Canyonlands Day Use Permit: Route and Dates
Canyonlands Day Use permits are first-come, first-served in Canyonlands National Park. The route covers 100 miles.
This guide covers the Canyonlands Day Use permit.
$6 reservation fee (free if issued in person on the day)
Permit Cost
12+ hours for the full White Rim loop
Duration
100 miles
Distance
7,500'
Elevation Gain
strenuous
Difficulty
About Canyonlands Day Use
The day-use permit for driving or riding White Rim, Elephant Hill, Salt Creek/Horse Canyon and Lavender Canyon. One permit per vehicle, motorcycle or bike, released one day ahead.
The Canyonlands Day Use route
- Distance
- 100 miles
- Route type
- loop
- Elevation gain
- 7,500 ft
- Trip length
- 12+ hours for the full White Rim loop
- Difficulty
- strenuous
Entry points: White Rim Road (Island in the Sky), Elephant Hill Road (The Needles), Salt Creek / Horse Canyon Road (The Needles), Lavender Canyon Road (The Needles)
Southeast Utah. Nearest town: Moab
Points along the route
- Shafer Trail switchbacks
- Murphy Hogback
- Hardscrabble Hill
- Mineral Bottom switchbacks
- Elephant Hill
Canyonlands Day Use permit detailsandAll Canyonlands National Park permits
Get Canyonlands Day Use Alerts
Be first to know when cancellations happen.
Pro Tips
The whole booking window is 24 hours: NPS releases permits "online at 8:00 a.m. MT one day in advance until 8:00 a.m. MT the day of the trip"
Every vehicle, motorcycle and bike in your group needs its own permit, entered by its own driver or rider
Half the White Rim vehicle quota never goes online — NPS holds 25 of the 50 back for in-person, first-come first-served issue at a visitor center
Shafer Trail down to Potash Road needs no day-use permit at all
Salt Creek/Horse Canyon and Lavender Canyon need a gate lock combination you get from the Needles Visitor Center or the Backcountry Permit Office
100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience
This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Canyonlands Day Use permit?
+
Canyonlands Day Use permits are available first-come, first-served. They can be booked online when they become available. Popular dates fill quickly.
When is the best time to visit Canyonlands Day Use?
+
Spring and fall. NPS flags May and June specifically as the months when Green River high water can flood the west side of the White Rim and make the full loop impossible, and the roads have no shade or water for a summer attempt.
How long is the Canyonlands Day Use route?
+
The route is 100 miles, as a loop.
How difficult is the Canyonlands Day Use route?
+
Experienced low-range 4WD drivers and fit mountain bikers who want the White Rim or the Needles roads in a single day and can book on 24 hours' notice.
Where does the Canyonlands Day Use route start?
+
The permit covers 4 entry points: White Rim Road (Island in the Sky), Elephant Hill Road (The Needles), Salt Creek / Horse Canyon Road (The Needles).
What gear do I need for the Canyonlands Day Use route?
+
Essential gear includes: High-clearance low-range 4WD vehicle, or a mountain bike you can fix in the field, All water for the day; there is none on any of these roads, Full-size spare, recovery gear and the ability to use them, The printed or downloaded permit PDF.
Don't Miss Your Canyonlands Day Use Permit
Cancellations happen every day. PermitSnag monitors Canyonlands Day Use availability 24/7 and alerts you the moment a spot opens up.
Get Permit Alerts
