The most convenient of Canyonlands’ three visitor districts is Island-in-the-Sky, which sits atop a mesa thirty miles from Moab.

Known for its sheer cliffs and sweeping views of the Colorado Plateau, this is the district to visit if you’re short on time. A short walk leads to the park’s most iconic formation: Mesa Arch. This delicate span frames the Washerwoman formation and the Monster Spire from its precarious perch on the mesa’s rim. The nearby Grand View Trail ends at an expansive and slightly terrifying view of the region from atop sheer cliffs. You can leave the crowds behind in the more remote Needle District, named for its sandstone spires. White water rafting trips, which start north of Moab, barrel through Cataract Canyon on the Colorado River on multi-day trips from spring through fall.