See Canyonlands National Park from the air on a scenic flight over Delicate Arch, Angel Arch and remote sections of the park that are hard to reach on foot. Choose a one-hour flight or an 80-minute combo tour that also covers Arches National Park.
Free Cancellation 80-minute flightseeing tour over both Arches and Canyonlands, including Delicate Arch and The Maze.
Free Cancellation One-hour fixed-wing flight over Canyonlands: Upheaval Dome, the river Confluence, Needles District and its back-country arches.
Read what travelers share about their experience visiting Canyonlands National Park — from practical tips to personal highlights.
You'll board a small airplane at Canyonlands Field Airport near Moab and climb over 337,598 acres of canyon country in about an hour — terrain that would take days to see any other way. The flights from Redtail Air Adventures run with live English commentary through headsets, and both tours need a minimum of two people per booking. This is the only practical way to see The Maze, the park's most remote district, in a single morning.
The Maze is among the most remote areas in the contiguous United States — most visitors never set foot in it. From the air you get its full labyrinth of canyons and fins in minutes. No hiking, no 4WD permit, no multi-day expedition.
The combo tour (80 minutes, $480) adds Arches National Park, flying over Delicate Arch, Angel Arch, and Wedding Band Arch. You'll cover the world's densest concentration of natural arches — over 2,000 — plus all three Canyonlands districts in a single loop. Two $30-per-vehicle entrance fees you never have to pay.
The Green River meets the Colorado in the park's heart, splitting it into districts connected by no roads. From the window you'll trace the Green's entrenched meanders — the same loops visible from Green River Overlook, but from directly above. The pilot's commentary fills in the geology: roughly 300 million years of layered rock.
The Island in the Sky mesa sits at 5,930 feet on cliffs more than 1,000 feet above the surrounding terrain. From the air you'll see the full outline of the 99-mile White Rim Road loop and the Shafer Trail's switchbacks cut into the cliff face. You'll also spot where Mesa Arch perches on the rim.
Everyone gets a headset and the pilot narrates in English the whole way — no recorded audio track. You'll hear the competing theories for Upheaval Dome's origin (collapsed salt dome or meteorite impact) as you fly over it. All taxes and fees are in the ticket price; gratuities are not.
Morning flights catch low sun across the canyons, which brings out the reds and stripes in the sandstone layers. Weather shifts flight times — all schedules are approximate and can change with conditions and weight restrictions. Book a morning slot early in your Moab stay so you can rebook if a storm rolls through.
Two airplane tours cover Canyonlands, both operated from Canyonlands Field (CNY), 16 miles from Moab. Here's what matters before you pay.
The Canyonlands-only flight runs 1 hour from $392 per person and holds a 4.98 rating across 71 reviews. The Canyonlands and Arches combo runs 1 hour 20 minutes from $480 with a 4.92 rating from 131 reviews. Both include headsets, live English commentary, and all taxes and fees.
Both tours require a minimum of 2 people per booking — solo travelers can't book alone. Ask the operator about sharing a flight if you're traveling alone. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller on the Canyonlands-only tour, and it's suitable for all fitness levels.
Flights depart from the airport and never enter the park through an entrance station, so the $30 per-vehicle fee doesn't apply. If you also drive into the park yourself, that fee is separate (credit/debit only). The $55 Southeast Utah annual pass covers Canyonlands, Arches, Natural Bridges, and Hovenweep.
Both flights carry small loads, so spring and fall dates can sell out — April–May and mid-September–October are the busiest stretches in Moab generally. Book early in your trip, not your last day. Weather can shift departure times, and you'll want slack to rebook.
Both tours refund in full if you cancel at least 24 hours before departure. Later than that and you lose the fare. Flight times are approximate and subject to change due to weather and weight restrictions, so keep your phone reachable on the day.
The Canyonlands-only tour is wheelchair accessible and allows service animals; the combo tour lists all fitness levels as suitable but doesn't state wheelchair access. If mobility is a concern, confirm the boarding process with the operator before booking. This beats the alternative: no backcountry trail in the park is wheelchair-adapted.
Seeing the parks from above makes the ground visits better — you'll recognize the White Rim bench and the Needles spires when you drive to the overlooks. Island in the Sky is 40 minutes from Moab; allow at least 2 hours on the mesa for Grand View Point, Green River Overlook, and the Mesa Arch loop. Dead Horse Point State Park sits on the same UT 313 corridor ($20 per vehicle).
Check-in is at Canyonlands Field Airport, on the US 191 corridor between Moab and the Island in the Sky turnoff — under 30 minutes from town. There's no public transportation to the airport or the park, so you'll need a car or a taxi. You'll meet the pilot for a pre-flight briefing before boarding.
