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Canyonlands National Park Half-Day Tour from Moab

Badge of ExcellenceMoab, USA

4 hours
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

On this half-day 4WD adventure from Moab, explore the rugged, red stone interior of Canyonlands National Park, where you’ll experience the beauty of the Island in the Sky district and the stunning Gooseneck Overlook. Your professional guide will navigate your vehicle down the switchbacks of White Rim Road, where you will not only see the remains of ancient Pueblo civilizations, but also admire the canyon walls that drop 1,000 feet (300m) down. It’s an easy drive from Moab to Canyonlands, and the views of the meandering Colorado River help cap off this Utah adventure.

Canyonlands National Park tour by 4WD from Moab
Visit the sheer sandstone mesa of Island in the Sky, which stands more than 1,000 feet (300 meters) tall
Stop at scenic lookouts with panoramic views of canyon country
Travel the rugged terrain of the Shafer Trail by 4WD
See examples of rock art from ancient indigenous Pueblo cultures
Choose from a morning, afternoon or sunset tour
NAVTEC Expeditions is an authorized concessionaire of Canyonlands and Arches National Park

What's Included

Professional guide
Transport by 4x4 vehicle
Ice Water

Gratuity for Guide :)
Soft drinks + food
National Park Entrance Fees ($15/person unless you have a parks pass)
Car/booster seat (required for children 7 & under)

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Meeting point

321 N Main St, Moab, UT 84532, USA
On the North end of town across from the tire shop. NAVTEC Expeditions

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Pickup details

Additional pick up locations my be available. Please confirm Pick up time 24 hours in advance when confirming reservation.

What To Expect

Your tour begins in the middle of Moab where you’ll meet you professional guide, who will help you get comfortably situated inside of the off-road, 4WD vehicle. Enjoy the 30-mile (48km) drive from Moab to Canyonlands National Park, where you’ll explore the popular Island in the Sky District with its spectacular desert scenery.

Start off atop a mesa with views looking out over the horizon before your guide deftly maneuvers the switchbacks of Shafer Trail. On this section of the 100-mile (161-km) White Rim Road Loop, you’ll make stops at spectacular Gooseneck Overlook and famous Musselman Arch, and photograph vistas of the Colorado River and the view from Thelma and Louise Point.

In addition to the popular lookouts, your expert guide will take you to spots that aren’t as frequently visited, where you’ll find everything from ancient Pueblo rock art to vertical views down the canyons. You’ll learn the history of the Pueblo people who inhabited the Four Corners area, and aside from the culture and history lessons, your guide will also explain the geology of the red rock canyons before you.

When you stop for a break to take photos, venture out on one of the short trails that leave from many of the viewpoints; you’ll get a different perspective and angle for photographing the canyons.

When this Canyonlands tour from Moab is over, your guide will return you to the middle of Moab to the spot where the tour began.

Potash Road

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Utah Scenic Byway 279 Rock Art Sites

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Island in the Sky

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

Musselman Arch

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Shafer Trail (Pass By)

Canyonlands National Park (Pass By)

Corona Arch (Pass By)

Dead Horse Point State Park

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Things to bring: camera, water bottle (lots of extra water provided on your tour for refills) and sun protection
NAVTEC Expeditions is an authorized concessionaire of Canyonlands and Arches National Park
Not wheelchair accessible

Most travelers can participate
Every 4x4 tour needs a minimum of 3 individuals to run. If your trip does not meet the minimum, you will be offered other tour options or get a full refund. (Another option is to pay for the 3rd fare)
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Laura_M

Jason did a great job sharing information about the geology of the area as well as interesting tales. He was very personable, too. Thankfully he was also a great driver as there were amazingly beautiful and sheer cliffs at times. Two of our people have a fear of heights. The vastness and grandeur of Canyonlands is humbling! Learned it is actually the start of the Grand Canyon

Reviews

5.0

846 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 846 reviews

Amazingly beautiful wilderness

Laura_M, Apr 2024

Canyonlands surprise

George_M, Apr 2024

Take a back country 4x4 if you want to feel like you walked into a John Wayne movie. Very different park from Arches although just across the road from each other. NAVTECH guides and tours excellent. Highly recommend. We went back later and hiked trail the Corona Arch Trail. A “moderate” hike it was a bit challenging but worth it.

Spectacular views....

Ron_S, Apr 2024

Spectacular views. Breathtaking natural beauty. Our guide Yuri !!!!!!!!! Nnnnnn. A great time knowledgeable and interesting guide

Great way to explore Canyonlands!

Debbie_M, Apr 2024

This was a great way to explore a very large park. Our guide, Jason, explained so much about the area and suggested an amazing hike that we took later that day. Fun tour!

