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Canyonlands National Park Self-Driving Tour

Overview
Recommended: Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!

Explore the sweeping canyons, deep valleys, and gigantic mesas of Canyonlands National Park with this self-guided driving tour. Discover Mesa Arch and its iconic sunrise, admire a stunning landscape from the White Rim Trail, and learn about the cowboys who once tried to tame this wild and wonderful land. This self-guided tour allows you to explore Canyonlands with maximum flexibility and value.

After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.

Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
City: Moab
Mon 26 May
i
You can choose the date already on the booking website
Starting at $16.99
Mon 26 May
Starting at $16.99
Make a reservation
What's Included
Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
Additional Info
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and text with instructions: • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password • Download the tour MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular Works offline after download
  • How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
  • Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
  • Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
  • Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
  • Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
What To Expect
1
Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park in southeastern Utah is known for its dramatic desert landscape carved by the Colorado River. Island in the Sky is a huge, flat-topped mesa with panoramic overlooks. Other notable areas include the towering rock pinnacles known as the Needles, the remote canyons of the Maze, and the Native American rock paintings in Horseshoe Canyon. Whitewater rapids flow through Cataract Canyon. Note: This 62+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Canyonlands National Park in 2-3 hours. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
2
Cataract Canyon
Cataract Canyon is a 46-mile-long canyon of the Colorado River located within Canyonlands National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in southern Utah.
3
Green River Overlook
The Green River Overlook offers some of the most unique views of Canyonland’s Island in the Sky District. You’re able to see the Green River continuing its work on the canyon walls. The river is the largest stream in Utah at 730 miles. The name probably comes from the green soapstone that can be found along its banks.
4
Island in the Sky
Stop by the Visitor Center coming up ahead. It’s a great place to grab supplies, use the bathroom, and fill up your water bottles. As you’ve already seen, this park doesn’t have much infrastructure, and being dehydrated out here is no joke.
5
Dead Horse Point State Park
Dead Horse Point — it’s a creepy name, isn’t it? According to local legend, wild mustangs used to be corralled here to be broken in the early 1800s. Once all the desirable horses had been broken and claimed by the cowboys, the undesirables were left to go free.
6
Corona Arch Trail
Corona Arch is a natural sandstone arch near Moab. The arch is located within the same rock formation as Pinto Arch and Bowtie Arch.
7
Shafer Canyon Overlook
This overlook offers views from three sides. It may be a bit daunting if you're afraid of heights since there’s nothing between you and the Canyon. However, the incredible view is worth it.
8
Monitor and Merriamac Rock Formations
Look to the right. All you can see at the moment are tall rock walls. That’s because we’re near the floor of Sevenmile Canyon. As we continue to drive, we’ll emerge from the canyon and be able to see two very distinct features in the distance to the right -- the Merrimac and the Monitor.
9
Lathrop Canyon
A lot of natural landmarks and trails in Canyonlands are named by or after cowboys and ranchers. In fact, Ned Chaffin’s father and one of his brothers had a spring named after them.
10
Aztec Butte Trail
What makes this trail special? Simple: the granaries left here by Native peoples. They’re visible from the base of the last hill if you just keep your eyes open. These granaries are hundreds of years old, so be careful when approaching.
11
Whale Rock
In front of you is perhaps the world’s largest whale. Don’t see it? The whale’s head is on the left side of the rock. There’s an easy one-mile hike that takes you up along the whale’s back. When you get on top of this cetacean, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of the Upheaval Dome.
12
Mesa Arch
Ahead, pull over for Mesa Arch. This is a must-do at Canyonlands. Once you’ve parked, walk along the short trail to the arch. As you walk, notice the juniper and pinyon trees around you. These are popular in Canyonlands so keep an eye out for them elsewhere too.
13
Candlestick Tower Overlook
In the distance, do you see three giant candles sticking out of the landscape? That’s Candlestick Tower! Doesn’t this sandstone formation look like a layered birthday cake, topped with candles? * The bottom layer is white, the middle a reddish-brown, and the top is red.
14
Buck Canyon Overlook
Here you’ll see spectacular views of Buck Canyon and the La Sal mountains. The short trail is paved, making it one of the most accessible places in the park. There’s also a rail that stands between you and the canyon, so if you are scared of heights, this overlook is perfect for you.
15
White Rim Overlook Trail
This is a great place to rest and enjoy a quick meal! There are only eight tables, so be sure to claim one if there are any available.
16
Orange Cliffs Overlook
The cowboys used the Orange Cliffs extensively. They called a part of these cliffs ā€œUnder the Ledgeā€ — since it was a distinct area that sorta appeared to be underneath a huge, rocky ledge.
17
Grand View Point Overlook
We’re now at the end of the Canyonlands National Park tour. I hope you’ve enjoyed the journey! If you enjoyed the tour, check out our other tours of nearby Arches, Bryce, Zion, and more!
18
Upheaval Dome
Remember how the park’s rocks have been formed in layers? In most of the park, these layers haven’t been disrupted since their formation. What you see is what was deposited, all those hundreds of millions of years ago.
19
Murphy Point Trail
The trail that leads to Murphy Point Overlook is quite easy, adding up to 3.5 miles roundtrip. While the hike itself doesn’t offer much in the way of scenery, the overlook provides a stunning view of Stillwater Canyon and the Green River.
Show 16 more stops
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Traveler Photos
Reviews (45)
Bernadettte_B
Jun 2021
The audio tour added so much information to our trip to Canyonlands! I think we got much more from our trip because of the audio guide.
Response from Host
Jun 2021
Awesome, thank you so much! So glad you enjoyed your trip through Canyonlands with our self-guided tour. Are you also visiting Arches (next door) or Utah’s other parks? We have similar self-guided tours for all of them — ActionTourGuide.com.
Stephanie_L
May 2021
Easy to download before the trip and use along our drive. Would use this app again for another driving tour.
Response from Host
Jun 2021
Wow, thank you so much!! So glad you enjoyed it! We have similar self-guided tours for Arches, Bryce, Zion, Grand Staircase Escalante, etc available on our website. Hopefully, you get the chance to use some of these in the future!
Charles_Y
May 2021
I liked the way the app followed your progress, and would start the narration as you approached your destination. The only downside was the beginning. It should be renamed the dinosaur park, instead of the Moab Giants. They are the smallest things in the area.
Response from Host
May 2021
Wow, thank you so much!! So glad you enjoyed it! We’ll definitely think about clarifying the Moab Giants (the official name) in the next update. We have similar self-guided tours for Arches, Bryce, Zion, Grand Staircase Escalante, etc available on our website. Hopefully, you get the chance to use some of these in the future!

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