A full day in Island in the Sky with sunrise, big overlooks, and short hikes.
Itinerary
Mesa Arch sunrise
Short hike to a natural stone arch perched at the mesa's edge, framing views of La Sal Mountains and the canyon below.
Iconic sunrise arch with canyon views.
Arrive before dawn for a good spot.
Shafer Canyon Viewpoint
The Shafer Trail Viewpoint at Island in the Sky provides an incredible view of this iconic road that descends 1,500 feet (457 m) down colorful sandstone walls to the canyon basin.
Overlook of the Shafer Trail switchbacks.
Short walk from the pullout.
Green River Overlook
Best mesa-top view of the Green River far below. Can be lovely for sunset.
Wide views into the Green River canyon.
Great mid-morning light.
Upheaval Dome
What created this unusually circular and tilted geologic formation? For the best view, hike the one-mile roundtrip (1.5 km) trail to the first overlook (climbing 100 feet/30 meters).
Short hike to a dramatic crater overlook.
Go to the second overlook for the best view.
Grand View Point
Grand View Point offers a spectacular view of the Canyonlands area. From this panoramic viewpoint at 6,080 feet elevation, you can see distant mountains, canyons, basins, and the four-wheel-drive White Rim Road far below. A short trail leads to even more views.
Classic overlook at the end of the mesa.
Great late-day light across the canyons.
Creates a copy you can customize
1
Day
5
Stops
moderate
Difficulty
Best Season
March-May and September-October
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