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Outdoors Island in the Sky, Canyonlands

Upheaval Dome

An outdoor spot in Island in the Sky, Canyonlands, free to visit and worth about an hour. Best time to go: Midday.

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Upheaval Dome in Island in the Sky, Canyonlands
Photo: Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA · CC BY 2.0 · license

Why go

Short hike to a strange crater whose origin (salt dome or meteor) is still debated.

It is one of 10 curated places we feature in Canyonlands, alongside 5 sights, 1 activity and 1 place for a drink. The closest of our other picks is Green River Overlook, 4.2 mi away as the crow flies.

Type
Outdoors · Nature
Neighborhood
Island in the Sky
Price
Free
Time needed
1 hr
Best time
Midday

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Canyonlands, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Green River Overlook

    Easy view over the winding Green River and the White Rim.

    Sight · 4.2 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Mesa Arch

    Short walk to a cliff-edge arch that glows red at sunrise.

    Sight · 4.4 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Shafer Canyon Overlook

    Look down on the switchbacks of the Shafer Trail dropping to the White Rim.

    Sight · 6.3 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Island in the Sky Visitor Center

    Info, maps and ranger talks on the mesa-top district.

    Sight · 6.3 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Grand View Point Overlook

    Southern tip of the mesa with a 100-mile view over canyons cut by the Green and Colorado rivers.

    Sight · 9.3 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Dead Horse Point State Park

    Overlook 2,000 ft above a gooseneck bend of the Colorado River.

    Outdoors · 12 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Upheaval Dome is a stop on our Utah Mighty Five route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Canyonlands

Upheaval Dome is our only outdoors pick in Canyonlands; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Canyonlands guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Canyonlands run from 40°F in December to 96°F in July; September is usually the wettest month. For Upheaval Dome itself, we suggest: Midday.

Modelled monthly averages for Canyonlands from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Canyonlands weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Upheaval Dome, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
Upheaval Dome Trl, Utah 84532, USA
Coordinates
38.42898, -109.93095
Destination
Canyonlands, Utah

Upheaval Dome: quick answers

How much time do you need at Upheaval Dome?

Plan on about an hour at Upheaval Dome. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Upheaval Dome?

Our pick: Midday. Insider tip: First overlook is 0.8 mile; the second adds a mile.

Is Upheaval Dome free?

Yes, we list Upheaval Dome as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Upheaval Dome?

Upheaval Dome is at Upheaval Dome Trl, Utah 84532, USA, in Island in the Sky. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Upheaval Dome?

Upheaval Dome appears on Utah Mighty Five, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Upheaval Dome to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Canyonlands.

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Also in Canyonlands

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.