Canyonlands National Park Backcountry Tour

4.9 (89 reviews) Moab, USA
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Duration4h 30m
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Group sizeUp to 24 travelers
Pickup offeredSee the meeting and pickup details below

Overview

To truly understand the raw scale of Canyonlands, get off the pavement and down onto the canyon floor. As an authorized concessionaire of the National Park Service, we hold exclusive permits to take you into the rugged heart of Canyonlands on this premier half-day adventure.
Our route begins along the Colorado River corridor and reveals a red rock desert that most park visitors completely miss. Professional guides offer an authentic, deeply knowledgeable look into the region's natural history and complex geological layers.
The trail serves as a living timeline of earth's history, showcasing the exposed rock layers within the park. Along the way, we'll step out to examine the intricate petroglyphs left behind by the Ancestral Puebloans, take in the sweeping bend at the Gooseneck Overlook, and track across the White Rim to view Musselman Arch. The trip culminates with a dramatic ascent up the sheer cliff face via the Shafer Trail switchbacks, delivering you right to the top of the mesa.

What's included

  • Private transportation
  • Bottled water
  • Light Snacks are provided
  • Gratuity not included but always appreciated
  • America the Beautiful pass holders excluded

What to expect

  1. Canyonlands National Park
    2h
    Folks visiting the parks on their own typically only see what is along side the pavement road - this tour will venture into the 4x4 backcountry for an exquisite and unique National Park experience.

    Throughout this half day experience you will learn all about the parks, history, and geology of the Moab area. Your guide will point out formations, and other towering landscapes along the way. We stop frequent for photos but there is little hiking.

    Sight seeing areas on this tour include but are not limited to Potash Road, Shafer Trail, Musselman Arch, Ancient Petroglyphs (Rock Carvings), Thelma and Louise point, and breathtaking canyon views.
  2. Potash Road
    Pass by
    Potash Road as it carves along the Colorado River, tracking beneath towering red cliffs before the pavement ends and the real backcountry begins
  3. Utah Scenic Byway 279 Rock Art Sites
    15m
    Stand beneath the towering sheer cliffs, where centuries-old petroglyphs left by ancient cultures are etched into the dark desert varnish.
  4. Shafer Trail Viewpoint
    30m
    We’ll ascend the legendary Shafer Trail, a stunning series of dirt switchbacks that hug the cliffside, offering sweeping, panoramic views that open up wider with every turn as we climb toward the top of Island in the Sky mesa.
  5. Musselman Arch
    20m
    We’ll stop to look out at Musselman Arch, a striking, flat-topped stone bridge that juts out over a sheer 300-foot drop to the canyon floor offering a dramatic look at the power of natural erosion.
  6. Island in the Sky
    Pass by
    Thousands of feet above the canyon floor with sweeping views of a landscape carved by time. Where each layer of exposed sandstone tells a different chapter of earth's ancient geologic history.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Do Not rely solely on GPS to find us! Please head south starting from downtown Moab. We will be on the right hand side approx 4 miles down the road. Our Address is 2182 US 191

End point

Do Not rely solely on GPS to find us! Please head south starting from downtown Moab. We will be on the right hand side approx 4 miles down the road. Our Address is 2182 US 191

Pickup details

Please contact us 24 hours prior to confirm pick up. Thank you.

Additional information

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please book separate reservations for groups over 6. Your group will travel together in separate vehicles.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

4.9 (89)
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Operated by Moab Scenic Adventures · Booked through Viator
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