Canyonlands National Park

Riding here

Canyonlands is a mountain bike pilgrimage. The White Rim Road loops 100 miles beneath the Island in the Sky mesa, past towers and canyon overlooks, and most groups take three or four days with a support vehicle carrying water. The Needles has 50 more miles of tough backcountry roads, and the Maze is more technical and remote still. On pavement, the Island in the Sky road is a short, scenic ride.

Where you can ride

Bikes and e-bikes may use the paved roads. Mountain bikes may use the backcountry roads in Island in the Sky (including the White Rim), the Needles and the Maze.

Where you can't

There are no singletrack trails open to bikes; stay on designated roads. Groups must camp in designated sites. Salt Creek (Peekaboo/Horse Canyon) and Lavender Canyon roads are too sandy for most bikes, with deep water and quicksand.

Rides

• White Rim Road

  • Bikepacking
  • 100 mi loop with the Shafer Trail and Mineral Bottom
  • Dirt, rock, sand
  • Hard

  A desert classic, usually done in 3 to 4 days with designated campsites. There's no water on the route, so most groups bring a support vehicle.

  Start: Shafer Trail, Island in the Sky

• Island in the Sky Road

  • Road
  • Visitor center to Grand View Point
  • Paved
  • Moderate

  A short paved road across the mesa top to some of the park's biggest views. No shoulders; ride single file.

  Start: Island in the Sky Visitor Center

• Colorado Overlook Road

  • Mountain bike
  • Dirt and sand
  • Moderate

  The gentlest of the Needles backcountry roads, though sandy in places.

  Start: Needles Visitor Center

• Elephant Hill

  • Mountain bike
  • Rock ledges
  • Hard

  Very technical: steep grades, loose rock and stair-step drops. A day-use permit is required.

  Start: Needles District

When to go

Spring and fall are the riding seasons. Summer heat makes the White Rim dangerous without support; winter is possible but cold, with short days.

Safety

Water is scarce everywhere, so carry it or bring a support vehicle. Paved roads have no shoulders. Backcountry roads change with weather; check road conditions at a visitor center before you go.

E-bikes

E-bikes may use any public road in the park. The biking page doesn't say how e-bikes are treated on backcountry roads, so confirm before planning a White Rim trip on one.

Fees and reservations

Arriving by bike, you pay the park's individual (per-person) entrance fee, normally valid for 7 days, or ride in on an annual or America the Beautiful pass. Amounts change, so check the park's Fees & Passes page.

Day-use permits are needed for day trips on the White Rim, Elephant Hill, Lavender Canyon and Peekaboo/Horse Canyon roads (bookable up to 24 hours ahead). Overnight White Rim permits open four months before each season window at 8 am Mountain Time (for example, Mar 10–Jun 9 opens Nov 10) and sell out fast.

Rentals, tours and shuttles

• Your bike shop hereSample listing

  This spot is for one rental shop, guide service or shuttle near Canyonlands: your name, what you offer, and a link straight to your booking page, at the top of this section.

  Feature your shop on this page, free until spring 2027

• Rim Cyclery

  Mountain bike rental, Moab, UT. Website

• Chile Pepper Bike Shop

  Mountain and road bike rental, Moab, UT. Website

• Poison Spider Bicycles

  Rental, Moab, UT. Website

• Moab Cyclery

  Rental, tours and shuttles, Moab, UT. Website

Shops listed without a badge are businesses we found near the park; we don't take payment for those. Run a shop near Canyonlands? Add it here.

Sources

Checked November 2026 against these sources. Rules, closures and fees change; confirm with the park before you ride.

1. Biking — Canyonlands National Park (NPS)

Edited by David Bussell. Spot something out of date? Tell us.