Canyonlands Figure 8: A Journey Across Time and Water

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Red Lake Canyon | Jeremiah Watt

Experience the raw grandeur of Canyonlands on the Figure 8—a rugged, multi-day packrafting route built for experienced adventurers.

A testament to time and the erosional forces of wind and water, Canyonlands National Park encompasses over 337,000 acres of untamed red rock grandeur. Spread across four rugged districts — Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze and The Rivers (Colorado and Green) — it is a landscape defined by isolation. With no roads connecting the districts, traversing them demands exceptional preparation and profound respect for the terrain.

The Figure 8 links these distinct worlds into a single, formidable loop. Combining self-supported backcountry trekking with remote packrafting across both river systems, this multi-day route is not a casual outing. It requires advanced navigation, desert survival literacy and the humility to respect a wild environment. For seasoned adventurers who carry caution alongside their curiosity, the Figure 8 offers an unforgettable, sensory immersion into the park’s wild core. Join photographer Jeremiah Watt for a visual exploration of this demanding route.

Route Note: The Figure 8 is an expert-level, self-supported backcountry endeavor. It demands proven route-finding skills, packrafting proficiency, water-management and complete self-reliance. It is not suitable for inexperienced backpackers, and underestimating the desert terrain can quickly lead to danger.

"You’ll begin in the Needles, descend through its maze of red and white canyons following a path of least resistance to the Colorado River, float through the confluence with the Green River and spend the night at Spanish Bottom."

"The following morning, you’ll exit the river corridor on the opposing shore from where you started, climb to the canyon rim and overland to the Green River where you’ll camp for the evening. You’ll spend your second day walking through the Doll House and weaving through the Maze deep within the park, eventually dropping back to the river’s edge and a campsite along the Green."

"Your third day finds you floating back through the confluence with the Colorado, and down to Spanish Bottom. Taking out on your starting side of the river, it’s time to roll up your boat, stash it on your pack and begin the trek up Red Lake Canyon to a campsite for the evening."

"Day four completes the Figure 8 with a walk through the Needles back to your vehicle. One of the park's most profound offerings and an exceptional opportunity to experience the rare beauty and solitude of a seldom visited, well-preserved wilderness – the Figure 8 doesn’t disappoint."

"There are few things tastier than a cold beverage and good meal after four days in the wild. A few of my personal favorite options to stop after a few days in the backcountry include Moab Brewery for cold beer and excellent burgers, Doughbird for exotic doughnuts, espresso and fried chicken or classic Mexican fare at Miguel’s."

Pack Rafts: A lightweight inflatable boat is a must. You’ll be carrying it for over twenty miles and the water on both rivers is flat. Pack rafts and accessories (life jackets!) are readily available to rent or purchase in Moab.

Navigation: Gaia, CalTopo, Garmin Explorer are all great options to create and weigh route options, however, GPS may not always be reliable. Detailed topographic maps and knowledge of the terrain are essential. Research your route before you go. There’s a multitude of trip reports and options online to help with route development.

Water: The water in the Green and Colorado is dirty and undrinkable unless settled and filtered before consumption. On day three you’ll need to carry enough water for the remainder of day 3 (dinner/travel) and all of day 4 (breakfast/hike out). Water Wizard for River Runners is highly recommended to settle your water before treating or filtering.

Permits: All overnight trips in the park require permits for each night you’re in the backcountry. Pack raft permits are easily obtained and allow you to camp anywhere within .5 miles of the river. Camp site reservations are required elsewhere. New Bates Wilson and Devils Kitchen are great day three campsites depending on whether you’re ending at Elephant Hill or Big Spring.

Backpacks, Dry Bags and Accessories: A comfortable, sizable pack is a must. Clothing that dries quickly and offers sun protection is highly recommended. Broken-in hiking shoes are a must. The basic camping essentials are mandatory – tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, etc. You can purchase and/or rent everything you might need in Moab.

Remember to Leave No Trace

When you visit Utah, expect your time spent outdoors to result in soul-awakening experiences. To help you maximize your experience, we've partnered with Leave No Trace to create Utah-specific seven principles for responsible recreation.

1. Know Before You Go

A little extra planning can expand your knowledge, reduce your impact and improve your adventure. Prepare to travel in Utah by researching your destinations, packing for a range of conditions and making backup plans just in case.

2. Stick to Trails and “Overnight Right”

From solitary hikes to group rides, there are trails for every traveler. Following signage, sticking to the path and using a little know-how will keep Utah’s trails and campsites safe and open.

3. Trash Your Trash

One person's trash can greatly impact a natural treasure. No matter where you go, have a garbage and bathroom plan ready (for you and your group) and know how to correctly dispose of all waste, which may mean packing everything out.

4. Protect Indigenous Cultural Heritage

Indigenous and other historical and cultural sites are everywhere in Utah and they are important to modern descendant communities and researchers. Protect these sites by observing and admiring structures, objects, rock imagery and historical inscriptions at a respectful distance.

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts

There’s nothing quite like cozying up to a campfire, but not all places and conditions are safe to have one. In areas where fires can be built, keep them small and in existing fire rings and be prepared to extinguish them completely.

6. Keep Wildlife Wild

Being in Utah’s outdoors means sharing them with wildlife, which may include bears. Respect their home by only observing from a distance. Save human food for humans, ensure pets are within your control and know local fishing, hunting and boating guidelines.

7. Share Our Parks, Trails and Roads

When traveling in Utah, you may find yourself part of a crowd. While there are many ways to enjoy the outdoors, we can help each other out by being patient, minimizing noise and reducing speed, whether in town or on the trail.

Raft and Gear Rentals in Moab

Desert Highlights – (435) 259-4433
Moab Watersports & Gear Rentals – (435) 355-0343
Gearheads – (435) 259-4327

Recreation Permit Needs

Reserve your pack raft recreation permits in advance online at recreation.gov.

Packrafting in Canyonlands Reserve Recreation Permits

Explore the Canyonlands Region

About the Photographer – Jeremiah Watt

Jeremiah "Miah" Watt strives to share the power of human experience through compelling photography. He brings a unique perspective of personal experience combining a lifestyle of adventure sport (which originally brought him to photography) and an academic eye cultivated while completing a MFA in photography. Based in Salt Lake City with his wife, son and big dog, his biggest challenge is balancing time on the rock and water with that behind a lens. He splits his time documenting worthwhile endeavors for commercial and conservation clients worldwide and is looking forward to connecting on your latest possibility.

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