In southern Utah, the Colorado and Green Rivers carve the high desert into a labyrinth of red-rock canyons and break Canyonlands into three distinct districts — Island in the Sky , The Needles and The Maze. Recently a fourth area, called Horseshoe Canyon, just west of the Maze was added to the park.

Canyonlands is the largest national park in Utah. The 530 square miles of the park contain countless canyons, arches, spires, buttes and a myriad of other spectacular rock formations.

For over millions of years, the rivers and their small tributaries have carved the flat sandstone rock layers into many amazing forms with a great variety of colors.

The Canyonlands area was only designated a National Park in 1964.

The most satisfactory way to visit and get a feel for the park is by walking. There are good campgrounds and well developed trails in two sections sections, Needles and Island in the Sky. Getting into the Maze is more difficult--requiring a challenging 4-wheel drive. Once in, the trails are well marked and worth walking. Horseshoe Canyon is accessed through dirt roads and has a parking lot at the top. A trail winds down into the canyon.

Many people also tour the park by 4-wheel drive and bicycle. It is also possible to canoe or take a jet boat tour down the Colorado from Moab or down the Green River from the town of Green River.