Canyonlands Upheaval Dome Overlooks Hike

Canyonland Upheaval Dome Overlooks Hike

The Canyonlands Upheaval Dome Overlooks Hike is a very cool hike located in the Island In The Sky portion of Canyonlands. The hike is relatively short and has two different overlooks that look down into an inverted dome. There is still a bit of debate on what caused the unique landscape. Some believe this was a giant salt dome that suffered from erosions, while others believe it is the result of an impact from a meteorite. You can read more about the theories here. I’m a hiker and not a scientist so I will just say that this is a pretty amazing thing to look at and an enjoyable hike!

Getting Started

One the most challenging parts of hiking to the Upheaval Dome Overlooks is actually finding parking! This is one of the more popular and busy area’s at Canyonlands and it always seems crowded. However, if you find a spot the hike is pretty amazing!

The hike begins up a relatively steep section of rocky trail that takes you to the first overlook. Inclines are consistently around 9-13% grade but that includes some steps built into the rock. While it is only around a quarter of mile to the first overlook, you will gain over 100 feet in elevation! This is a bit of a shock for some people who aren’t used to the dry air and elevation gains so make sure you have water and protection from the elements with you.

Before you make it to the first overlook, the landscape is really nice. With a lot of rocky and sandy terrain and a few embedded trees and bushes living in the rock. As you approach the first overlook you will begin to walk more on flat rock until you find that perfect spot to view the dome below!

First Overlook

The First Overlook of Upheaval Dome gives a great look from a lower perspective. This is the more popular of the two overlooks as it is the quickest to get to and I found a lot of people who found great spots to sit and look down into the inverted dome.

From the first overlook, the view of the gray rock in the center of the dome is really pronounced. There is a lot of flat rock to sit and observe near the edge. Or if you are like me and a bit scared of heights, the view is just fine a little bit further behind the group!

After observing the dome from the first overlook, you can either head back down to the parking lot, or proceed to the second overlook that gives you a higher perspective of the dome. The second overlook is just under a half mile from the first one and the trail takes you across some slick rock and then has you hike up a bit of a carved staircase in a 10% grade of a steep rock. If you are comfortable with rocky hikes, it shouldn’t be much of a problem but again, you will be exposed on the rock to the wind and sun. You will also need to follow some cairns to find your way across the rock.

Second Overlook

After making your way up the steep and carved stairs you will find yourself on a large flatter rock structure. After walking across to the other edge you will be able to look directly down into Upheaval Dome from an elevated view.

The view on the second overlook is stunning. The dome somehow looked about twice as big from this side and I was completely in awe. The wind also really picked up and standing on the rock with the wind on full blast and looking down in the giant dome really showed me the power of nature. It was stunning.

I also really liked that from this higher vantage point, you could see more of the park. The hike up to the first overlook really only showcases the dome, but from the second overlook you can see both the dome and the vastness of the park. I really enjoyed being able to see such an intricate rock display so close to the wide view of the canyons around. This is definitely a great hike that is short, a little steep, but has plenty to look at and enjoy!

Video of the Canyonlands Upheaval Dome Overlooks Hike

I have created a time-lapsed video of the Canyonlands Upheaval Dome Hike to give you a feel for what it is like. I call these time lapsed versions of the hikes my hikers edits. If you enjoy the video, don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel. It is free to subscribe and you will get the latest updates.

Distance and Elevation

If you don’t have the AllTrails app you might want to check it out, I really love mine. It records your progress and is a great way to search for hikes that are nearby and gives you difficulty measurements. According to AllTrails today’s hike was around 1.5 miles and had a total elevation gain of about 246 feet including undulations. That put the high point at around 5,810 feet. I was also moving for a total of 49 minutes.

I am a Pro member of AllTrails and love it. If you are interested in the platform, please consider using my affiliate link for AllTrails. It gives me a small commission with no extra cost to you.

Effort

This one is a bit of a challenge but not overwhelming. There is a couple hundred of feet of elevation in three quarters of a mile so it definitely isn’t nothing but a lot of it comes at the start and up to the first overlook. One of my big concerns is how hot this trail gets in the summers. I saw a lot of people showing up who looked a little unprepared. Hiking in jeans and with no water. I want to make sure that people know that even shorter hikes in Canyonlands need to be prepared for the elements. I am going to rank this as a moderate hike. It is on the easier side of moderate but hope that everyone is prepared to do it.

Terrain

The trail at Canyonlands Upheaval Dome is a mix between sandy dirt and rocks with a bunch of walking on slick rocks to go with it. It actually gets a little hard to follow between the two overlooks as you are just walking on solid rock without many trail markers. The trail also is very exposed to the elements. The heat can get extreme and will not only come from the sun but also the reflection off the rocks. Make sure that you have good footwear and protection from the sun and elements on this one.

Access to the Canyonlands Upheaval Dome Overlooks Hike

The Upheaval Dome Overlooks hike is at the end of Upheaval Dome road in the Islands In The Sky section of Canyonlands. There are several picnic tables and some toilets. Parking is really tight and this is a very popular area so have a back-up plan if you need to circle the park. Canyonlands is part of the National Park system and there is daily fee of $30 per vehicle. An annual pass also will work.

Wrapping up the Canyonlands Upheaval Dome Overlooks Hike

What a fun hike! Hiking to Canyonlands Upheaval Dome Overlooks had just enough incline to make it challenging, but not too challenging to overwhelm the amazing views of the dome. Both overlooks provide excellent views of Upheaval Dome but I did prefer the second overlook a little bit better. You can’t go wrong with either though and a wonderful little hike in Canyonlands.

One thing to keep in mind is the weather and conditions. When I got back in my car the thermometer said 106 degrees in June. A thunderstorm was also moving in and the exposed nature of the hike would make people susceptible to lightning and the rocks getting slick with flash thunderstorms. Make sure to know the conditions and be prepared for the weather, sun and wind if you want to visit the Upheaval Dome Overlooks Hike.

I have added this hike and all of my hikes to my interactive map page that you can find here. If you have a suggestion or comment you can email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com. Or follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!