Upheaval Dome

Upheaval Dome is a roughly three-mile-wide geologic structure in Canyonlands' Island in the Sky district. Here, rock layers rise into a central dome and bend down around it, making a pale, colorful basin inside the red sandstone rim. It's a worthwhile change from the park's river-cut canyon overlooks: two short hikes let you look straight into the folds.

The first overlook is a 0.6-mile round trip, about an hour with 115 feet of elevation change. It's a short, steep climb rated moderate. Continue on the cairn-marked route to the second overlook for a 1.2-mile round trip overall, about 1.5 hours and 114 feet of elevation change. Both are moderate; go farther if you want more than the first view.

Within minutes, the Overlooks Trail crosses the very challenging Syncline Trail. That's a separate loop around the Dome, and it doesn't show the center; stay on the overlook route for the Dome views. Expect uneven ground, a rocky hill and stone steps. The trail isn't wheelchair accessible. Snow or ice can cover it in winter, when traction devices are recommended. Dogs aren't allowed on the trail; service animals are. There's a restroom at the trailhead.

Most of Canyonlands' rock layers sit in orderly bands, but here they're dramatically deformed. The center is pushed up into a dome, or anticline, with a downwarp called a syncline around it. Geologists still debate the cause: ancient underground salt may have pushed the layers upward, or a meteorite may have struck about 60 million years ago. Recent research supports the impact theory, but questions remain.

The first overlook looks directly into the Dome, where you can follow the pale folded layers against the red rim. Its interpretive exhibits explain the formation. The second overlook adds views of Upheaval Canyon and a broader look at the feature. For a photo, keep some of that red rim around the pale center so the folded shape reads at a glance.