Canyonlands National Park: Island in the Sky Driving Tour
Canyonlands National Park: Island in the Sky Driving Tour
Looking for Canyonlands National Park tours that actually explain what you're looking at?
This self-guided GPS audio driving tour covers Island in the Sky, a mesa that floats 1,000 feet above the surrounding canyon country, with views that stretch fifty miles in every direction.
You'll hear the real stories behind this landscape: the uranium prospector who struck it rich overnight and bronzed his own boots to celebrate, the wild mustangs trapped on a waterless mesa within sight of the river below, and the park superintendent who spent a decade fighting Congress to protect this place.
Along the way you'll discover:
- Ancient petroglyphs and Dead Horse Point State Park
- The Shafer Trail switchbacks, carved into the mesa face
- Mesa Arch, one of the most photographed spots in the National Park System
- Upheaval Dome, a mysterious crater formed 60 million years ago
- Grand View Point, looking out over 100 miles of canyon country
What will you see? Here are the tour highlights
- Dead Horse Point State Park
See the dramatic mesa where legend says cowboys once trapped wild mustangs, within sight of the Colorado River 2,000 feet below.
- The Shafer Trail
Descend 2,000 feet of hairpin switchbacks on a route first carved as a cattle trail back in 1917.
- Mesa Arch
One of the most photographed spots in the entire National Park System, where sunrise light glows orange beneath the arch.
- Upheaval Dome
A mysterious 3-mile-wide crater, possibly formed by a meteorite impact 60 million years ago.
- Candlestick Tower Overlook
A tall, skinny spire of rock rising out of the canyon like a stone needle planted in the desert.
- Grand View Point
The southernmost tip of Island in the Sky, with roughly 100 miles of canyon country visible in every direction.
FAQ's
- How long does the Canyonlands driving tour take?
Driving straight through takes about three hours round trip, but most visitors spend 4 to 6 hours with stops and short walks.
- Does the tour work without cell service?
Yes. Download the tour before you go, and it runs completely offline using your phone's GPS.
- Can I pause the tour or explore at my own pace?
Yes. This is a fully self-guided tour—pause anytime to hike, take photos, or explore an overlook, and press play when you're ready to continue.
- Is there a park entrance fee?
Yes, Canyonlands National Park charges an entrance fee, and Dead Horse Point State Park charges a separate fee of about $10 per vehicle. Both are paid on-site, not through WalknTours.
- Is this tour appropriate for kids?
Yes, this is a family-friendly nature and history tour suitable for all ages.
- Do I need a 4WD vehicle?
No for the main Island in the Sky road, which is fully paved. Some side roads, like the full Shafer Trail and White Rim, require high-clearance or 4WD vehicles.
- What's the best time to see Mesa Arch?
Sunrise, when the light glows orange underneath the arch, though it's a stunning stop any time of day.
- Where does the tour start and end?
It starts near Moab Giants and ends at Grand View Point, the southernmost tip of Island in the Sky.
- What's the story behind Dead Horse Point's name?
Legend says cowboys once corralled wild mustangs on this waterless mesa, and some were accidentally left behind to die within sight of the river below.
- How much hiking is involved?
As little or as much as you want. Most stops are drive-up overlooks, with optional short trails at spots like Mesa Arch and Grand View Point.
