15 Best Canyonlands National Park Hikes for Families

As the largest national park in Utah, Canyonlands offers visitors over 527.5 square miles of canyons, river corridors, and unique sandstone rock formations. This means there are tons of Canyonlands National Park hikes for you and your family to trek!

Granted, Canyonlands is not known for family-friendly hiking trails so you might be surprised to learn that Canyonlands has a wide variety of hikes suitable for trekkers of all ages. It is a big park, after all.

Canyonlands is split up into four distinct districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the Green & Colorado Rivers. You can find the best Canyonlands National Park hikes for families in the Island in the Sky area and The Needles. These trails range from easy 20-minute walks to more strenuous two-hour adventures.

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This complete guide covers all the best Canyonlands National Park hikes suitable for families. It’s listed in order from easy, to moderate, to strenuous so you can choose the best hikes for your family’s abilities and ages.

You’ll also learn which Canyonlands National Parks hikes are recommended for families from the Park Ranger Station in Moab just outside of the national park in Southeast Utah too!

Best Canyonlands National Park Hikes for Younger Kids

1. Visitor Center Garden Trail

• Distance: 0.1-mile loop trail (approx. 10 minutes)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Location: The Needles District
• Parking Lot: The Needles Visitor Center

This little garden walk doesn’t even have an official name, but it’s a small educational gem of a trail directly in front of the Needles Visitor Center.

If your kids like the Junior Ranger programs, have them grab their booklets, and they can score some flora and fauna answers on the markers/signs as they walk this quick little path. This was honestly one of my kids favorite excursions in the entire park!

2. Roadside Ruin Walk

• Distance: 0.3-mile loop trail (approx. 20 minutes)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Location: The Needles District
• Parking Lot: The Needles Visitor Center

This is absolutely one of the best hikes in Canyonlands for families with super young kiddos! We’re talking toddlers and pre-schoolers with little legs who love to stop and look at every plant and rock. It’s super close to the visitor center so you have easy access to bathrooms and picnic tables.

Although it’s an unpaved path and a little rocky, the elevation change is only 11 ft. Plus, you get to see a 1,000-year-old structure called ‘roadside ruin’ which was a shelter built by indigenous people.

3. Mesa Arch Trail

• Distance: 0.6-mile loop trail (approx. 30 minutes)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Location: Island in the Sky District
• Parking Lot: Mesa Arch Trailhead

Park Ranger Robbie said that Mesa Arch Trail is, “easy for kiddos” and it’s one of the best easy hikes for families but to be mindful that the 27 ft “arch is on the edge of a canyon.”

And I concur with ranger Robbie! Our family loved this trail. It is most definitely one of the best easy hikes in Canyonlands. It’s the perfect blend of a short hike with a spectacular view.

It’s unpaved, but the elevation change is only 56 ft. The underside of the arch allows you to see out across the Island in the Sky Mesa canyons and La Sal Mountains in the distance.

This hike is perfect for sunrise if you can get your kids ready that early! There are also public bathrooms at the trailhead.

4. Pothole Point Trail

• Distance: 0.6-mile loop trail (approx. 40 minutes)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Location: The Needles District
• Parking Lot: Pothole Point Trailhead

In this part of the park, Pothole Point Trail is one of the best Canyonlands National Park hikes for pre-schoolers. Elevation change is minimal (only 36 ft) but the slickrock can be slippery, so make sure your kids are wearing shoes with good traction.

You’ll also have to keep your kids out of the potholes, whether they are wet or dry! They are a tiny and sensitive little ecosystem. There aren’t any facilities at the trailhead, but you’re only a 9-minute drive to the visitor center.

5. Upheaval Dome Trail (First Overlook)

• Distance: 0.6-mile out and back trail (approx. 30 minutes)
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Location: Island in the Sky District
• Parking Lot: Upheaval Dome Trailhead

One ranger at the Moab Ranger Station said that the Upheaval Dome Trail had a “great view” and is “good if you want the kids to sweat a little more, but still easy.” So, make of that what you will! If your kids are managing this moderate hike well, you can always continue on to the Second Overlook.

