Upheaval Dome Overlooks Trail
in Utah
Two short but steep hikes lead to overlooks of a spectacular and colorful geologic feature: Upheaval Dome. Within minutes of starting, the Overlooks trail crosses the very challenging Syncline Trail, which loops around Upheaval Dome without viewing its center. For more information about the Syncline Trail, see the Strenuous Hikes - Mesa Top to White Rim section of the Canyonlands app.
Upheaval Dome first overlook Roundtrip Distance: 0.6 mi (1 km) Time: 1 hr Elevation Change: 115 ft (35m) Difficulty: Moderate Hike Description: A short but steep trail leads to a clear view into Upheaval dome. Exhibits at the end of the trail discuss this unique geologic feature. Upheaval Dome second overlook Roundtrip Distance: 1.2 mi (1.9 km) Time: 1.5 hrs Elevation Change: 114 ft (35m) Difficulty: Moderate Hike Description:This trail splits off from the first overlook trail, following cairns to more views of Upheaval Dome and Upheaval Canyon.
Accessibility: This trail can be rough, uneven, and requires walking up and down a rocky hill and stone steps. It is not accessible to wheelchairs. In winter, there may be snow or icy conditions; we recommend traction devices for hikers.
- States
- Utah
- Trail type
- National Park trail
- Centroid nearest city
- Salt Lake City, UT · 192 mi · ~6 hr drive
- Centroid coords
- 38.4263°, -109.9261°
About Canyonlands National Park
This trail is inside Canyonlands National Park, a national park managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Conditions, road status, trail closures, and reservation requirements are published on the park's NPS page — check it before driving in, especially in winter or during major weather events.
Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle (verify current rate on the park page). An America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entrance to all NPS units.
Official NPS trail page: https://www.nps.gov/places/upheaval-dome-overlook-trails.htm
Park homepage: https://www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm
Plan your hike
Maps + permits: long-distance trails like this often require permits for through-hiking, backcountry camping, or specific sections (especially in National Parks). Check with the maintaining organisation listed above and the relevant land manager before booking travel.
Water + supplies: water sources vary seasonally on most U.S. trails. Carry a filter and consult current trail-condition reports — through-hiker journals (PCT-L, AT Reddit, etc.) and the maintaining organisation publish regular updates.
When to go: hiking seasons vary widely with elevation, latitude, and snowpack. Through-hikers traditionally start the AT in March-April (Springer northbound) and the PCT in late April (Campo northbound). High-elevation western trails (CDT, JMT, Wonderland) generally aren't passable until July.
If you've hiked Upheaval Dome Overlooks Trail and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.
Other trails within 50 miles
Syncline Trail
0 miles from this trail's centroid
Whale Rock Trail
1 miles from this trail's centroid
Alcove Spring Trail
1 miles from this trail's centroid
Wilhite Trail
2 miles from this trail's centroid
Moses and Zeus Towers Trail
3 miles from this trail's centroid
Mesa Arch Trail
4 miles from this trail's centroid
Sources
Trail data on this page is compiled from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), the maintaining organisation's public-facing materials, and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA where excerpts are quoted). Distance, terminus, and descriptive text for nationally-designated trails are hand-curated from federal land-manager websites and trail-association sources. We do not modify the underlying data; this page presents what is already publicly recorded. To suggest corrections, see our methodology page.