Hiking the White Rim Overlook Trail in Canyonlands National Park
Distance: 1.8 miles / 2.9 km
The White Rim Overlook Trail is one of the best effort-to-reward trails in Canyonlands National Park.
By this, I mean that the relatively short 0.9-mile (1.4 km) trail off of Island in the Sky Road is one of the park’s easiest day hikes in the Island of the Sky District of Canyonlands to enjoy the jaw-dropping views of the canyon below!
This sentiment can be especially true at sunrise, as the east-facing overlook is one of the least-crowded places in the park to watch first light shine on the canyon floor!
White Rim Overlook Trailhead Parking
Parking for the White Rim Overlook Trailhead is located near the end of Island in the Sky Road, in a small parking lot for both the trail and adjacent picnic area.
Being the case, the White Rim Overlook Trailhead can be one of the more challenging places within the Island in the Sky District to park because there are so few places to find a spot compared to other trailheads off of Island in the Sky Road.
Google Maps Directions: White Rim Overlook Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Canyonlands
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Canyonlands National Park.
Hiking the White Rim Overlook Trail
The White Rim Overlook Trail is a mostly flat and straightforward trail, descending about 150 ft. (45.7 m) from the trailhead to the overlook at the end.
White Rim Overlook-Gooseberry Junction
At about 0.1 miles (0.2 km), the White Rim Overlook Trail splits with the Gooseberry Trail—the only other trail junction on the entire hike.
In short, the Gooseberry Trail is a steep trail that descends a number of switchbacks off the Island in the Sky to the White Rim along the canyon rim below.
In any case, go right to continue on the White Rim Overlook Trail.
This next sharp turn, at about 0.3 miles (0.5 km) into the White Rim Overlook Trail, is the only other significant turn on the entire hike.
That being said, it can be difficult to notice before sunrise or after sunset, which are two of the best times to hike to the overlook, in my opinion.
Following these two turns, the White Rim Overlook Trail follows a mostly flat and straight trail for the rest of the hike to the end.
This rock formation off in the distance is a nice sign that you’re getting close to the end.
White Rim Overlook
Standing at roughly 6,100 ft. (1,859 m) or about 1,400 ft. (427 m) from the White Rim below, the White Rim Overlook is one of the most panoramic east-facing viewpoints in all of Canyonlands National Park.
To this point, the overlook makes for a great alternative to the much more popular Mesa Arch Trail, if you’re interested in a less-crowded location to watch the sunrise.
Be aware that scrambling out to the edge of the overlook is easily the most dangerous part of the entire trail, and in my opinion, the views aren’t much better, as they are blocked by this final sandstone tower.
This sunset photo was taken looking to the south out toward The Needles District and the Abajo Mountains, just out of frame.