It’s a short trail, but it’s a little steep with an elevation change of 115 ft. But the ranger is right, the overlook does give you incredible panoramic views of the deep canyons below.

There are public bathrooms at the trailhead but watch you don’t accidentally take the strenuous Syncline Loop Trail instead. Both Canyonlands National Park hikes have the same trailhead!

6. Cave Spring Trail

• Distance: 0.6-mile out and back trail (approx. 45 minutes)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Location: The Needles District
• Parking Lot/Trailhead: Cave Spring Trailhead

This is a favorite trail for families because it’s easy, not too long, and not too steep as its elevation change is only 67 ft. You do have to climb two ladders at the end of the trail to get into the cave and there is only a dirt road to the trailhead parking lot so take those into account.

But one of the best things about this great hike isn’t even the hike, it’s what’s waiting for you in the cave! You’ll find prehistoric markings and the remains of an old cowboy camp including tables, dishes, and tools. It won’t be easy to keep your kids from touching these artifacts but try your best as they are archaeological sites.

7. Gooseneck Overlook Trail

• Distance: 0.6-mile out and back trail (approx. 30 minutes)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Location: Island in the Sky District (White Rim Road)
• Parking Lot: Gooseneck Overlooks Parking Lot

You’ll need a 4-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle and a permit to drive down the White Rim Road, but it’s worth it for the Gooseneck Overlook Trail. It’s an easy, unpaved trail with an elevation change of 98 ft overlooking bends in the Colorado River.

While it’s not one of the most difficult Canyonlands National Park hikes, there is a lack of facilities nearby. And the fact the trail ends at the edge of a canyon means Gooseneck might not be the best place to take super young kids. It’s a great spot for middle school kids who haven’t done a lot of hiking before!

8. Whale Rock Trail

• Distance: 0.8-mile out and back trail (approx. one hour)
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Location: Island in the Sky District
• Parking Lot: Whale Rock Trailhead

Two rangers at the Ranger Station in Moab said that Whale Rock Trail is, “one of the most popular trails” and, “is a favorite for people with kiddos.” So, you can bet this is a popular spot!

Whale Rock Trail gets its name from the shape of the rock that you hike along. You start at the tail and finish the hike with panoramic views of the canyon at the blowhole.

The elevation change is 141 ft and there are steep drop-offs on either side (but it has a wide base for hikers). The trailhead also doesn’t have any bathrooms and is an 18-minute drive to the visitor center, so it’s a great place to hike with pre-teen kids.

9. White Rim Overlook Trail

• Distance: 1.8-mile out and back trail (approx. 1.5 hours)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Location: Island in the Sky District
• Parking Lot/Trailhead: White Rim Overlook Trailhead

Although this trail is much longer than the Canyonland National Park hikes listed so far, White Rim Overlook Trail is considered easy with an elevation change of 159 ft. You get a good view of the Colorado River, Monument Basin, and La Sal Mountains in the distance.

However, there is very limited parking (only 5 spots) at the trailhead, so the best time to try this hike is in the late afternoon. There are public bathrooms at the trailhead though, which is a big plus for families with young kids!

10. Grand View Point Trail

• Distance: 1.8-mile out and back trail (approx. 1.5 hours)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Location: Island in the Sky District
• Parking Lot/Trailhead: Grand Viewpoint Trail

Drive further down Grand View Point Road from the White Rim Overlook Trailhead for an alternative if the parking lot is full. They are super similar trails in terms of length, difficulty, and elevation change (73 ft). Don’t forget to check out the Orange Cliffs Overlook before setting off on your hike!

Grand Viewpoint Trail is an unpaved hike that ends at the Grand View Point Overlook. It has the best views of the canyons that give this national park its name. There are public bathrooms at the trailhead and it’s a straight shot up the main road back to the Island in the Sky Visitor Center.