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| Canyonlands Airplane Tour | Canyonlands and Arches Combo Tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 1 hour | 1 hour 20 minutes |
| Price from (per person) | $392 | $480 |
| Best for | First-time visitors focused on Canyonlands; travelers short on time | Travelers who want both parks in one morning and haven't booked ground time at Arches |
| What you see | All three Canyonlands districts: The Maze, Island in the Sky, and The Needles, including the river confluence and Upheaval Dome area | Everything in the Canyonlands flight plus Arches National Park: Delicate Arch, Angel Arch, and Wedding Band Arch |
| Rating | 4.98 (71 reviews) | 4.92 (131 reviews) |
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The park never closes. Canyonlands is open 24 hours a day, year-round, and no timed-entry reservation is required. Your flight schedule depends on the operator, not park hours — flight times are approximate and can shift with weather and weight restrictions.
Visitor centers have seasonal hours:
Both developed campgrounds are open year-round. Morning flights catch the best light on the canyons, so book the earliest slot you can.
Flights depart from Canyonlands Field Airport (CNY), 16 miles from Moab — under 30 minutes' drive, on the US 191 corridor between Moab and the Island in the Sky turnoff. There's no public transportation to the airport or the park, so you'll need a rental car or taxi.
If you're combining the flight with ground time in the park: drive 10 miles north of Moab on US 191, turn onto UT 313, and continue 22 miles to Island in the Sky — about 40 minutes total. The NPS strongly recommends a paper map because GPS systems sometimes send drivers the wrong way.
Flying in from farther afield? Grand Junction Regional (GJT) is 113 miles from Moab (about 2 hours); Salt Lake City International (SLC) is 237 miles (about 4 hours, via US 6/I-70/US 191). Greyhound and Amtrak stop at Grand Junction, Colorado, and Green River, Utah, with commercial vans running to Moab.
The Needles district is about 1.5 hours from Moab via US 191 through Monticello and UT 211 — fuel up before leaving the highway, as services are sparse.
April–May and mid-September–October are the best months — daytime highs average 60–80°F (15–26°C), and morning light across the canyons is at its finest. These are also the busiest stretches, so book flights early.
Skip July and August if you can. The average July high is 100°F (record 116°F), and monsoon storms bring roughly an inch of rain per month with flash-flood danger — plus the turbulence and visibility problems that come with thunderstorms. If summer is your only window, take the earliest morning flight and stay off trails midday.
Winter (December–February) runs 30–50°F by day and 0–20°F at night, and even small amounts of snow or ice can close unpaved roads. The flip side: flights run year-round, the park is quiet, and low winter sun makes the canyon stratification pop from the air.
Spring and fall tip: both park campgrounds often fill by mid-morning, so the flight-then-drive-back-to-Moab plan works better than camping without a reservation.
The Canyonlands-only airplane tour is wheelchair accessible and allows service animals; infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Both tours are suitable for all physical fitness levels — no hiking required. The combo tour doesn't state wheelchair access, so confirm boarding details with the operator before booking.
On the ground, Island in the Sky is the park's most accessible district: a paved scenic drive with overlook pullouts and a paved sidewalk to the Grand View Point viewpoint. The visitor center has tactile models, audio descriptions on request, large-print and braille materials, and closed-captioned films.
No backcountry trail is wheelchair-adapted — routes below the rim are rough, cairn-marked paths. ASL interpreters can be requested at least 7 days in advance for ranger programs. US citizens with permanent disabilities qualify for the free Interagency Access Pass.
The park has no gas, groceries, dining, or lodging. Apart from visitor centers, campgrounds, and toilets, there are no services — Moab is the practical base for all of it, plus equipment rentals and commercial shuttle companies.
Camping: Island in the Sky Campground is $15/night (12 sites, first-come first-served, no running water); The Needles Campground is $20/night (26 sites, running water, some reservable on Recreation.gov). Both are open year-round and often fill early in the morning during spring and fall.
Water: there is no potable water on any trail. Drinking water is available at the Island in the Sky Visitor Center spring through fall, and at The Needles Campground.
Cell coverage is limited in some areas and nonexistent in many, including the entire river corridor. Pay phones sit outside the Island in the Sky and The Needles visitor centers — none at The Maze. Your flight check-in at Canyonlands Field is one of the few reliably connected moments of the day.
Drones are prohibited everywhere in the park — launching, landing, or operating any unmanned aircraft. The airplane tour is one of the few legal ways to get an aerial view. Using artificial light to illuminate landscapes or rock formations for night photography is also banned.
Pets: leashed pets (6-foot max) are allowed only in developed campgrounds, on paved roads and parking lots, and on the Potash/Shafer Canyon road. No pets on any hiking trails, at overlooks, or in the backcountry. Don't leave pets in vehicles above 68°F (20°C), even with windows cracked.
