Whale Rock was my favorite hike when we were in Canyonlands. It is basically climbing up a HUGE slick rock and the view is spectacular.
How to Get There:
From the Island in the Sky Visitor’s Center, head South then take a right at the fork in the road right past Mesa Arch. You will head North on the road and as it starts to curve around, there is a small parking lot on the right for Whale Rock.
As for the hike, you start out on a packed dirt trail hat turns into slick rock. Make sure to watch for the cairns as you climb up the rock.
What You Will See and Do:
As you hike you will see lots of big slick rock and desert plants and animals. Make sure you watch out for cactus! Some of it grows quite close to the trail.As you climb up the slightly steep rock, you will end up at the top of Whale Rock which offers beautiful 360 degree views of the area.
The hike is about 1 mile round trip and you can plan on it taking anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. There are also no restrooms and no water at the trail head.
Sum Up:
Whale Rock is a quick, relatively easy hike perfect for families. It offers incredible views and is just really cool.
