Spotlight: Canyonlands NP - The Maze

Spotlight: If anything is along the Path Less Trodden is would be The Maze in Canyonlands National Park. Canyonlands National Park has three sections: Island in the Sky, Needles, and The Maze. There are no roads that cross either the Green River or the Colorado River within the park, so the three sections are isolated even from each other. It takes between 2-6 hours to drive from one section to another. The vast majority of park visitors visit either Island in the Sky or the Needles District. Less than 1% (2,000/year) of Canyonland visitors ever get to see The Maze.

The Maze Overlook

Location: The Maze is definitely the most remote section of the park, and can only be accessed by 4-wheel drive vehicles. The closest "city" is Hanksville (more than 5 hours away) at the confluence of Highway 24 and Highway 95. For directions from Hanksville, click here.

Cost: No entrance fee, but backcountry permits are $30 per group.

Time: 3-14 days; Hans Flat Ranger Station is open from 8:00 am - 4:30 pm daily.

Description: I went to the Maze in mid-October with a couple of friends. Even though there were only three of us, we took two jeeps. That way, if one of the jeeps got stuck, we would have the other one available to help get it out or to go get help.

    To get to our campsite, we had to travel over miles of road that would have been difficult to navigate on foot, let alone a vehicle. One of the places we visited was called "The Neck." It was a narrow neck of land, about 20 yards across at its narrowest point, with big drop-offs on either side. We then drove down Flint Trail - a narrow, windy road with hairpin turns. If two vehicles encountered each other partway down, one would have to back up because there were very few spots where someone could pass. Of course, the chances of that happening were extremely remote since we didn't run into anyone else in our three days there.

Flint Trail down the bluff

      Our campsite was the Sunset campground. It was aptly named for the glow that lit up Sunset Butte every morning and evening. We calculated that we were the only humans within about a ten-mile radius of the butte. Once it got dark, stars started appearing by the hundreds. Since there was no moon that evening, and no other lights within dozens of miles, thousands of stars lit up the night sky. It was absolutely breathtaking! We saw several satellites and meteors as well as a phenomenon we'd never seen before. Along the horizon we watched some "jumping stars." I assume it was some sort of mirage, because we couldn't think of any other explanation for it.

Sunset Campground

     On Day 2, we drove out to the Doll House. The road was really rough near Teapot Rock, but the formations were totally awesome. Some of them included the Golden Stairs, The Wall, Lizard Rock and Chimney Rock. We named several others - a Jack-o-lantern, Jabba's Frog, and a Newsie Boy.

The Doll House

Jack-o-Lantern

Chimney Rock

Newsie Boy leaning against a building

     On Day 3, we drove out via Poison Spring Canyon Road. We had to hug the cliff because the road didn't have guardrails and the cliff dropped several hundred feet. The views, though, were spectacular. When we reached the canyon, we were treated to Aspen Trees decked out in their fall colors, contrasted against the deep red hue of the cliffs. We also crossed the Dirty Devil River. Once you commit, you have to keep going; because if you stop, you might get stuck. That kind of describes the whole trip. Was it worth it? You bet!

Poison Spring Canyon

Dirty Devil River

Rating: 5 stars (out of 5) - as long as you can handle not having a toilet

Things You Should Know: - There are no services, food, gas, or potable water sources at The Maze.
- Do not even attempt to go to The Maze without a high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle. In fact, you should probably have two vehicles in case one gets stuck.
- When visiting in the Maze, or any other backcountry site, you must have a printed and signed permit in your possession during your entire trip. A permit is not valid from any mobile device. Backcountry permits can be reserved at canypermits.nps.gov up to four months before the start date of the permit, and can be picked up at the Hans Flat Ranger Station. They are good for up to 9 people and 3 vehicles, and can be issued for up to 14 consecutive nights (but not more than 3 nights at any one spot). Other backcountry regulations apply.
- Hans Flat Ranger Station serves The Maze District. The station is 3-6 hours away from most locations within the maze, so visitors need to be prepared with the proper wilderness survival equipment for self-rescue. The phone number for the ranger station is (435) 259-2652, but there is little to no cell phone service in the backcountry. You might want to look into renting a satellite phone if you are going to be hiking in the Maze.
- Hiking within The Maze can be tricky for several reasons. Trails are primitive and are not well-marked. Also, many of the slot canyons look alike, so you can easily get lost. Also, slot canyons are prone to flash floods during inclement weather. Make sure you have both a detailed topographical map and a GPS, as well as a knowlege of how to use them.
- Special permits are needed for river trips or horseback riding.
- Temperatures can vary greatly (from -1 degrees Fahrenheit in January, to 116 F in July). On average, nights are between 20-30 degrees cooler than daytime temperatures. The most ideal weather is typically in the late spring or early autumn.
- For a list of authorized tour groups within the park, click here.

Nearby: Cataract Canyon (Colorado River), Goblin Valley SP, Horseshoe Canyon, Glen Canyon Nat'l Recreation Area