11. Slickrock Foot Trail

• Distance: 2.4-mile loop trail (approx. two hours)
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Location: The Needles District
• Parking Lot/Trailhead: Slickrock Trailhead

This is the last of the Canyonlands National Park hikes for younger kids. While the distance may challenging to some kids, it’s still one of the easy trails in The Needles district. Slickrock Trail is ideal for pre-teens and it only has an 80 ft elevation change and stays high.

Because Slickrock Foot Trail is high, you are rewarded with gorgeous views! It has four distinct viewpoints over Little Spring Canyon which should hopefully provide enough motivation to persuade your younger kids to take a two-hour hike.

There isn’t a parking lot at the trailhead so you’ll have to park just off the main, paved road. Make sure you’re following Slickrock Foot Trail unless you’ve brought a mountain bike!

Best Canyonlands National Park Hikes for Older Kids

**Most of these hikes will be too steep, long, or dangerous for kids. My family was last in Canyonlands with a 14, 13 and 9-year old, and we did not feel comfortable doing any of the following hikes. But I’m also the type of mom who makes my kids stand 15′ back from any cliff edge, too, so you can use that as a barometer.

However, if you’re looking for Canyonland National Park hikes for your teens or young adults, these are more challenging, adventurous options.

11. Moses and Zeus Towers Trail

• Distance: 1.3-mile out and back trail (approx. one hour)
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Location: Island in the Sky District (White Rim Road)
• Parking Lot: Taylor Campground

You’ll need a permit and a four-wheel drive vehicle to drive down the White Rim Road to avoid having to hike the 11.3 miles down the Alcove Spring Trail to reach the trailhead!

In fact, Moses and Zeus Towers Trail doesn’t have much of a trailhead (and no facilities whatsoever!) as one of the more remote Canyonlands National Park hikes. However, the start of the trail is at Taylor’s Campground so there is a small ranger’s station to mark the start.

Moses and Zeus Towers Trail has an elevation change of 717 ft so it’s a tougher hike but not too long. Plus, there’s the benefit of not being surrounded by crowds of other hikers.

12. Aztec Butte Trail

• Distance: 1.4-mile out and back trail (approx. 1.5 hours)
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Location: Island in the Sky District
• Parking Lot: Aztec Butte Trailhead

One of the more popular Canyonlands National Park hikes is the Aztec Butte Trail which forks into one shorter eastern trail and a longer western trail. This sandy route has 222 ft of elevation change and requires a bit of scrambling but the rock formations and ancient Puebloan granaries (where the tribes stored food) at the end are worth the effort!

There are no public bathrooms at the trailhead, but the visitor center is only a 12-minute drive.

13. Fort Bottom Ruin Trail

• Distance: 3.4-mile out and back trail (approx. two hours)
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Location: Island in the Sky District (White Rim Road)
• Parking Lot: Fort Bottom Trailhead

If you’re looking for Canyonlands National Park hikes to visit ancient stone structures built by the ancestral Puebloan people, check out Fort Bottom Ruin Trail. As with other trails off the White Rim Road, you’ll need a permit and a 4WD vehicle.

There’s no real parking area so you might feel like you’re just abandoning your car at the trailhead! This is definitely an adventurous and challenging hike for teens as the elevation change is 418 ft.

With high ledges and a narrow trail, this is NOT one that I was personally comfortable taking my kids on. Plus, our rental minivan wouldn’t have made the back country 4WD cut 😉

14. Lathrop Trail to Canyon Rim

• Distance: 5-mile out and back trail (two to three hours)
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Location: Island in the Sky District
• Parking Lot: Lathrop Trailhead

While the entirety of the Lathrop Trail is 12.2 miles, you can modify many Canyonlands National Park hikes including this one. If you only hike this beautiful sandy path to Canyon Rim, it has an elevation change of 158 ft and is much more doable for kids.

