Canyonlands National Park Day Use Backcountry Permits
Canyonlands National Park is a wilderness of countless canyons and fantastically formed buttes carved by the Colorado River and its tributaries. Rivers divide the park into four districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the rivers themselves. The park preserves the natural beauty and human history throughout its four districts. While they share a primitive desert atmosphere, each offers different opportunities for wildness and solitude. Though they appear close on a map, there are no roads that directly link the districts. Traveling between them requires two to eight hours by car as there are no locations in the park to cross the river without a boat.
The rugged backcountry four-wheel drive roads of the park offer a unique opportunity to experience the park by four-wheel drive vehicle, motorcycle, and mountain bike. These roads embody the wild character of the park’s backcountry. A high-clearance, low-range four-wheel drive vehicle is required along with experience driving rough roads, and proper planning. Due to the remoteness, towing costs will exceed $1,000.
Island in the Sky: White Rim Road
The 100-mile (161 km) four-wheel drive White Rim Road loops around and below the Island in the Sky mesa top and provides expansive views of the surrounding area. The steep, exposed sections of the Shafer Trail, Lathrop Canyon Road, Murphy Hogback, Hardscrabble Hill, and the Mineral Bottom switchbacks make the White Rim loop a challenging adventure for both vehicles and mountain bikes. Extreme caution is advised during periods of inclement weather. During high water conditions on the Green River (May-June), sections of road on the west side can flood, making a complete loop impossible.
Day trips along the full loop can take over 12 hours whether driving or riding, whereas an out and back trip can be of any length. Mountain biking the full loop in one day is only recommended for the very well prepared and fit.
Needles
The Needles offers around 50 miles (80 km) of challenging backcountry roads. All of these roads require experienced four-wheel driving skills. Inexperienced drivers or motorcyclists should not attempt these roads. There is a high risk of vehicle damage.
Notifications and Alerts
With limited staff available at the Needles District of Canyonlands, picking up backcountry permits at the Needles Visitor Center may involve long wait times - especially on weekends. We encourage visitors to obtain their permit ahead of time at the Arches and Canyonlands Backcountry Permit office Monday through Friday 8-4 p.m.
Permit & Season Information
The park requires a day use permit for each four-wheel drive vehicle, motorcycle or bicycle on White Rim Road (anywhere beyond the restroom at the bottom of the Shafer Trail including out to Musselman Arch), Elephant Hill, Salt Creek/Horse Canyon or Lavendar Canyon. A day use permit is NOT required if only travelling up or down Shafer Trail and along the road to Potash.
Permits go on sale online at 8:00 a.m. MT one day in advance until 9:00 a.m. MT the day of the trip. Check road conditions prior to booking your reservation.
Any permits remaining online and one half of permits for the White Rim Road (25) for each day will be available in person, first-come, first-served at the park's visitor centers or at park headquarters backcountry office 5 miles (8 km) south of Moab on US 191 during Operating Hours & Seasons. There is no fee for permits issued in person the day of the trip.
This permit does not allow overnight camping. Book an Overnight Backcountry Permit to camp overnight.
Need to Know
Who needs a day use backcountry permit? Each vehicle (including motorcycle) or mountain bike MUST have a permit to drive or ride on White Rim, Elephant Hill, Lavendar Canyon or Peekaboo/Horse Canyon Roads for day trips. Each permit allows for one four-wheel drive vehicle, motorcycle or mountain bike to travel on the date and road listed. This means each individual driver/rider must enter his or her own information to obtain his or her own permit. This permit does not allow overnight travel or camping.
BEFORE YOU RESERVE YOUR PERMIT:
1. Review the Canyonlands Backcountry Regulations, and
2. Watch the mandatory video(s) most related to your itinerary.:
- White Rim 4WD and Mountain Bike Day Use (Island in the Sky District). Completion of the White Rim loop in a day requires up to 12 hours of tedious and demanding travel. You may wish to consider an overnight backcountry permit instead.
- The Needles 4WD Day Use (Elephant Hill, Salt Creek/Peekaboo/Horse Canyon or Lavendar Canyon). These roads require technical 4WD skills. Roads may be impassable due to flooding and quicksand. Check the road conditions prior to your trip. Towing recovery costs can exceed $1500.
Make a realistic plan and stick to it. For trip more planning information visit the Backcountry page on the park website and/or contact the Backcountry Permit Office (email canyres@nps.gov or call (435) 259-4351).
OTHER THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU BOOK YOUR RESERVATION:
Four-Wheel Drive Permits.
- A high-clearance, low-range 4WD vehicle is required for all backcountry roads. The park does NOT permit all-wheel drive (AWD), ATVs, UTVs or OHVs (even street legal and registered). Motorcycles must be equipped and licensed for interstate travel. Know the mechanical condition and capabilities of your vehicle(s) or bike(s). Know your and your group's skill and fitness level(s), as well as the mechanical condition and capabilities of your vehicle(s) or bike(s). Make sure you have experience travelling on remote, technical four-wheel-drive roads.:
- When booking, the "Group size" is the number of people in your vehicle. Plan to travel in groups of 2 to 3 self-rescue capable vehicles. Towing recovery costs can exceed $1500. Groups may not travel with more than 3 vehicles or motorcycles. If you have more than 3 vehicles, plan to separate by 30 minutes or more. This helps reduce congestion and impacts from larger groups.
Mountain Bike Road Conditions. All bikes must stay on designated roads, even if the bike is broken down or carried.
- The White Rim Road is very exposed with little shade and no water. Do not rely on other visitors for assistance. If travelling with a support vehicle(s), you must reserve a separate permit for the vehicle. Vehicles travel much slower than bikes. Groups may not travel with more than 15 bikes on the White Rim Road and 12 bikes on the Elephant Hill Road.
- Needles Roads (Elephant Hill, Lavendar Canyon and Salt Creek/Peekaboo/Horse Canyon) are dominated by deep sand that makes riding difficult. Salt Creek/Horse Canyon and Lavender Canyon require a gate lock combo that will appear on your permit.
Pets. Pets are not allowed on backcountry roads, even in a vehicle.
Human Waste. Toilets are available at campsites and trailheads along backcountry roads except for Salt Creek/Horse Canyon and Lavender Canyon. Plan to use these facilities or carry a washable/reusable toilet system.
Food/trash Storage
Food and trash must be stored securely to prevent animals from gaining access to it or spreading by wind (no plastic trash bags outside of a vehicle). Never leave food unattended. Never feed wildlife. All garbage must be removed from the backcountry.
Pets. Pets are not allowed in the backcountry, even inside of vehicles.
Park Entrance Fee. The park charges an entrance fee which you may pay upon arrival or purchase in advance. The park also honors valid annual or lifetime America the Beautiful-the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes (e.g. Senior, Military, 4th Grade, etc.) also known as interagency passes. For more information visit the park's Fees & Passes web page.
Fee Policy
Reservation Fee: There is a non-refundable $6.00 reservation fee.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation Policy: Permits are non-refundable. As a courtesy to others, please cancel your permit as soon as possible if you decide not to use it.
Change Policy: You may not change a permit once you book it. However, you may cancel and rebook.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
2282 SW Resource Blvd. Email: canyres@nps.gov Moab UT 84532
Phone Number
(435) 259-4351
