Arches and Canyonlands: Self-Guided Audio Tour

Embark on an unforgettable journey through Arches and Canyonlands National Park with Guidealong Audio Driving Tour. Explore famous highlights, hidden gems, and stunning landscapes at your own pace.

Duration: 1 day
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Arches National Park - As the audio guides play commentary based on your gps location, you can create your own itinerary along the tour route(s) to match your interests and schedule.
  • Arches National Park Scenic Drive - Moab has long been a favorite place for adventure sport enthusiasts like mountain-bikers and rock climbers but simply driving the Arches National Park route as a sightseeing day trip is incredible in its own right.

With an introductory explanation of the complex geological forces required to create features like The Windows, and the slow, constant affect weather elements have to change the landscape, you’ll appreciate how remarkably unique it is. Hear stories about the characters who were drawn here and the fragile ecosystem that supplies a lifeline to a surprising amount of diversity.

But with over 2,000 arches located throughout the park, and most travellers on a limited schedule, we’ll lead you to not to be missed features like Double Arch and Landscape Arch. More time may allow you to visit Skyline Arch and Devils Garden areas, as well as many more.

  • Island in the Sky - Canyonlands offers a vastly different experience even though it is only across the valley from the more famous Arches National Park.

Starting in Moab, we travel to the Island in the Sky District continuing along Grand View Point Road. Enthusiastic photographers should get up early if the want to capture Canyonlands’ most famous image – sunrise through Mesa Arch. If we start later in the day, arrange your time so you are still in the Park for a spectacular sunset.

  • Landscape Arch - The longest span arch in Arches National Park, Landscape Arch stretches 300+ feet (94m), but only 11 feet (3.5m) at its center point. Enjoy this arch while you can. You can see the debris from a fall back in 1991 when a large 60 foot (18m) slab fell in 1991. Since then the trail beneath the arch is closed.

The trail begins at Devils Garden trailhead. It is hard packed, with a few rolling hills, and around 1.6 miles (2.6 km) return.

Photograph in the early morning for best colours.

  • Devils Garden Trailhead - Each area of Arches National Park has its unique features. Devil’s Garden might be one of the best to see ‘fins’, examples of these narrow rock walls before they have eroded away into the formation of arches. And of course the longest arch, Landscape Arch at 300 feet (94 metres) - while it lasts!
  • Double Arch - One spectacular arch not enough for you? Try Double Arch! Windows is a ‘must see’ section to explore within the Park, packed with a number of features in a small area, and easily accessible by a series of easy walks.
  • Windows - You may never get to see all the 2000 arches of the park, but the Windows section is a great opportunity to see several arches in close proximity to each other. Looking through Windows, you will feel like you are staring into a completely different place.
  • Delicate Arch - Going to Delicate Arch is like meeting a celebrity. This is the unofficial symbol of Utah and the most famous arch in the Park. We’ll drive to the viewpoint, or you can get closer by taking an uphill hike.
  • Park Avenue Trail - Do the sheer cliffs of Park Avenue and the Courthouse Towers remind you of a downtown city sklyline?

There is an easy and paved trail to the Park Avenue viewpoint. Continue on another (1.6km/1 mile) deep down into the canyon onto the Courthouse Towers.

  • Skyline Arch - If you are flexible with your timing, try saving Skyline Arch for the late afternoon. It’s a short, easy 1/2 mile trail, but takes spectacular photos when the sun is low.
  • Grand View Point Overlook - The name suggests a Grand View and that is what the overlook here delivers.

From this southernmost point of the Island in the Sky, we peer down across the valley, further deepened by a maze of canyons.

Where the canyons cut down, it’s like we are looking into a billion years of the earth’s history.

  • Green River Overlook - Another excellent location with sweeping panoramic views from an elevated position and a superb place to enjoy the sunset.

Named for the rock carving actions performed by the Green River and also a viewpoint where you can imagine famous Grand Canyon explorer John Wesley Powell testing out his wooden boats before venturing into the unknown canyon.

  • Mesa Arch - You’ve seen the iconic images splashed online, this is THE classic image of Canyonlands National Park.

As you peer through the window of the arch admire the expansive view of the canyons below and on clear days, all the way to the Le Sal Mountains on the horizon.

Expect many photographers jostling for space to capture the perfect sunrise image.

  • Upheaval Dome - Upheaval Dome is something of a mysterious oddity. No one has been able completely explain what it is and support it with factual evidence.

