This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
We're kicking off our 2016 hiking season with marine fun in the desert: Whale Rock in Canyonlands National Park. The hike is short and fun. Small children will enjoy making out the whale-shaped mountain as you drive toward the trailhead, and the climb over slickrock is a fine adventure for all ages.
Directions
From the Island in the Sky Visitor Center, take Grand View Point Road south 6 miles. Just past Mesa Arch, turn west onto Upheaval Dome Road. The trailhead for Whale Rock is about 4.5 miles to the northwest, on the north side of the road.
Hike
From the trailhead, hike north on the clearly-marked trail. About a tenth of a mile in, you will start getting into slickrock; for the most part cairns are easy to spot. Continue north as the route crosses dirt trail and slickrock for the first 0.3 mile of the hike, and then follow the trail southwest as it takes you to a long incline of smooth rock; you are on the Whale Tail!
Follow the back of the Whale up to its highest point, about 0.2 mile from the tail. Some simple scrambling down allows you to continue to the head about 0.1 mile away, where you can get better views to the south. Otherwise take in the sweeping views from the whale's "spout" and walk back the way you came.
Digital map available at www.mapmyrun.com/workout/1310940463/.
Destination: Whale Rock
Hiking time • 1.5 hours
Round-trip miles • 1 miles
Elevation gain • 150 feet
Difficulty • Easy
Trail head restrooms • No
Dogs allowed • No
Bikes allowed • n/a
Fees • $25 per vehicle or $10 per person (park entrance fee)
— Erin Alberty
DestinationWhale Rock
Hiking time1.5 hours
Round-trip miles1 miles
Elevation gain150 feet
DifficultyEasy
Trailhead restroomsNo
Dogs allowedNo
Bikes allowedn/a
Fees$25 per vehicle
or $10 per person
(park entrance fee)