Getting There: Edge of Island in the Sky
The Syncline Loop circles the wild heart of Canyonlands National Park’s Island in the Sky District, tracing the rim of Upheaval Dome—a geologic enigma. It’s a trek that starts with a drive to a mesa’s brink.
Route from Moab, Utah
- Drive south on US-191 for 10 miles from Moab.
- Turn right onto UT-313 west and go 22 miles to the Island in the Sky Visitor Center.
- Head 6 miles south on Grand View Point Road, then left onto Upheaval Dome Road for 1.5 miles to the trailhead parking.
Road Conditions - Fully paved—any car can handle it in dry weather. Rain or snow might slick the final stretch, but 2WD’s fine year-round.
From the trailhead, you’re set for an 8.3-mile loop, plunging 1,500 feet into a canyon and back—a gritty ring around a mystery carved in stone.
What to Expect: A Descent into Chaos
The Syncline Loop is a strenuous beast—5-7 hours—with 1,500 feet of elevation gain packed into steep drops and climbs. You’ll start with a choice: clockwise or counter. Most go counter, descending a rocky gully into Syncline Valley, where junipers cling to fractured cliffs. The trail twists through boulder fields, scrambles over slickrock, and skirts Upheaval Dome’s crater—a 3-mile-wide oddity, born of a meteor or salt collapse (geologists still argue).
- Halfway, a spur to the crater’s rim adds a mile—worth it for the view of warped rock.
- The ascent back is brutal: 1,300 feet up a sun-baked slope, testing your quads and resolve.
- Water’s scarce—carry 3-4 liters; a seep in the valley might trickle, but don’t count on it.
No ancient art marks this path, but the land’s upheaval tells a story older than human hands.
Why Consider This Adventure?
Syncline isn’t a gentle loop—it’s a raw, relentless dive into Canyonlands’ wild side. Here’s why it grips.
- Geologic Puzzle: Circling Upheaval Dome, you’ll walk a question mark etched in stone—nature’s own whodunit.
- Full-Body Test: Steep pitches and rough terrain demand focus and sweat—a true escape from the tame.
- Mesa Contrast: You’ll trade sky-high vistas for canyon depths, then claw back to the rim—a rollercoaster of scale.
What You’ll Get Out of It
This loop is a grind with a glow—a trek that leaves you wrung out and lifted up.
- Curiosity: Peering into Upheaval’s twisted core, you’ll wonder at forces beyond our grasp—meteor or earth’s churn?
- Silence: The valley hushes the world; it’s just you and the rock’s slow breath.
- Strength: Conquering that final climb, lungs heaving, you’ll feel forged by the canyon’s fire.
Final Thoughts
The Syncline Loop is a rugged embrace of Canyonlands’ chaos—a trail that dares you to dive deep and climb hard. It’s for those who’d wrestle a mystery over a smooth stroll, where every step echoes with the land’s restless past. But it’s not without risk: on July 12, 2024, Albino Herrera Espinoza, 52, and his daughter Beatriz Herrera, 23, both from Green Bay, Wisconsin, lost their lives here, succumbing to extreme heat after running out of water and losing their way. Summer’s blaze (100°F+ in June-August) can turn this loop into a furnace—spring or fall is your safer shot at its glory. If you’re ready to circle the unknown, this trail’s your proving ground—just don’t underestimate its bite.
Tips for the Journey
- Pack 3-4 liters of water—no reliable sources down there.
- Start early; the ascent’s kinder in cool air.
- Wear grippy boots—boulders and steeps don’t forgive slips.
- Take the spur to the crater rim—views repay the detour.
This isn’t a casual spin—it’s a dance with the wild. Step in, and let Syncline shape you.