It’s mostly through grasslands until you’re rewarded with views of Airport Tower and the Colorado River at the end. There aren’t any facilities at the trailhead and there’s not much of a parking lot so you’ll have to park just off the main road.

15. Elephant Hill Trail

• Distance: 6.4 miles out and back (four to five hours)
• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Location: The Needles District
• Parking Lot/Trailhead: Elephant Hill Trailhead

This is definitely one of the most challenging Canyonlands National Park hikes you could expect older kids to trek! Again, full disclosure, my kids (ages 9, 13 and 14 did NOT do this hike). While the 728 ft elevation change is tough, the distance is tougher. You’ll need to take plenty of food and water and be prepared for anything!

This trail starts at Elephant Hill Trailhead (which has public bathrooms) and finishes at Devil’s Kitchen Campground. It’s also a 4WD road as well as a hiking and biking path so you may see some off-road vehicles down this trail too.

Canyonlands National Park Hikes That Aren’t Ideal for (Most) Kids

There are some popular Canyonlands National Park hikes that are also very long, challenging, and difficult hikes. Most families should avoid these trails.

Visiting Canyonlands with your 16 to 18-year-old high schoolers who play a lot of sports? They might love a challenging hike in either of the main, separate districts! You know your kids better than anyone, but these Canyonlands National Park hikes aren’t ideal for most families:

• Confluence Overlook Trail: 11-mile out-and-back trail in The Needles which can take up to six hours to complete. Includes a cliff but most of the trail is in dry, open desert.
• Druid Arch Trail: 10.8-mile trail in The Needles which can take up to seven hours to complete. It offers spectacular views of this district, but some parts of the trail are steep and include scrambling.
• Chesler Park Loop Trail: 10.7-mile trail in The Needles with an elevation change of 615 ft which can take five to seven hours to complete. Beautiful views of the district but pretty tough.
• Horseshoe Canyon Trail: 7.2-mile out-and-back trail through the slot canyons of The Maze which can take over five hours to complete. This trail ends at the Great Gallery where you’ll find rock art (pictographs) dating back to 5,000 BC which is why it’s one of the more popular hikes, but it gets steep.

Tips for Families on Canyonlands National Park Hikes

• Bring Plenty of Water: Carry at least a gallon for long hikes in the summer months. Ranger Robbie agrees as he says, “Always bring 2 liters of water per person and avoid hiking in the hottest parts of the day. Always stay hydrated regardless of season and prepare for a dry desert environment!”
• Wear Layers and Hiking Boots: Leave the sneakers at home and wear hiking boots (or trail runners) to traverse the rocky terrain. Sweat-wicking gear is essential too. Park Ranger Robbie says, “If hiking in fall or winter make sure to bring layers of clothing as it gets cold” at the end of the day.
• Check Conditions with the National Park Service: It’s a good practice to swing by the visitor center of all the United States National Parks. The rangers here will know the weather forecast, trail closures, and any other info to make sure you have a safe and fun hike.
• Take Part in the Junior Ranger Program: Pick up a free activity booklet from the visitor center which can be adapted for kids of all ages and abilities. Once your kids have completed it, they receive a badge and recite the Junior Ranger pledge. It’s a great opportunity for adorable photos!
• Don’t Forget the Scenic Drives: Visiting Canyonlands with really young kids? Most hikes are out, but you can see amazing views via a short walk from your scenic drive through the park. Check out Green River Overlook, Wooden Shoe Arch Overlook, and Confluence Overlook where you can see the Green River and the Colorado River converge in Cataract Canyon.
• Hike in Other Utah National Parks: Utah’s ‘Mighty Five’ are also worth well visiting. Arches National Park is the closest to Canyonlands but there’s also Capitol Reef National Park, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Park. Dead Horse Point State Park is next door to Canyonlands and is also incredible. This is where they filmed the last scene from Thelma & Louise!