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Highway 211 to the Needles, Canyonlands, Utah
Photo: KimonBerlin · CC BY-SA 2.0 · cropped

Drives Utah Moab and Utah's Canyon Country

Highway 211 to the Needles

UT 211, CR 1291 · US-191 → Indian Creek

Leisurely30 mi50 min1,200 ft climbHigh point ≈ 6,600 ftOne way
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The drive

SR 211 leaves US 191 near Church Rock, between Moab and Monticello, and runs west across empty country toward the Needles District of Canyonlands. It is the only paved road into the area. The road passes the ruins of the Home of Truth community and crosses Photograph Gap before dropping through Indian Canyon.

The descent through Indian Canyon is steep with sharp curves. At the bottom, Newspaper Rock sits right beside the road, and farther on the red cliffs rise under the Sixshooter Peaks. The whole road is the Indian Creek Corridor Scenic Byway.

This drive ends at Indian Creek near Dugout Ranch, just short of the Canyonlands boundary. It is 30.4 miles and about 48 minutes.

Along the way

  1. US-191 (Church Rock)
  2. Indian Creek (Dugout Ranch)
Elevation
1,200 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 6,600 ft
US-191Indian Creek
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
US-191Indian Creek
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • There are no services along the road, so fuel up and bring water before you leave US 191.
  • Vehicles over 10 feet wide or 80 feet long need a pilot car escort through the canyon.
  • Use a map: the park warns that GPS units often lead people astray in this area.
  • The park boundary is just past the end of the drive; park fees apply inside Canyonlands.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check UDOT Traffic.

Questions about this drive

How long is the drive on Highway 211 to the Needles?

This Highway 211 drive from US 191 to Indian Creek is 30.4 miles and takes about 48 minutes.

Is there gas on SR 211 to the Needles?

No services are listed along SR 211. Plan on fueling up in Moab or Monticello, the towns on US 191, before you turn off.

Do I pay a park fee to drive Highway 211?

Not on this drive, which ends just before the Canyonlands boundary. Park fees apply once you enter the Needles District.

Is SR 211 paved all the way to the Needles?

Yes. The National Park Service says UT 211 is the only paved road into the Needles area.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Highway 211 to the Needles, from US-191 to Indian Creek