• Spires of Cedar Mesa sandstone in Chesler Park (Needles District)

    Canyonlands

    National Park Utah

People

photo of Bates Wilson, one of the earliest advocates for the creation of Canyonlands
Bates Wilson, one of the earliest advocates for the creation of Canyonlands
 

Native Americans
Humans first visited Canyonlands over 10,000 years ago. Nomadic groups of hunter-gatherers roamed throughout the southwest from 8,000 B.C. to 500 B.C.

European Explorers
For early European explorers, Canyonlands offered more of an impediment to travel than a destination.

Miners & Ranchers
From the 1880s to 1975, local ranches used much of Canyonlands for winter pasture. Cowboys searched the canyons for good feed and water.

Park Founders
In the 1950s and early 1960s, Arches National Monument Superintendent Bates Wilson advocated the creation of a National Park in what is now Canyonlands.

  • Living Ruins Living Ruins

    Archeologists survey the river corridors in Canyonlands. Read More

  • Reading Rock Art Reading Rock Art

    Searching for meaning in the symbols of prehistoric cultures Read More

  • On the Edge: A visit to Tower Ruin On the Edge: A visit to Tower Ruin

    Join a park archeologist and others on a survey of one of the park's best-known Indian dwellings. Read More

Did You Know?

Common Raven

The common raven displays abilities to play and problem-solve rare among animals. This member of the crow family is also very vocal, using a variety of sounds for communication. Perhaps because of these qualities, ravens have achieved a certain stature in both European and Native American folklore. More...