Canyonlands National Park, Utah - Island in The Sky District

Before Canyonlands became a national park in the 1960s, the area was used extensively for such activities as prospecting with the result that the park now has a rather extensive network of dirt roads and trails. The roads offer four wheel drive enthusiasts an excellent recreational opportunity. While vehicles must remain on the roads and trails, and camping is generally limited to designated areas, four wheelers have the chance to experience a large and highly scenic backcountry.

The park's three districts offer varying possibilities for backcountry travel. The Needles District offers the infamous Elephant Hill, a hair-raising climb over a supersteep and ragged slickrock ridge. The remote Maze District is accessible only by many miles of tough four wheel drive routes. If you are very skillful and self sufficient you will find unspoiled solitude in the Maze.

The pictures featured on this page are from the White Rim Trail in the Island in The Sky District. The Island is an isolated mesa which towers thousands of feet above the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers (right, in photo). The White Rim is a plateau at the foot of this mesa. The trail essentially follows the White Rim around the Island. Its length is about 100 miles which makes for an excellent 3 or 4 day camping trip with non-stop wonderful scenery.

The White Rim Trail is a relatively easy road and can probably be managed with a two wheel drive truck. On the southeast side of the mesa the rim remains several hundred feet above the Colorado River offering many scenic overlooks. On the southwest side the rim comes down to the Green River, and the environment is lusher nearer to the river. Above Right, a designated car camp sits below the towering Island in the Sky. At left, a surrealistic view into a side canyon leading to the Colorado River.

Above Left, a view of the Colorado from river side at the mouth of Lathrop Canyon.
Above Right is the adjacent car camp.

Lathrop Canyon is a spur off the main trail and is a true four wheel drive route. My experience was sliding down the rocky trail in 4WD low with my foot on the brake the entire way. The return uphill to the main trail was much easier. Below are highly scenic views of the Colorado River.