Island in the Sky | Friday – Sunday, December 5-7, 2025
Although it’s been over three years since the last time I visited the Island in the Sky District within Canyonlands National Park, it certainly has not been for a lack of trying. Over the past few years I have booked the Candlestick Camp on the White Rim at least two or three different times since it’s the only campsite along the White Rim Trail that I have not stayed at before, but each time the weather or ice on the switchbacks of the Mineral Bottom Road made me change those plans. Over the summer I decided to try again and booked the campsite for the first weekend in December with hopes that the weather would cooperate this time, and then I invited my friend Jackson along so he could get his first taste of the White Rim with his new 4Runner. As the weekend neared there was a winter storm system that impacted the areas around Grand Junction and Moab so we weren’t sure what the road situation was going to be like when we reached the top of the switchbacks above Mineral Bottom, but after leaving work on Friday and making our way out there we were happy to find that this area had not been impacted and the switchbacks were clear and dry- so down we went!
After leaving from work we topped off our gas tanks at the new gas station in Crescent Junction and then drove down the Mineral Bottom switchbacks into Labyrinth Canyon.
We stopped to visit a large boulder above the Green River that was covered with small dinosaur tracks. This was the best track on the boulder.
Driving through Labyrinth Canyon.
Buck Mesa Point
Upheaval Canyon
Our first night was spent at the Labyrinth B Campsite.
On Saturday morning we were up early to start hiking up Upheaval Canyon shortly after sunrise. Although I have hiked this trail before, Jackson wanted to hike into the center of the Upheaval Dome crater since he had hiked the Syncline Loop before but skipped the spur into the crater.
Starting our hike up Upheaval Canyon.
Upheaval Canyon Narrows
Jackson In the Narrows
Upheaval Dome
This curve in the wash caught my attention.
The geology in the center of the crater is very interesting and unusual.
Heading back down the Upheaval Canyon Trail.
London Bridge Arch
After finishing our hike it was time to drive over Hardscrabble Hill and continue on to the Candlestick Campsite.
The light on the landscape was looking very nice as we descended to Potato Bottom.
I spotted this large group of bighorn sheep at the edge of the White Rim above Queen Anne Bottom.
Candlestick Tower came into view after driving around Steer Mesa.
We stopped and hiked out to a point above Holeman Canyon and across from Valentine Bottom.
We reached Candlestick Camp shortly before sunset.
Before the sun disappeared behind the Orange Cliffs we walked along the edge of the White Rim near camp and took in the views above Stillwater Canyon.
Candlestick Tower glowed bright orange just before the sun dropped below the horizon.
Steer Mesa Point at Sunset
On Sunday morning we were up early so we could walk the rim at dawn and watch the sunrise.
Buttes of the Cross
I liked how the early morning sun cast the shadow of Candlestick Tower onto Steer Mesa.
Once the sun was up we packed up and started our drive back out. I’m happy that I’ve now camped at all the campsites along the White Rim Trail- another goal completed!
We briefly stopped to explore the Holeman Slot Canyon along the way.
Making our way back over to Hardscrabble Hill.
We stopped for one final hike out to the ruins above Fort Bottom.
Fort Bottom Ruins
The interior doorway between the towers.
Jackson hikes across the narrowest part of the trail on our way back to the trailhead.
Rounding a curve of the White Rim Trail in Labyrinth Canyon.
After stopping to eat lunch at Point Bottom we drove back up the Mineral Bottom switchbacks and finished the drive back home. It turned out to be a great weekend on the White Rim and I think Jackson is now very interested in doing the full loop sometime in the future. Maybe I’ll tag along, too!
Beautiful pictures! Beautiful area! Canyonlands is my favorite place on the planet. I’ve been there a few times. Took a whitewater rafting trip through Cataract Canyon in April 2004. Broke my left ankle at Spanish Bottom and the next day did the whitewater part of the trip.