Canyonlands National Park Backcountry Tour

To truly understand the raw scale of Canyonlands, get off the pavement and down onto the canyon floor. As an authorized concessionaire of the National Park Service, we hold exclusive permits to take you into the rugged heart of Canyonlands on this premier half-day adventure. Our route begins along the Colorado River corridor and reveals a red rock desert that most park visitors completely miss. Professional guides offer an authentic, deeply knowledgeable look into the region's natural history and complex geological layers. The trail serves as a living timeline of earth's history, showcasing the exposed rock layers within the park. Along the way, we'll step out to examine the intricate petroglyphs left behind by the Ancestral Puebloans, take in the sweeping bend at the Gooseneck Overlook, and track across the White Rim to view Musselman Arch. The trip culminates with a dramatic ascent up the sheer cliff face via the Shafer Trail switchbacks, delivering you right to the top of the mesa.

1. 1

   Canyonlands National Park

   2 hours

   Folks visiting the parks on their own typically only see what is along side the pavement road - this tour will venture into the 4x4 backcountry for an exquisite and unique National Park experience. Throughout this half day experience you will learn all about the parks, history, and geology of the Moab area. Your guide will point out formations, and other towering landscapes along the way. We stop frequent for photos but there is little hiking. Sight seeing areas on this tour include but are not limited to Potash Road, Shafer Trail, Musselman Arch, Ancient Petroglyphs (Rock Carvings), Thelma and Louise point, and breathtaking canyon views.

2. 2

   Potash Road

   Pass by

   Potash Road as it carves along the Colorado River, tracking beneath towering red cliffs before the pavement ends and the real backcountry begins

3. 3

   Utah Scenic Byway 279 Rock Art Sites

   15 min

   Stand beneath the towering sheer cliffs, where centuries-old petroglyphs left by ancient cultures are etched into the dark desert varnish.

4. 4

   Shafer Trail Viewpoint

   30 min

   We’ll ascend the legendary Shafer Trail, a stunning series of dirt switchbacks that hug the cliffside, offering sweeping, panoramic views that open up wider with every turn as we climb toward the top of Island in the Sky mesa.

5. 5

   Musselman Arch

   20 min

   We’ll stop to look out at Musselman Arch, a striking, flat-topped stone bridge that juts out over a sheer 300-foot drop to the canyon floor offering a dramatic look at the power of natural erosion.

6. 6

   Island in the Sky

   Pass by

   Thousands of feet above the canyon floor with sweeping views of a landscape carved by time. Where each layer of exposed sandstone tells a different chapter of earth's ancient geologic history.

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Please book separate reservations for groups over 6. Your group will travel together in separate vehicles.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.