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, no roads directly link the districts. Traveling between districts requires two to eight hours by car. There are no locations in the park to cross the river without a boat.
The rugged, four-wheel drive roads in the park's backcountry offer a unique opportunity to experience the park by 4x4 vehicle, motorcycle, and mountain bike. These roads embody the wild character of the park’s backcountry. A high-clearance, low-range 4x4 vehicle, experience driving rough roads, and proper planning are all required to navigate these roads. Plan ahead and prepare- due to the remoteness, towing costs will exceed $1,000.
Island in the Sky: White Rim Road
The 100-mile (161 km) 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. A permit and a 4x4 vehicle are required for all trips on the White Rim. During high water conditions on the Green River (May-June), sections of road on the west side can flood, making a complete loop impossible. Extreme caution is advised during periods of inclement weather.
Driving the full loop may 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. Permits are required for all bike and vehicle travel on Elephant Hill Road, Lavender Canyon Road, and the Salt/Horse Road.
Permit & Season Information
The park requires a day use permit for each four-wheel drive vehicle, motorcycle, and bicycle on the following roads:
White Rim Road
Elephant Hill
Salt Creek/Horse Canyon
Lavender Canyon.
Note: A day use permit is NOT required to drive Shafer Trail to Potash Road.
A reservation may only be made up 24 hours in advance of your trip start date. Permits are available online at 8:00 a.m. MT one day in advance until 8:00 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) will be available in person, first-come, first-served at the park's visitor centers or at the Backcountry Permit Office 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 PERMIT?
Each vehicle, motorcycle, and mountain bike MUST have a permit in their possession (printed on available on a mobile device) to travel on the following roads:
White Rim
Elephant Hill
Lavender Canyon
Salt/Horse Canyon
Each permit allows for 1 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. Proper planning
Asses your group's fitness level, skill, and the mechanical condition/capabilities of your vehicle or bike. Make a realistic plan and stick to it.
For vehicles: technical 4WD skills. Check the road conditions prior to your trip. Roads may be impassable due to flash flood damage or quicksand. Plan to travel in groups of 2-3 self-rescue capable vehicles. Towing recovery costs can exceed $2000.
For mountain bikes: Do not rely on others for assistance. If traveling with a support vehicle, the driver must obtain a separate day use vehicle permit.
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 (435-241-3110)).
2. Review the Canyonlands Backcountry Regulations, You are responsible for knowing and abiding by all park rules and regulations.
3. Watch the mandatory video(s):
The Needles 4WD Day Use (Elephant Hill, Salt Creek/Peekaboo/Horse Canyon or Lavender Canyon).
OTHER THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU BOOK YOUR RESERVATION:
Four-Wheel Drive Permits:
A high-clearance, low-range 4WD vehicle is required. The park does NOT permit all-wheel drive (AWD), ATVs, UTVs or OHVs (even street legal and registered) on these roads. Motorcycles must be equipped and licensed for interstate travel.
When booking, the "Group size" is the number of people in your vehicle.
Travel limits: Up to 3 vehicles or motorcycles are permitted to travel together. If you have more than 3, you must separate by at least 30 minutes or 0.5mi to reduce congestion, noise, and maintain a wilderness experience for all.
Driving the entire White Rim Road takes at least 12 hours of tedious and technical driving. Consider an overnight permit instead.
Permits must be self issued via your recreation.gov account. Go to "Your Reservations" tab and select your reservation. Then, you must click the print button to issue the permit. Clicking the print button will generate a pdf for you to print or download. This is where you will find the combination for the Lavender and Salt/Horse gates. Confirmation emails are not your permit.
Mountain Bike Permits:
All bikes must stay on designated roads, even if the bike is broken down or carried. They may not be carried on trails or on the river corridors.
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, Lavender Canyon and Salt Creek/Horse Canyon) are dominated by deep sand that makes riding difficult.
Permits must be self issued via your recreation.gov account. Go to "Your Reservations" tab and select your reservation. Then, you must click the print button to issue the permit. Clicking the print button will generate a pdf for you to print or download. This is where you will find the combination for the Lavender and Salt/Horse gates. Confirmation emails are not 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, Peekaboo campsites, 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 or spreading by wind. Never leave food unattended. Never feed wildlife. All garbage must be removed from the backcountry.
Entrance Fees and Passes:
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.) interagency passes. For more information visit the park's Fees & Passes web page.
Fee Policy
Permit Reservation Fee: There is a non-refundable $6.00 reservation fee.
Entrance Fee: The park charges an entrance fee which you may pay upon arrival or purchase a few days 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.
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. Moab UT 84532
Email: canyres@nps.gov
Phone Number
(435) 241-3110
