Quick Stats
Creation Date
September 12, 1964
Entrance Fee
$10 per vehicle per week
Time Zone
Mountain (GMT-6 Daylight, GMT-7 Standard)
Lowest Elevation
3,730 feet at Colorado River
Highest Elevation
7,120 feet at Cathedral Point
Lowest Average Temp
15°F in January
Record Low Temp
-16°F in 1973
Highest Average Temp
93°F in July
Record High Temp
107°F in 2003
Park Creation Timeline
1964
On September 12, 1964, President Lyndon Johnson signs the bill establishing Canyonlands National Park.
Animals and Plants
Mammals in the park include mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, mountain lions, coyotes, and even black bear, usually only in later summer. Smaller mammals include desert cottontails and kangaroo rats, the latter of which never drinks water, and gets all the water it needs by metabolizing plant matter.
Reptiles are widespread, especially lizards, which include northern whiptail, desert spiny, and the western collared lizard. Snakes such as the midget faded rattlesnake, the parks only venomous species, are active mostly at night.
273 species of birds have been seen in the park, including seasonal and year-round residents as well as migrants. The NPS has prepared a
complete list of species in the area.
Plants are widespread in the Canyonlands despite the desert, but they are typically small in size. Trees include the Utah juniper and pinyon pine, which usually grow far apart to lessen competition for water. Grasses, wildflowers, cacti, and mosses add to the landscape. Cryptobiotic crust, a sort of "living soil" covers much of the ground. You will see warnings not to trample this extremely fragile crust if you spend any time in a Utah desert park like Canyonlands.
Canyonlands National Park
Info at (435) 719-2313
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