Upheaval Dome

We did this hike in May 2010 and found it to be one of our best memories of the several national parks in Utah that we visited last spring.  We also began the hike with the quick trip to the overlook -- where most people, unfortunately, turn around and leave.  If you get onto the trail itself, you are sure to enjoy the many variations in terrain and vegetation that you encounter as you circle the dome.  Like others, we have rated it a "4" in terms of difficulty, primarly because of several very steep portions that you will encounter over about one mile of the route.  The rest of the trip is fairly easy-going.  We found that about half went clockwise and half of the groups were circling opposite.  Time enroute is about the same either way.  Because of the many photo opportunities and the somewhat steep terrain in places, I would allow at least one extra hour beyond the trailhead estimates.  Carry plenty of water or at least a filter.  A very memorable trip.

My wife and I walked this trail in October 2008.  We did the trail clockwise but did not walk into the crater itself.  The trail starts of quite easy but after a while the descent becomes difficult and is only marked by cairns.  After the descent the trail continues for about 2-3 miles along a wash.  Then you can either walk into the crater (no outlet) or start the climb up the canyon wall.  This climb is very strenous and at times (in my opinion) quite scary.

We walked the entire trail in about 5 h.

Pictures in http://4cornershikescanyonlands.blogspot.com

The "Island in the Sky" is the north district of Canyonlands National Park, an area carved by the Green River from the north and the Colorado River coming from the east. There is only a narrow neck, wide enough for a road, that lets you get out there.

This remote island is in southeast Utah near Moab, a little north of the entrance to Arches National Park.

Once on the island, it serves you as a lookout tower ranging from the 1000 ft. deep canyons to the three mountain ranges that are visible in the normally very clear air. There are quite a few short trails that lead to lookout points at the edge.

One of the trails I tried was the Mesa Arch trail, a 0.5 mile loop where the view was framed by an arch, one that must have escaped from nearby Arches National Park.

Another was the Gooseberry picnic area trail, a 1 mile out and back trail out to a rocky cliff giving a view more to the south, with glimpses of the Colorado River.

The third trail I tried wasn't to an overlook, but was 0.8 miles out and back to a crater site called "Upheaval Dome." Rather than the neat layers of rock that are visible everywhere else, here it looks like a big mixer was used. A recent theory for this is that a meteor may have hit here long ago, pulverizing the immediate area and sending clouds of dust high in the air. What we see is the bottom of the impact zone, the top having eroded away.

I'm so glad to see that there are some new Utah hikes!  I have been to Canyonlands and Arches, and casually hiked around a bit (no backpacking or hard-core hikes).  Of the easy trails I hiked, the Upheaval Dome is the most memorable.  I went late March several years ago.  There were very few people in Canyonlands at this time, although a fair number were in Arches.  As for this hike, there were no people at all.  When you get to the end, the view is surreal.  Photos don't do this justice.  The colors are more copper green and reds, and the gravel-like softness of the dome made it look like a painting.  Anyway, after years, this is the one hike I actually remember when I think of Canyonlands.  The scenery is not as amazingly enormous as some of the other canyons, but it is different.  I give it a 4star only because there was a very narrow portion of the trail that I didn't feel 100% comfortable on.  Otherwise, it was a very easy and quick trail.  A good one to go on if you are only spending a day or so in this park.  If you have not been to Canyonlands (or Arches) I strongly recommend them!  I can't wait to make a trip to Zion and Bryce.  Utah is beautiful.