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Canyonlands National ParkRock art at Peekaboo Arch
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Canyonlands National Park
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photo of Bates Wilson, one of the earliest advocates for the creation of Canyonlands
Bates Wilson, one of the earliest advocates for the creation of Canyonlands
 

Native Americans
Humans first visited Canyonlands over 10,000 years ago. Nomadic groups of hunter-gatherers roamed throughout the southwest from 8,000 B.C. to 500 B.C.

European Explorers
For early European explorers, Canyonlands offered more of an impediment to travel than a destination.

Miners & Ranchers
From the 1880s to 1975, local ranches used much of Canyonlands for winter pasture. Cowboys searched the canyons for good feed and water.

Park Founders
In the 1950s and early 1960s, Arches National Monument Superintendent Bates Wilson advocated the creation of a National Park in what is now Canyonlands.
Living Ruins
Living Ruins
Archeologists survey the river corridors in Canyonlands.
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Detail of the Harvest Scene pictograph panel
Reading Rock Art
Searching for meaning in the symbols of prehistoric cultures
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Tower Ruin
On the Edge: A visit to Tower Ruin
Join a park archeologist and others on a survey of one of the park's best-known Indian dwellings.
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Desert Bighorn Sheep  

Did You Know?
Desert bighorn sheep live year-round in Canyonlands. These animals make their home along the rivers, negotiating the steep, rocky talus slopes with ease. Once in danger of becoming extinct, desert bighorns are making a tentative comeback thanks to the healthy herds in Canyonlands.
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Last Updated: July 25, 2006 at 00:23 EST