Click here for a fullscreen version of the slideshow!

While Canyonlands National Park is adjacent to Moab and Arches, it is still a bit of a drive and the scenic drive through the park itself is long. Make sure you come with a full tank of gas and bring some snacks and a picnic lunch to make a day of it! We took our time and enjoyed meandering through the park as we took two cars for the day because Chris and I were determined to “stay up late” and catch sunset in the park.

Points of interest that you will see in our photos include Shafer Canyon Overlook, Shafer Trail Viewpoint, Green River Overlook, Candlestick Tower Overlook, Buck Canyon Overlook, and Orange Cliffs Overlook. Our short hike of the day was the Mesa Arch Trail complete with epic views of Canyonlands through Mesa Arch itself. This is a very easy 0.5 mile lollipop loop and depending what time of year you come, may also have some gorgeous blooming succulents.

Things we would like to come back and do include making time to visit Dead Horse Point State Park and all the beauty it has to offer. Additionally, while we did not have an offroad capable vehicle on this trip, we would like to return with one and be able to experience descending 1500ft into they canyons to venture on the Shafer Trail.

Canyonlands was vast and stunning and the sunset we got to enjoy definitely made it worth our while to stay up late and drive back in the dark. Plan on giving yourself a whole day to enjoy this park if you plan to do any hiking and want to include Dead Horse Point State Park.

Day 6 Campground:
Moab Valley RV Resort – Rating: ★★★★★

We had a lovely site with some grass and a little bit of shade. While there isn’t a ton of shade at the campground, there is significantly more than some of the other places we looked at. The grass was soft and green and there was a nice amount of space. While our site felt roomy with a teardrop, I can imagine with something larger, it would be relatively small. As Chris’s family stayed in one of the cabins at the campground, I will say that these were also a nice option with comfortable sleeping areas, decent kitchens and bathrooms, and, most importantly, air conditioning. Overall the staff was friendly and welcoming, and the campground was clean, quiet, and well taken care of.

Link: https://www.sunrvresorts.com/resorts/west/utah/moab-valley/