Hiking the Grand View Point Trail in Canyonlands National Park
Distance: 1.8 miles / 2.9 km
Floating atop the endless miles of remote drainages, rivers, and towering buttes below, the Grand View Point Trail is, without a doubt, one of the best, most widely-loved, and renowned day hikes in all of Canyonlands National Park!
Eluded by the awe-inspiring name, the Grand View Point Trail is often seen as the crown jewel of the Island in the Sky District, making it one of the park’s must-see destinations.
Furthermore, this relatively quick and easy day hike is a local and visitor favorite alike, especially if you plan to hike the Grand View Point in the late evening for sunset!
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!
Grand View Point Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Grand View Point Trail is located at the very end of Island in the Sky Road.
This is the same parking area as the Grand View Point Overlook, and for this reason, parking here can be one of the more challenging places in the park during the peak morning and afternoon hours of the day.
However, if you decide to hike the Grand View Point Trail for sunset, parking is typically much easier to come by, as opposed to earlier times throughout the day.
Google Maps Directions: Grand View Point 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 Grand View Point Trail
The Grand View Point Trail begins on the same path as the Grand View Point Overlook, located a short distance ahead.
Grand View Point Overlook
After a very short walk, the path ends at the Grand View Point Overlook, which is where most people turn back, as opposed to hiking further.
Grand View Point Trail
From the Grand View Point Overlook, the trail continues to the right of the lookout, out toward the Grand View Point, located about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) away.
For the most part, the Grand View Point Trail is a relatively flat hike, with very little elevation change.
That being said, the exposure off the side of the trail is one of the most extreme of any trail in Canyonlands National Park, which I mention for the sake of hiking with young kids.
It may be best to keep young ones nearby!
This is the view looking south toward The Needles District.
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!
This is the view looking back toward the Grand View Point Overlook and the La Sal Mountains to the east of Moab.
Overall, the Grand View Point Trail is a very straightforward hike, as it simply traverses the southernmost tip of the Island in the Sky Mesa toward one of the park’s most panoramic viewpoints.
This is where the end of the Grand View Point Trail—the highest rock formation in the photo below—begins to stand out from the surrounding landscape.
At the very end, the Grand View Point Trail scrambles up this final rock formation before reaching the panoramic overlook just beyond.
Grand View Point
Standing at roughly 1,200 ft. (366 m) above White Rim Road down below, the Grand View Point is one of the most spectacular overlooks in all of Canyonlands National Park.
The Grand View Point is also a park favorite for watching the sunset, which I personally could not recommend any more highly!
That being said, be sure to come prepared with a quality headlamp, like the ones I’ve trusted and used below, if this is something that you’re considering.
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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