in a quiet, quiet space. It's quite a bit of a place where there is no sound.

It was a very majestic view, but the quiet space was so strange, but I walked with the joy of being there.

Here too, I wonder where I've come, and the illusion is as if I've come to a different planet.

The good thing about this trail is not only the wonderful views, but there are also really few people and the private feeling of being in a majestic space. I thought I'd wanted to go around the long loop trail if there was enough water, but since running out of drinking water is a fatal wound, I'll go back the path I came again.

We met many rocks in the quiet space and enjoyed our conversation with them in the great outdoors. Next time I'd like to bring plenty of water and then go to another trail that continues from here.
Everyone, please have plenty of water on this trail. lol

Kato Sayaka

Leave your hiking and travel plans to The Needles - Canyonlands National Park to us. Due to my father's influence, I have always loved outdoor activities, and since I was in Japan, I was captivated by the great nature of America and Canada, and as a result, I arrived at the United States, which I had longed for. We currently run ANAMI TOURS, which offers local optional tours that can be created with customers, including completely private hiking tours with Japanese guides. We will introduce you to some special options that you can find out because you are a local resident. If you are interested, please visit the website below.

ANAMI TOURS Official Website