TL/DR: Mesa Arch at sunrise (or 30 minutes after to avoid crowds and get better pics) is priority. If time, do Upheaval Dome and Grand View Point.

Beautiful! We only did the Island in the Sky section, which is just a short drive from Arches National Park. Very different views and landscape from Arches! We visited Canyonlands on Monday, July 4, 2022. It was great because it wasn’t as crowded as Arches was. Our visit to Canyonlands took about 6 hours total.

To bring: WATER!! (we each brought a 1.5 liter bottle, plus two 20 oz. water bottles - always better to have too much than too little), sunscreen, food (we each brought a turkey sandwich and peanut butter and jelly sandwich, as well as a protein bar that we didn’t end up eating, but always good to bring in case!), sunglasses and/or hat.

To wear in the summer: Close-toed trail running or hiking shoes, athletic wear, like leggings or shorts, and a t-shirt. There were so many people wearing sandals or flip flops with no traction. You really limit yourself when you don’t have proper footwear!

Here’s what we did:

• Mesa Arch - Must do!! The views are incredible and the arch is so cool! 1/2 a mile, about 10 minutes each way. We got to the arch 20 minutes before sunrise and people were blocking the arch with their annoying cameras set to timelapse. So I recommend getting there 30 minutes after sunrise to avoid the crowds and get better pics (or just stay for another 30 minutes if you get there in time for sunrise).
• Upheaval Dome - When we first got there right after watching sunrise at Mesa Arch, around 7:20 am, there was virtually no one. It was like our own private trail. We went to the first and second overlooks. We did this in about 45-50 minutes.
• Green River Overlook - Very cool!
• Grand View Point - You can go to the overlook or hike 1 mile trail one way. This took us an hour. Not too strenuous, but very little shade. Cool views of canyon!

Highly recommend checking out Canyonlands! And go early to beat the heat and the crowds!