Very cool National Park

Tom_V, Mar 2024

Great guide. Leaned a lot about the park and loved it. Very rugged and beautiful. Jeep tour is a awesome experience and great way to see the deep inside the canyons

Great trip to Canyonlands!

Charles_F, Mar 2024

Adam was fantastic - loved it. Crazy informative trip explaining the Colorado rivers role in the creation of the Canyonlands. I highly recommend.

Great backcountry trip

roy_b, Mar 2024

Great guide willing to go into tough areas! Youngsters will really like it! Will do it again in a couple of years.

Can’t miss this!

Jacob_D, Nov 2023

Great tour. Chance was great. The pipe was so dope. Loved the knowledge and now I want to come back for a river tour!

An adventure into Canyonlands (Island in the Sky side)

Sean_G, Nov 2023

Bronson was the best guide! ...as well as a great and safe driver! Very exciting tour through Canyonlands (Island in the Sky area). Tons to learn and we were treated to information on critical geologic events, rock types, uranium mining activity, and how the strata was formed. We had looks at seabed fossils, uranium deposits, and the White Rim. And enjoyed several movie references including 127 Hours, Geronimo, The Lone Ranger (Johnny Depp version), Thelma & Louise, and John Wayne movies. Views of the canyon and valley were amazing as well as a lucky view of some Bighorn sheep.

Highly recommend

Cindy_J, Nov 2023

Taking the back roads into the park was so much fun! The views were spectacular! The stories shared by Adam were interesting and informative! Amazing sites! We even got to see where Thelma and Louise off the cliff! Highly recommend!

BLAINE! Ask for Blaine!

Lauren_R, Nov 2023

This tour exceeded expectations. The landscape alone is enough to bring you to your knees, but Blaine, our guide (and local bearded historian) just took it over the top. He is so knowledgeable about many aspects of history both geological and Native American/early civilizations of this area. I’ve done a lot of tours like this in many places and Blaine’s in the top 3 of tour guides ever. YOU WILL NOT SEE A TON OF “official” park stuff. This is a backcountry tour. In a land cruiser. It is stuff you won’t see by just going to the sanctioned park. it’s awesome. Strap in and get ready for a bumpy ride. Ask for some YEEHAW moments!!!

Best of Canyonlands

William_L, Oct 2023

Mick was a great guide. We saw the best of Canyonlands on gravel roads that should only be done in a 4X4 vehicle. Great tour. Highly recommended.

Great tour

Sue_K, Oct 2023

Excellent tour! Bus was a great and very informative guide! Fun ride on the Shafer and White Rim trails

Fun and exciting!!

Kim_M, Oct 2023

Shaggy was an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable about the area. I recommend this tour! I has a great time.

Great Trip in the Canyonlands

Marsi_M, Oct 2023

Bus was an amazing guide. Very knowledgeable and charming. There were so many great places to see I can't say which was my favorite. I would highly recommend this trip!

Perfect half day trip

Pam_W, Oct 2023

We thoroughly enjoyed our half day Canyonlands trip! Our driver, Matt, was engaging and knowledgeable. And also a great driver! We saw beautiful views and Matt knew lots of great places to stop and take it all in. If you’re going to be in Moab and aren’t planning to go off road on your own, this trip is a must do!

So much fun!

Belinda_B, Oct 2023

We had a great time on our Canyonlands half day trip. Mike with Navtec was a wealth of information, very helpful and always strived to keep us safe. The tour had just the right mix of riding and walking. We saw alot that we wouldn't have seen on our own. Out family loved it! Highly recommend! TIPS: 1. if you are a family of four with kids in car seats, you won't be able to do this tour - there just isn't room. Booster seats are fine. 2. Despite what it says on the Viator website, you do NOT have to pay a separate entrance fee(s) to Canyonlands. Snacks are also included. 3. This tour is not completely of Canyonlands. The tour enters the back way which includes BLM land. But the BLM landscape was just as interesting and beautiful. Don't let this deter you. 4. This is NOT an open jeep. It's in an enclosed Toyota Land cruiser. But if you want to get hot with red dirt all over you, I would suggest renting a jeep on your own.

Fun way to spend the morning.

Frank_B, Oct 2023

The opportunity to travel into the canyons rather than just see them from the lookout points. Very knowledgeable and personable guide.

Informative and beautiful

Tracy_M, Oct 2023

Ron was an amazing guide! He gave us a lot of information and made it very interesting. He was a good driver and we felt comfortable with him. We will definitely tell others about your guide company.

Amazing experience!

Susan_C, Oct 2023

Dave was knowledgeable and kind. He was a great guide! This was the best way to see the park!! An awesome up close view of amazing sites I would not have seen on my own. Thanks for a great experience!

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