Utah · Hiking · Near Moab

Syncline Trail

Syncline TrailPhoto: NPS/Veronica Verdin
7.8 mi
loop
1,543 ft
climb
5,756 ft
high point
Loop
route
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Syncline Trail open right now?

Alert in the area

The National Park Service lists 2 alerts for Canyonlands National Park.

As of · Source: NPS · Canyonlands National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

The Syncline Trail follows canyons around Upheaval Dome and requires navigating steep switchbacks, climbing and scrambling through boulder fields, and a 1,500-foot (460 m) elevation change. This is the most challenging trail in the Island in the Sky district, and most park rescues occur on this trail. • Roundtrip Distance: 8.1 mi (13 km) • Time: 5-7 hrs • Elevation Change: 1,516 ft (462 m) • Difficulty: Strenuous. Not recommended during peak summer heat • Hike Description: This challenging trail follows the canyons around Upheaval Dome and requires navigating steep switchbacks, climbing and scrambling through boulder fields where trail markers are few and far apart. Hiking the trail clockwise starts with a very steep descent but affords better afternoon shade for the gradual ascent through miles of loose sand. • Bring: Water (at least 1 liter per person, per hour), snacks, sturdy footwear, headlamp or flashlight, map, and be prepared for, sun, rain, heat, or cold. • Accessibility: This trail can be rough, uneven, and requires walking up and down a rocky hill and stone steps. It is not accessible to wheelchairs. In winter, there may be snow or icy conditions; we recommend traction devices for hikers. • Dogs are not allowed on this trail. Service animals are allowed in national parks. What is a service animal? This trail loops around Upheaval Dome but does not provide any views of that unusual geologic feature. For the best views, hike the Upheaval Dome Overlooks trail described in the Moderate - Mesa Top section of the Canyonlands app.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Syncline

    Campground

    Campground · 2.0 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Domino's

    Fast food

    On your way back · 22 mi · Open after 6
  • If it rains

    Launching Pad

    Attraction

    On your way back · 20 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Moab

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Syncline Trail

    Best months: April–June and September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      37° / 22°

      4 wet · 4 snow

    2. Feb

      43° / 27°

      4 wet · 3 snow

    3. Mar

      54° / 35°

      5 wet · 2 snow

    4. Apr

      62° / 40°

      5 wet · 1 snow

    5. May

      72° / 50°

      5 wet

    6. Jun

      85° / 62°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      91° / 68°

      6 wet

    8. Aug

      88° / 66°

      7 wet

    9. Sep

      79° / 57°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      65° / 44°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      49° / 33°

      4 wet · 2 snow

    12. Dec

      37° / 23°

      4 wet · 4 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Canyonlands-The Neck, UT, 6.1 mi away at 5,871 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Upheaval DomePhoto: BFS Man from Webster, TX, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Upheaval Dome

Next door

0.57-mile out-and-back trail at Upheaval Dome in Utah with 174 ft gain.

Upheaval Crater SpurPhoto: BFS Man from Webster, TX, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Upheaval Crater Spur

~1 min drive

2.15-mile out-and-back trail at Upheaval Crater in Utah with 124 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Whale Rock Trail

~1 min drive

Many features in this region bear imaginative names. Does this long sandstone dome looked like a giant whale to you? This trail walks along its side, then climbs from its "tail" up to its "blowhole." Roundtrip Distance: 0.8 mi (1.3 km) Time: 1 hr Elevation Change: 141 ft (43…

WilhitePhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Wilhite

~3 min drive

5.71-mile out-and-back trail in Utah with 2,269 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

Wilhite Trail

~4 min drive

A primitive trail with steep switchbacks drops 1,600 feet (488 m) into a long, sandy wash. Follow the wash to the White Rim Road. No shade. Roundtrip Distance: 11.4 mi (18.3 km) Time: 6-8 hrs Elevation Change: 1,693 ft (516 m) Difficulty: Strenuous– Mesa Top to White Rim…

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Aztec Butte Trail

~6 min drive

Indigenous people once stored foods and medicines in rock structures, called granaries, built into alcoves here. Despite the current name, they were not part of the Aztec civilization. Do not touch or enter the extremely fragile ancient structures. Roundtrip Distance: 1.4 mi…

False Kiva TrailPhoto: Frans-Banja Mulder, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

False Kiva Trail

~2 min drive

1.56-mile out-and-back trail in Utah with 787 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Alcove Spring Trail

~2 min drive

After descending 1,300 feet (396 m) past a large alcove, the trail meanders in a wide canyon to the base of the notable Moses and Zeus towers. Roundtrip Distance: 11.2 mi (18 km) Time: 6-7 hrs Elevation Change: 1,455 ft (444 m) Difficulty: Strenuous – Mesa Top to White Rim…

Alcove SpringPhoto: swhitfield, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Alcove Spring

~6 min drive

5.63-mile out-and-back trail in Utah with 2,113 ft of elevation gain.

Lathrop CanyonPhoto: Greg Willis, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lathrop Canyon

~11 min drive

5.89-mile out-and-back trail in Utah with 2,794 ft elevation gain

Route details

Distance
7.8 mi
Climbing
About 1,543 ft
Starts at
Upheaval Trail Trailhead (about 5,688 ft)
Summit
5,927 ft
Difficulty
Moderate

Questions about this route

How long is the Syncline Trail on Upheaval Dome?

About 7.8 mi from Upheaval Trail Trailhead (about 5,688 ft).

How much elevation gain is on the Syncline Trail?

About 1,543 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Syncline Trail?

It is rated moderate.

Where does the Syncline Trail start?

Upheaval Trail Trailhead (about 5,688 ft).

Conditions and forecast on Upheaval Dome

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.