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Grand View Point Road is the main road through the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park in Utah. Several viewpoints and trailheads sit along the road.
First Section
Just after the visitor center is the Shafer Canyon Overlook, and near the intersection with Upheaval Dome Road is Mesa Arch. Those are covered in their own posts.
Candlestick Tower Overlook
Continuing along Grand View Point Road is Candlestick Tower Overlook. There are wonderful views of a rock formation called Candlestick Tower.
Buck Canyon Overlook
Next is the Murphy trailhead followed by Buck Canyon Overlook. A deep triangular shaped canyon is on view with the La Sal Mountains in the distance.
If you look closely you can also see roads created by mining companies in the 1950s in search of uranium and oil. Although mining ceased shortly after, the roads have yet to be reclaimed by nature due to the fragile desert ecosystem.
Orange Cliffs Overlook
After passing a picnic area where you can access the Gooseberry Canyon and White Rim Overlook trails, there’s another overlook. The Orange Cliffs Overlook looks towards the Orange Cliffs, which are located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area to the west.
You may be able to spot Cleopatra’s Chair, which is one of the landmarks in the Orange Cliffs skyline.
Grand View Point Overlook
Finally, at the end of the road is Grand View Point. The name says it all – there’s a grand view of the southern end of Island in the Sky. The White Rim Canyon sits 1,300 feet below the viewpoint with the Colorado River canyon behind it. In the distance are the Abajo Mountains.
Looking more closely at the White Rim Canyon, you can see the white sandstone around the canyon rim. Inside the canyon is Monument Basin, which features several rock formations. Just above the canyon, it’s possible to spot old mining roads as well as White Rim Road.
The Grand View Point Trail starts to the right of the overlook. It leads further along the upper canyon to the edge of the Island in the Sky mesa, where more spectacular views await. You can also see Junction Butte at the end of the mesa.
