White Rim Overlook
Canyonlands: Island in the Sky
Difficulty
EasyLength
1.8 Miles
Time
1 Hour
Trail Type
Out and Back
Pets
No
Required Gear
Standard Day Hike Gear
Rating
Season
All Year
Fees
$30/vehicle (Canyonlands entrance)
About This Trail
A flat, quiet walk to a peninsula overlook above the White Rim — arguably the best view-per-step ratio on the Island in the Sky.
Local Tip
If the Grand View Point lot is full, come here instead — the view is every bit as good and you'll likely share it with nobody. On a half-day visit, pairing this with Mesa Arch and Grandview covers the district's three best short walks.
Trail Description
White Rim Overlook is the connoisseur's alternative to the crowded viewpoints nearby. From the Grand View Point picnic area, a nearly level trail wanders out a narrow peninsula of the mesa to a point suspended above the White Rim sandstone bench, with Monument Basin's spires, the La Sals, and a thousand feet of layered canyon below.
Because there's no paved overlook here, the parking area stays small and the trail stays quiet — it's common to have the point to yourself even in peak season while Grand View, a mile down the road, is busy.
The final rock outcrop makes a natural lunch table with the best table view in the district.
Trailhead Info
Park at the signed picnic area/overlook lot on the east side of the road about 1 mile before Grand View Point, at the end of the Island in the Sky road in Canyonlands National Park. Park entrance fee $30/vehicle (7 days).
Trail Info
About 1.8 miles round trip, mostly flat packed dirt and slickrock; allow an hour. The last stretch narrows along the peninsula with drop-offs on both sides — sure footing required but no scrambling. No shade; morning light is best for photographing Monument Basin.
Elevation Profile and Map
Interactive Map
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