Hiking the Aztec Butte Trail in Canyonlands National Park
Distance: 1.7 miles / 2.7 km
The Aztec Butte Trail in Canyonlands National Park is one of the most unique and challenging trails on the Island in the Sky.
By this, I mean that the Aztec Butte Trail is one of a few accessible places within the park to see some of the ancient ruins left behind by the Anasazi and Fremont people. However, this goes without saying that climbing Aztec Butte is more challenging than many visitors give it credit for.
For this reason, I recommend reading through the entire article to learn more about what makes the climb up Aztec Butte one of the more challenging hikes within the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park.
U.S. National Park Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
Aztec Butte Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Aztec Butte Trail is located off of Upheaval Dome Road, which is the first trailhead off the road on the right-hand side.
In my experience, the Aztec Butte Trailhead is much less busy compared to others on the Island in the Sky, meaning that finding a spot to park is usually never an issue.
Google Maps Directions: Aztec Butte Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Canyonlands
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Canyonlands National Park.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
Sun Shirt w/ Hood - A quality sun shirt can be your best friend on a trail with minimal shade, which can be found in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Aztec Butte Trail
The Aztec Butte Trail begins on a slightly downhill trail toward the junction for both Aztec Butte and the Granaries, located about 0.3 miles (0.5 km) away.
The first butte that you can see from the trailhead is not Aztec Butte, but rather, it’s the steeper side of the unnamed butte with the Granaries.
As the trail works its way around the first butte, Aztec Butte becomes visible for the first time on the far side.
Aztec Butte-Granary Junction
At the junction for both Aztec Butte and the Granaries, go right to continue toward Aztec Butte, which is the direction I chose to hike first.
That being said, the following sections that ascend up Aztec Butte may not be the most kid-friendly. If this is your scenario, I recommend going left for the much easier hike to the Granaries, as they are much easier to reach in comparison.
Once at the base of Aztec Butte, the trail essentially disappears, as the hike up Aztec Butte turns into a scramble up to the summit.
Furthermore, many unprepared hikers end up turning back on the sections to come, and many other hikers will have no difficulty with this kind of terrain.
That said, the Aztec Butte scramble isn’t anything more than a Class 3 climb in certain spots, but scrambling up sandstone is deceptively more difficult than it will seem in photos or when looking at it from a distance.
Should you decide to proceed, know that the first section, shown above, is one of the easiest.
If you had any difficulty here, I recommend turning back, as the hike up the final sections only get more and more difficult.
After the first scramble, these next couple sections are a little more mild until the Aztec Butte Trail reaches the final ascent just below the summit.
This is where the Aztec Butte Trail begins to get more difficult compared to anything prior, and it’s generally the point in the trail where unprepared hikers turn back.
That being said, micro-spikes may be a necessity if you happen to be visiting during a time when there is snow and/ or ice on the ground.
I personally use the Yaktrax below.
Climbing this smooth, steep sandstone is more difficult than it may appear.
Once up the initial ledge, the Aztec Butte Trail gets a little easier, as it makes this hard switchback to continue higher.
In my opinion, these final smooth sections up the sandstone proved to be the most difficult, which is why I recommend hiking in shoes with good grip.
Personally, I recommend these hiking/ trail-running shoes, as they are a great choice for almost any trail in the Moab area.
Aztec Butte
Once on the top, the Aztec Butte Trail levels off significantly, as it loops around the plateau.
In my opinion, these views to the north toward Trail Canyon are what make the climb up Aztec Butte worth the effort!
Sun Shirts
If this is your first time in the area, you’re likely unprepared for how strong the sun can be.
For this reason, I recommend picking up a quality, hooded sun shirt if you plan to do any hiking. Protection from the sun cannot be overstated, and in my experience, sunscreen alone has never been enough over a multi-day visit, especially if you’re visiting during the summer season!
Aztec Butte-Granary Junction
Once I returned back to the split from earlier, I continued up the unnamed butte to see the ancient Native American Granaries.
In comparison, this scramble is far less challenging than the climb up Aztec Butte.
Once on the butte, the trail continues straight across toward the Granaries.
Here, the Granary Trail drops down to where the granaries can be found beneath the overhang.
Granaries
According to the National Park Service, most of the damage to these ancient structures in the park occurs from curious visitors touching, grabbing, or putting weight on them.
Therefore, I ask that you please enjoy them from a distance and kindly ask others you see to do the same.
More Canyonlands Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Canyonlands National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
With summer temperatures that soar well above 100 ºF (38 ºC) and snow storms come winter, both Arches and Canyonlands National Park are known for having extremely variable weather throughout the year.
That being said, heavy snow storms are uncommon in the Moab area, but summer adventures need to carefully be planned around the dangerous mid-summer heat. For this reason, you may consider visiting Moab during the off season in order to maximize your time in either park, while also visiting during a time of year that’s far less crowded.
Furthermore, be sure to know the local forecast if you are hiking during the summer monsoon season, as it’s not uncommon for areas, such as slot canyons, to fill with water rapidly, creating very dangerous situations for anyone inside. On top of this, summer monsoonal weather is typically accompanied by lightning, which can be very dangerous in exposed desert areas like the parks around Moab.
As for Canyonlands specifically, the most important thing to stress is the dramatic cliffs surrounding the Island in the Sky and other parts of the park. Even the Mesa Arch is a deadly cliff, which most photos, such as mine, don’t show.
Finally, there is at least one venomous rattlesnake found across the area, which you can learn more about here.
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official Arches and Canyonlands National Park websites.
National Park Service: Arches National Park / Canyonlands National Park
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
Disclaimer
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