Whale Rock
in Canyonlands National Park
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Upheaval Dome is a unique natural anomaly on the western end of a magnificent mesa known as the Island in the Sky. There are two popular theories for what caused the bizarre formation, but neither explains how a whale of a rock ended up stretched across the mesa nearby. This long sandstone formation looks like a giant beached whale that came ashore on the Island in the Sky. A one-mile round trip hike ascends 250 feet to the top of Whale Rock for a fun view of Upheaval Dome and surrounding canyons.
Prickly Pear Cactus blooming along the trail
The sides of Whale Rock are too steep for hiking, so the gravel trail instead aims for the tail of the whale, which provides a more gradual approach. Turn left up the sandstone slickrock and follow the cairn-lined track up the back of Whale Rock. The cairns are actually cemented in place, making the course secure and easy to follow. Walk out atop the whale’s head and raise your periscope! You will be treated to a fine view of Upheaval Dome to the west and expansive canyons to the south.
Upheaval Dome and a rock shaped like a face
When you are ready to return to port, follow the cairns back off the whale and down the trail to the parking lot.
To get to the trailhead: From the Island in the Sky Visitor Center, drive south for 6.5 miles. After passing the Mesa Arch turnoff, turn right onto Upheaval Dome Road. Drive 4 miles the trailhead parking area for Whale Rock on the right side of the road.
Use the map below to create your own directions:
Nearby Trails
 | Upheaval Dome This 1.7-mile hike visits two overlooks along the rim of a puzzling three-mile wide crater. |
 | Aztec Butte This is a 1.8 -mile hike ascends a dome-shaped butte that houses Puebloan granaries and offers nice views of Taylor Canyon. |
 | Mesa Arch This half-mile loop visits a picturesque arch spanning across the mesa’s edge. |
 | More trails in Utah Explore other hikes in Canyonlands National Park and elsewhere. |
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