Canyonlands National Park
5 Things to See in Canyonlands
1. BACKCOUNTRY ADVENTURE
Canyonlands National Park provides ample hiking opportunities from the sheer cliffs of the Island in the Sky district, the colorful spires of the Needles district and remote back country primitive terrain of the Maze. Back country areas require permits, planning, resources and time. Reservations during peak season are highly recommended. The area surrounding the park in Utah's Canyon Country includes more than 7,000 miles of unpaved, gravel, dirt or native surface roads ready to explore. The hot summer months are best spent above 8,000 feet where roads wind through aspen and pine forests and trails meander through meadows of wildflowers. Spring, fall and winter offer rides over desert routes via auto, 4-wheel drive, ATV and bicycle. San Juan ATV Riders sponsor a safari in September. Wherever you wander, maps are a must. Call 800-574-4386 or go to www.utahscanyoncounry.com.
2. RELICS OF THE PAST
Edge of the Cedars State Park and Museum is the site of an ancestral Pueblo ruin. The modern museum offers visually stunning and thought-provoking exhibits that bring American Indian culture to life. Rare and well-preserved artifacts will delight visitors and an exceptional pottery collection makes this one of the finest museums in the Four Corner region. Changing exhibits are presented throughout the year. Call 435-678-2238 or go to www.stateparks.utah.gov.
3. WINTER WONDERLAND
Whether snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or snowmobiling in the national forests, explore and enjoy the winter months in San Juan County. Hot air balloons light up the night skies over Bluff during the third weekend in January at the annual International Balloon Festival. The high-country may be buried in snow but Bluff, Mexican Hat and Monument Valley offer hiking, ATV adventures, trail rides and auto tours.
4. SAND CASTLES IN STONE
The formations of Monument Valley are timeless skyscrapers sculpted in stone. Explore on your own by traveling a 14-mile loop road through the Valley. Or take a guided tour into the interior and enjoy narrated stories about the local culture. Navajo food and authentic arts and crafts are available at the Navajo Tribal Park and Gouldings Lodge. Tours leave the park headquarters and the lodge throughout the day. The Monument Valley Visitor Center is located at the main intersection in the valley and offers information about the park and the entire area. Gouldings Lodge offers a museum of the original trading post and the many movies which have been made in the valley.
5. OUT IN THE WILDS
Grand Gulch Primitive Area offers a glimpse into the Basketmaker and Pueblo periods of ancient dwellers of the high desert. Travel is restricted to horseback or hiking. Access from Kane Gulch Ranger Station requires a five-hour round trip hike. The Area is located on Cedar Mesa, southwest of Blanding. Other canyons are accessible on Cedar Mesa for hiking.
CONTACT: Utah's Canyon Country, PO Box 490, Monticello, UT 84535, (435) 587-3235, Ext: 4139 or (800) 574-4386, Ext. 4139
Canyonlands In Depth
News from the Parks
Ken Burns on Vacation/Location at Glacier National Park
September 5, 2008 - 1:39pm
It's too early for civilians. As dawn's first light falls on the jagged peaks, creeps down the dwindling glaciers and glides across glass-faced Swiftcurrent Lake, most of the tourists in the Many Glacier Hotel are still snoozing.
September 5, 2008 - 1:39pm
It's too early for civilians. As dawn's first light falls on the jagged peaks, creeps down the dwindling glaciers and glides across glass-faced Swiftcurrent Lake, most of the tourists in the Many Glacier Hotel are still snoozing.
Town Government Rejected by Tusayan
September 5, 2008 - 12:15pm
Tusayan voters have rejected creating a town government for their small community just outside Grand Canyon National Park. Voters turned down incorporation 69-56 in a divisive election over development issues. "We once again said no to massive commercial development here in Tusayan," said Clarinda Vail, a spokeswoman for the Vote No on Tusayan Incorporation group.
September 5, 2008 - 12:15pm
Tusayan voters have rejected creating a town government for their small community just outside Grand Canyon National Park. Voters turned down incorporation 69-56 in a divisive election over development issues. "We once again said no to massive commercial development here in Tusayan," said Clarinda Vail, a spokeswoman for the Vote No on Tusayan Incorporation group.
Tauck Hosts its 10,000th Guest-Volunteer in Yellowstone National Park
September 4, 2008 - 4:32pm
Tauck World Discovery celebrated a unique milestone recently when it hosted the 10,000th participant in its award-winning guest-volunteer program in Yellowstone National Park. The 10,000th volunteer was in one of three Tauck tour groups working in the Park over the weekend of July 19 - 20. The volunteers each donated a portion of their vacation time with Tauck, an escorted tour operator, to work on preservation and beautification projects in Yellowstone National Park.
September 4, 2008 - 4:32pm
Tauck World Discovery celebrated a unique milestone recently when it hosted the 10,000th participant in its award-winning guest-volunteer program in Yellowstone National Park. The 10,000th volunteer was in one of three Tauck tour groups working in the Park over the weekend of July 19 - 20. The volunteers each donated a portion of their vacation time with Tauck, an escorted tour operator, to work on preservation and beautification projects in Yellowstone National Park.
Dupuyer Elementary School Offering Students Unique Learning Experiences
September 4, 2008 - 4:24pm
Dupuyer students started class Wednesday, Aug. 27, and though their numbers are way down from last year, teacher Lydia Mild has some special educational treats for her five students. To kick off the year, the Dupuyer students are doing a comparison unit between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. According to Mild, the unit will cover migratory trails, native tribes and many other aspects of the parks.
September 4, 2008 - 4:24pm
Dupuyer students started class Wednesday, Aug. 27, and though their numbers are way down from last year, teacher Lydia Mild has some special educational treats for her five students. To kick off the year, the Dupuyer students are doing a comparison unit between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. According to Mild, the unit will cover migratory trails, native tribes and many other aspects of the parks.
Boston Trustees Discuss Township Issues
September 4, 2008 - 3:52pm
Boston Township Trustee Gerald Ritch told board members at the Aug. 27 meeting that it appeared unlikely the township could obtain state Issue I grant money to repair or replace failed septic systems of some township businesses. Ritch said a Summit County official told him Coventry Township was able to obtain money in a similar situation, but septic systems are not considered infrastructure, making it unlikely township businesses would qualify.
September 4, 2008 - 3:52pm
Boston Township Trustee Gerald Ritch told board members at the Aug. 27 meeting that it appeared unlikely the township could obtain state Issue I grant money to repair or replace failed septic systems of some township businesses. Ritch said a Summit County official told him Coventry Township was able to obtain money in a similar situation, but septic systems are not considered infrastructure, making it unlikely township businesses would qualify.
