Sight · Canyonlands National Park
A roadside spire reached by a five-hour, low-range 4WD drive.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Canyonlands Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Canyonlands National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Canyonlands audio tour“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Standing Rock is a narrow, red Organ Rock Formation spire beside the road in the Land of Standing Rocks, with the smaller Plug nearby. This is a stop for people already in the Maze, not a casual detour: NPS estimates 38 miles and about five hours from Hans Flat Ranger Station. Maze roads require high-clearance 4WD with low range, and the stretch from Teapot Rock to the Land of Standing Rocks is very difficult even in good conditions, with a substantial risk of vehicle damage.
Dark-red pinnacles line this part of the Maze. NPS identifies them as vertical exposures of the Organ Rock Formation, sometimes capped with White Rim Sandstone. Some pinnacles in the area reach about 250 feet; that figure is for the formations generally, not a measured height for Standing Rock. For a photo, keep the main spire and the small Plug together—their contrast gives this landmark its shape.
One designated primitive vehicle campsite sits at the base, with room for up to nine people and three vehicles. There is no pit toilet or picnic table; campers must bring a cleanable reusable toilet system, and overnight trips need a backcountry permit. Pets are prohibited in the Maze, even in vehicles, and fires are not allowed. NPS recommends carrying extra water and fuel.
Wildlife
48 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
47 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
12 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
30 sightingsWestern RattlesnakeMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
18 sightingsTurkey VultureMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
18 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Canyonlands. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ChallengingThe Plug Route3.9 mi · 2.3 hr · 0.3 mi awayA hard one-way 3.9-mile connector from The Plug to Pictograph Fork.
ChallengingHarvest Scene Route8.7 mi · 7 hr · 1.1 mi awayA rugged loop reaches the Maze’s famous Harvest Scene pictographs.
ChallengingShot Canyon Route10.1 mi · 8 hr · 1.2 mi awayCairns lead from Chimney Rock into Shot Canyon's broad floor.
ChallengingPete's Mesa Route8.4 mi · 6 hr · 1.2 mi awaySlickrock miles with the Maze spread out below.
ChallengingChimney Rock Route2.3 mi · 2.5 hr · 1.2 mi awayA steep old stock route drops into Pictograph Fork.
ModerateChocolate Drops Trail8.8 mi · 5 hr · 1.3 mi awayCairned slickrock to four sandstone sentinels deep in The Maze.
ModerateColorado and Green River Overlook Trail8.9 mi · 5 hr · 2.7 mi awayBeehive Arch and two river views reward a long Maze approach.
ModerateGranary Trail1.9 mi · 2 hr · 2.7 mi awayA tight sandstone squeeze, an alcove granary and Colorado River views.
Sight · 1.2 mi awayChimney RockA sandstone tower worth stopping for once you're deep in the Maze.
Sight · 2.7 mi awayThe Doll HouseA sandstone spire city at the end of a six-hour 4WD route.
Sight · 3 mi awayThe Harvest SceneA striking pictograph panel on a hard Maze backcountry loop.
Sight · 3.1 mi awayChocolate DropsFour nearly 200-foot shale towers, deep in the Maze.
Sight · 3.9 mi awayMaze OverlookA canyon panorama reached only after hours of rough 4WD travel.Parkwolf’s Canyonlands ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
