Backcountry Camping in Canyonlands

Tents underneath the stars in Canyonlands

What better way to connect with this wilderness of countless canyons than on foot? Canyonlands offers hundreds of miles of hiking trails with designated campsites, as well as vast primitive areas where hikers find their own campsite (without damaging any soil crusts along the way). Be prepared to navigate using a topographic map.

Things to Know

• Permits are required for overnight trips.
• Spring & fall are best times for backpacking.
• There are very few water sources
• Plan to bring most, if not all of your own water

Where to Go

• Island in the Sky for short day hikes.
• Needles for longer hikes or backpacking.
• Maze for extended backpacking trips.

For more information, including how to reserve permits for backcountry trips, visit our backcountry trip planning website: Backcountry Camping - Canyonlands National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Details

Duration

1-14 Days

Activity

Backcountry Camping

Pets Allowed

No

Pets are not allowed anywhere in the backcountry. For more information, visit our Pets page.

Activity Fee

Yes

There is a non-refundable reservation fee for each Backcountry permit, whether they're reserved in advance, or in person at a visitor center.

 

Activity	Fee	Island in the Sky Group Size Limit (Per Permit)	The Needles Group Size Limit (Per Permit)	The Maze Group Size Limit (Per Permit)
Overnight Backpacking	$36 Permit Reservation fee (includes $6 Recreation.gov fee) + $5 per person, per night	7 people	7 people	7 people

You must pay a park entrance fee for Island in the Sky and The Needles at a park entrance station, visitor center, or online via pay.gov. Each vehicle, motorcycle, and individual entering the park by foot or bicycle must pay an entrance fee.

Location

Canyonlands Backcountry Office

The central backcountry office is located at park administrative offices south of Moab. Rangers can answer questions about backcountry travel over phone or email and issue permits online.

Reservations

Yes

All backcountry camping requires a permit, which can be reserved online at recreation.gov. Overnight Backcountry permit reservations will be available at four months in advance for each of the following seasons and will close two days prior to the trip start date. On the opening dates, permits are released at 8:00am Mountain Time. The season dates are:

• March 10 - June 9 (opens November 10)
• June 10 - September 9 (opens February 10)
• September 10 - December 9 (opens May 10)
• December 10 - March 9 (opens August 10)

Season

Year Round

Accessibility Information

Backcountry trails to access backcountry campsites are generally not accessible. They feature slopes, uneven terrain, rocky and uneven surfaces.