Vehicles must stay on designated roads. The White Rim Road legally requires a high-clearance 4WD in low range, and a day-use permit ($6 online the day before, free at a visitor center same-day). Towing a disabled backcountry vehicle can exceed $1,000.
Removing or disturbing rocks, plants, artifacts, rock art, or cairns is prohibited by federal law. ATVs and OHVs are not allowed; motorcycles must be street-legal. Entrance stations take credit/debit only.
The Canyonlands-only flight runs about 1 hour; the Canyonlands and Arches combo runs 1 hour 20 minutes. All flight times are approximate and can change with weather conditions and weight restrictions. Plan on roughly 2 hours total door-to-door from Moab, including airport check-in and the pre-flight briefing with your pilot.
The Canyonlands-only tour starts at $392 per person, and the Canyonlands and Arches combo starts at $480 per person. Both prices include headsets, live English commentary, and all taxes and fees — gratuities for the pilot are extra. A minimum of 2 people per booking is required on both flights.
No. The flights depart from Canyonlands Field Airport and never pass through a park entrance station, so the $30 per-vehicle fee doesn't apply. If you also drive into the park yourself — Island in the Sky is 40 minutes from Moab — that fee is separate, and entrance stations accept credit/debit only. A $55 annual pass covers Canyonlands, Arches, Natural Bridges, and Hovenweep if you're doing multiple parks.
Take the combo ($480, 80 minutes) if you haven't budgeted ground time at Arches — you'll fly over Delicate Arch, Angel Arch, and Wedding Band Arch plus all three Canyonlands districts. Take the 1-hour Canyonlands-only flight ($392) if you're driving into Arches anyway or watching your budget. The Canyonlands-only tour also scores slightly higher (4.98 vs. 4.92) and is wheelchair accessible.
Yes — and it's practically the only way to see it in a day. The Maze is among the most remote areas in the contiguous United States, with no roads connecting it to the rest of the park; reaching it on foot or by 4WD takes multiple days. Both tours fly over it, along with Island in the Sky and The Needles.
Both tours offer a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before your scheduled departure. Cancel inside that window and you lose the fare. Since flight times can shift with weather, it's worth booking your flight early in your Moab stay rather than on your last day, so there's room to rebook if a storm scrubs your slot.
The Canyonlands National Park Airplane Tour is listed as wheelchair accessible, allows service animals, and welcomes infants in prams or strollers. The combo tour doesn't specify wheelchair access. Both are suitable for all physical fitness levels — no hiking involved. If boarding assistance is needed, confirm the details with the operator when booking.
Both tours check in at Canyonlands Field Airport (CNY), 16 miles from Moab on the US 191 corridor. There's no public transportation to the airport, so you'll need a rental car or taxi. You'll meet your pilot there for a pre-flight briefing before boarding with headsets for the live commentary.
Yes. The Canyonlands-only tour allows infants and small children to ride in a pram or stroller, and both tours are suitable for all fitness levels. The minimum booking is 2 people, so a parent and child can book together. Note that kids 15 and under enter the park itself free if you're also doing ground visits.
All three Canyonlands districts — The Maze, Island in the Sky, and The Needles — plus the confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers in the park's heart. You'll spot the 99-mile White Rim Road loop, the Shafer Trail's switchbacks on the cliff face, and the Needles' striped sandstone spires. The combo flight adds Arches National Park, including Delicate Arch, Angel Arch, and Wedding Band Arch.
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This 80-minute airplane tour covers two parks in one flight: Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, taking in Delicate Arch, Angel Arch and Wedding Band Arch from above, plus all three Canyonlands districts — The Maze, Island in the Sky and The Needles. Commentary is live and in English, with headsets provided so you can hear the guide clearly over the engine noise. All taxes, fees and handling charges are included in the price; gratuities are not. Flight times are approximate and can change due to weather conditions or weight restrictions. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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This one-hour Redtail Air Adventures flight covers Canyonlands from above, including sections you'd struggle to reach on foot. You'll check in at the airport, meet your pilot for a pre-flight briefing, then board the airplane with headsets for live English commentary. All taxes and fees are included; gratuities are not. The route starts over 1,000-foot cliffs above the Colorado and Green Rivers, with their branching drainages carved into the terrain below. Upheaval Dome sits at the northern end of the park and the Confluence of the two rivers at the southernmost point. From there you continue to the Needles District, where pink and white bands stripe the spires and cliffs. Cataract Canyon, a 46-mile stretch of the Colorado inside the park and Glen Canyon NRA, is also on the route. The Needles leg passes over some of canyon country's most remote arches. Angel Arch and Druid Arch are the best known; Elephant, Kirk, Wedding Ring and Castle Arches are tucked further back. All flight times are approximate and can shift with weather and weight restrictions. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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