Upheaval Dome in Canyonlands

Is it a meteorite or a salt formation? Gather your own conclusions about the origins of this mysterious ring of rock on this 7.6-mile loop in Canyonlands National Park.

Updated December 3, 2024 03:32PM

The literal centerpiece of this 7.6-mile loop is an anomaly in an already otherworldly landscape. Two theories attempt to explain the deformed rock in the 3-mile-wide Upheaval Dome area, but whether it’s a meteorite or a long-dissolved salt formation, you’ll catch a spectacular panoramic view of the jumbled geology near the trailhead. See more trip beta, including GPS coordinates, elevation profile, and driving directions, provided by Rocky Mountain editor Steve Howe at backpacker.com/hikes/344092.

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Kris Wagner, map editor