After our night in Green River, where by the way exactly opposite of our hotel in campground was, which had quite a lot of campers, we wanted to visit Arches first. What we did not know was that you have to register here online in advance, because so many people want to go to the park and otherwise the park becomes too crowded. Once again, the park was full and we could not enter at all this time. This was now the third or fourth park we could not enjoy. I anticipate that this will rule out trips to the western US for me in the future. We tried to get a ticket online, but it was impossible. So we drove to Canyonlands National Park which is right next door. I already suspected bad, but strangely enough the park was not so much visited. The park is one of my favorite parks in the US at all. Much better than the Grand Canyon and so many other national parks. So we did some hiking over the day there.
In this video, I visit Canyonlands National Park, one of the most striking and expansive landscapes in the American Southwest. Located in southeastern Utah, not far from Moab, Canyonlands is a park of dramatic canyons, towering mesas, sandstone arches, and wide desert views. It is a place shaped by the forces of the Colorado River and the Green River, and exploring it provides an unforgettable impression of how powerful and beautiful nature can be.
Canyonlands is divided into different districts, each with its own unique character. Island in the Sky is the most accessible and offers wide, sweeping views from the top of sheer cliffs. Standing at overlooks here, the land stretches endlessly in all directions, carved into deep canyons and strange shapes. The scale is difficult to take in, and every viewpoint feels like looking out across another world.
The Needles District reveals a different side of the park, with towering rock spires, colourful layers of stone, and trails that wind among formations shaped by erosion over millions of years. Hiking here brings you closer to the landscape, where details of the rock, desert plants, and hidden canyons appear step by step.
For those who venture farther, The Maze is one of the most remote and challenging areas in the park, known for its complex network of canyons and its wild, isolated beauty. Even if not visited directly, the knowledge that such a place exists within the park adds to the sense of Canyonlands as a vast and untamed wilderness.
The two rivers, the Colorado and the Green, are central to the identity of Canyonlands. They cut deep through the rock, creating the immense canyons and shaping the land into terraces, cliffs, and plateaus. From viewpoints, the winding curves of the rivers can often be seen far below, glinting in the sunlight and reminding visitors of the forces that continue to shape this land.
Canyonlands is not only about geology; it is also a place with a deep cultural history. Evidence of ancient peoples remains in the form of rock art, dwellings, and artifacts, showing that humans have lived in and adapted to this desert environment for thousands of years. Today, the park remains a place of connection to both natural and cultural heritage.
The atmosphere of Canyonlands changes with the light and the weather. Sunrises and sunsets paint the cliffs and canyons with intense colours—reds, oranges, and purples—while clear skies reveal endless horizons. On stormy days, clouds cast moving shadows across the land, giving the canyons a shifting, dramatic character.
Walking, hiking, or even just standing still in Canyonlands provides a feeling of both vastness and quiet. The park is less crowded than some of the nearby attractions, and this sense of space and silence makes the experience powerful. Whether exploring short trails to viewpoints or spending longer days in the backcountry, the impression of Canyonlands stays with you long after leaving.
This video gives a general overview of a visit to Canyonlands National Park: the views, the trails, the rivers, and the atmosphere of being in one of the most remarkable landscapes in the United States. It is not a complete guide but a chance to share the feeling of exploring a place that is raw, immense, and unforgettable.
Canyonlands reminds visitors of the scale of time, the power of nature, and the beauty of the desert. A visit here is more than just sightseeing—it is an encounter with a landscape that feels timeless and larger than life.