Upheaval Dome Road ~ Canyonlands National Park

Upheaval Dome Road spans five miles of adventurous terrain in the southwest end of the Island In The Sky. There is plenty to experience along this touring route and because there is so much room to roam, this area is the favorite of many Canyonlands National Park visitors. The reason for the extra elbow room amounts to the lack of famous scenic overlooks that draw big crowds. In fact, most of the points of interest will require some footwork. There are several hiking trails along this road that go to unique settings and the picturesque hidden canyons that are well worth checking out.

Whale Rock is one of the prime time family friendly roadside attractions on the way to Upheaval Dome and this spot is a favorite of children. People literally climb all over this gigantic rounded boulder that kind of looks like a beached whale, so this is the place to go for some natural family fun. The main attraction at the end of the line is the Upheaval Dome Trail, which definitely is one of the best hikes in this National Park. This trail passes by volcanic craters on the way to the massive Upheaval Dome perch on the western cliffs of the Island Of The Sky high mesa. This hike is well worth taking on and it will be featured in another article.

Since the highest percentage of day trip visitors only go to the crowded scenic overlooks along the southeast end of the Island In The Sky, this practically guarantees that there will be more room to roam in the rest of this Canyonlands District. Upheaval Dome Road offers the opportunity to venture into the wide open spaces where the panoramic views are endless and there is fun stuff to do too, so be sure to chalk this end of the park high on the list!