Was it caused by a meteor? Was it caused by the earth underneath being thrust up and then collapsing?

Once you see it, you will understand why it even has a nickname of Utah’s “belly button.”

  • Aztec Butte Trail - This 1.2 mile round trip hike to see the ancestral Puebloan structures called granaries is well marked, but a little steep right at the end where you need to scale up a slickrock slope.

The thought of scrambling back down can be a deterrent for some. These are the most easily accessible Anasazi ruins in Canyonlands.

  • The Needles - Located about a 90 minute drive south of Moab, Needles is a District of Canyonlands National Park that is known for its colorful spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone. Though it receives far less visitors than the more popular Island in the Sky District closer to Moab and Arches National Park, those who venture there are wowed by the unique rock formations and enjoyable slickrock hiking. Even the approach to Needles on Highway 211 is beautifully scenic - you’ll love the petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock. If you have a spare day available from Moab, or if you are traveling between Moab and Mesa Verde, or even the Grand Canyon, Needles is a side trip that you won’t want to miss. The drive takes approximately 40 minutes from the turn off from 191.
What's Included
  • Toll free phone, chat and email support
  • Pre-download and tour offline
  • In-app, web and PDF trip planners
  • Location-based stories, tips & directions that autoplay
  • GuideAlong (GyPSy Guide) Audio Tour with 200+ points
  • One-time purchase with no time or date use limit or expiry
  • Flexible routes with suggested itineraries or create your own
What's Not Included
  • Entrance Fees
  • National Park Passes
  • Reservations
Additional Information

Don’t overlook a thing as Guidealong Audio Driving Tour escorts you on a phenomenal trip through Arches and Canyonlands National Park.

En route, you’ll be led to both the park’s renowned attractions and less famous treasures, outstanding hiking paths and other stunning red rock sceneries.

Download and learn more on your Utah drive with engrossing behind-the-scenes stories, local advice and directions that play automatically during your journey.

Experience the liberty to explore independently at your own rate for more time at spots that pique your interest, and bypass those that don’t.

Automatic playback of stories, tips, and directions based on your location
Navigate at your convenience
Tours operate offline through GPS, no cellular service or WiFi needed
Proposed plans for half, full or multi-day use
No expiration or time constraints, free updates

One tour purchase is necessary per vehicle.

Location
Moab
Commentary plays automatically based on your location, so you have flexibility on where and when you want to start and end your tour anywhere along the tour route.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.4
(12 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Robin_b
Jun 26, 2024
Wonderful - Excellently produced to present as personable and engaging. Technically almost perfect with minimal glitches. Program enhanced visit signifactally
Review provided by Viator
Stayz
May 20, 2024
Awesome! - I was glad i got this for our trip. Will plan to use it more when we go to our trips in the future. I was surprise it still kept going even if i didn’t have phone service!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sunnys2574
May 9, 2024
Necessary for a full experience. - Reasonable cost and wonderful info and guide. You can’t go wrong. We learned a great deal and it guided every turn. I used the same in Hawaii for the Road to Hana.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tabatha_r
Mar 31, 2024
Awesome experience - We absolutely LOVED the self guided tour!! So fun and informative!! We felt like he was in the car with us, loved his voice!!
Review provided by Viator
Barbara
Sep 12, 2023
Best travel guide EVER!! - The narrator was excellent!! The information very informative and engaging! I will buy this for every place go from now on!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mawmawpawt
May 17, 2023
Very informative - Loved this great value for the money. Be sure and download before getting to the park. Using the guide we knew just where to go
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Charlene_y
Nov 22, 2022
Awesome experience - Really enjoyed audio, I think we would have driven past a few without realizing what we were missing, so glad we saw the sites. Makes me want to return to Mesa Verde again with the audio to get the full experience.
Review provided by Viator
Lynn_c
Sep 11, 2022
So happy we bought this - Really great narrative with facts and stories that was so worthwhile especially since we had limited time Well worth buying
Review provided by Viator
Marilyn_m
Jul 17, 2023
Bypass Viator - go directly to GuideAlong - The tour provided by GuideAlong was fantastic, but getting to it from Viator was a nightmare. I would recommend going directly to GuideAlong to buy the tour and bypass Viator.
Review provided by Viator
Jackie_j
Jun 15, 2024
Could not get the app to work - Sound like a good idea . We paid the money. I could not get the app to work. We went anyway and enjoyed the views
Review provided by Viator
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