Druid Arch Trail (Needles) The first 3 miles of this trail is shared with Chesler Park Loop (below) and can be turned into an all-day adventure if you plan ahead. If you want to get an up-close look at the “Needles,” the sandstone spires that make the Needles district of Canyonlands National Park so uniquely beautiful, put Chesler Park on your list. A short but steep trail leads to a clear view into Upheaval Dome. Water reliably available. To really get back to the needles area you have to do a long 6+ mile day hike. Both trails require scrambling up to slickrock and ledges. Hike to Druid Arch to see one of Mother Nature's great artworks. Rough switchbacks cross sheer cliffs and scree slopes. Foot trails and four-wheel-drive roadslead to such features as Tower Ruin, Confluence Overlook, Elephant Hill, the Joint Trail, and Chesler Park. Cave Spring: Cave Spring is the best hike in the Needles district. Net elevation change is generally several hundred feet or less, except for the Lower Red Lake Trail, which drops 1,400 feet to the Colorado River. It follows the first part of the Chesler Park trail, then branches off to travel along the bottom of Elephant Canyon through deep sand and loose rock. Located along the access road coming into the Needles District, take a step back in time to explore one of Utah’s Historic Monuments, Newspaper Rock… Some of the campsites can be reserved during certain times of the year. View prehistoric rock paintings at the end of the trail near Peekaboo camp. You can also watch a park orientation video. Continue on Lathrop Trail by walking south on the White Rim Road, then follow Lathrop Canyon Road to the Colorado River. Discover a landscape dominated by signature towering Cedar Mesa sandstone spires poking up from the desert floor and over 60 miles of trails that create the colorful canvas painted with red-and-white striped mesas, buttes, and needles. Hiking to second overlook adds 1 mile (1.5 km) and 50 feet (15 m) elevation change. This short walk ends abruptly at an overlook of a meandering gooseneck bend in the Colorado River. Read about backpacking. A short hike leads to a cliff-edge arch. There are 43 moderate trails in Canyonlands National Park ranging from 0.6 to 104 miles and from 3,946 to 7,076 feet above sea level. One ladder must be climbed.imilar to the Big Spring to Squaw Canyon loop, but travels deeper into a canyon. Just to review, here is my suggestion if you’re looking for easy hiking in Canyonlands. A great full-day hike, this trail drops off the side of the mesa top for a 1,400-foot (427 m) elevation change. Along Taylor Canyon Road. With how hot it is here we never attempted to do that. The Needles forms the southeast corner of Canyonlands and was named for the colorful spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone that dominate the area. Recommended as a multi-day hike. Trail guides are available at the visitor center and at the trailheads. Check the calendar for other special events. This trail features expansive 360-degree views. Conditions of other trails are more primitive, traversing a mixture of slickrock benches and sandy washes. 25 East Center Street Moab, UT 84532 800-635-6622 Visit website One-hundred-foot elevation change (30 m). No camping at river. Steep slopes and nearby cliff edges make this a challenging route. Steep grades & exposure to heights. What an absolutly beautiful place. Very limited trailhead parking. Vault toilet at end of trail. Check at the visitor center and on bulletin boards for subjects and times. Trail ascends 500 feet (152 m) to the base of prominent sandstone spires. Backpacked this hike and went further into the joint trail then were lucky enough to stay in CP1. The Needles Visitor Center is open daily, spring through fall. At-large camping only. Backpacking permits required. Protect Your Park - Keep off the Arches. Be careful: steep drop-offs. It has stunning views toward the La Sal Mountains any time of day. Surfaces along the hiking trails at Needles Canyonlands can be uneven. The Needles : This 20-mile collection of trails crisscrosses the Needles District, which is considered a remote part of this already out-of-the-way park. Uneven slickrock leads to diverse pothole communities as well as views of the Needles. Four short, self-guided trails along the paved scenic drive highlight different aspects of the park's natural and cultural history. Planning an overnight trip? - White Rim Overlook. The route between the canyons climbs steep grades that are dangerous when wet and may make people with a fear of heights uncomfortable. Long trails at Island in the Sky begin on the mesa top and descend via switchbacks to the White Rim bench, or beyond to one of the rivers. Best in late afternoon. A great introduction to the landscape of The Needles, connecting two canyons for a loop across varied terrain. About 50 miles of challenging backcountry roads lead to campsites, trailheads and many natural and cultural features. The Needles offers over 60 miles of interconnecting trails as challenging as they are rewarding. View structures from a distance to protect fragile walls. Although most trails can be hiked in a day by strong hikers, many form loops and may be combined with other trails for longer trips. This trail provides many great panoramas of the Needles formations. The Needles offers over 60 miles of interconnecting trails as challenging as they are rewarding. Electric outlets are not available. Druid Arch in The Needles District of Canyonlands National Park Chesler Park Loop Trail Chesler Park Loop Trail is by far the best trail in the Needles, but it takes a lot of sweat equity, water, and the whole day. Note the rock layers distorted by salt pushing up from below. Four designated campsites in upper section. Many different itineraries are possible, but some of the more popular ones are listed below. The Needles forms the southeast corner of Canyonlands and was named for the colorful spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstonethat dominate the area. Water is usually available. Long trails at. Read about backpacking. Hiking trails offer many opportunities for long day hikes and overnight trips. Trails are marked with cairns (small rock piles). Geology guide available. Lower section is at-large camping only. Roadside Ruin is an easy, 0.25 mile long loop trail that uses trail markers to distinguish the species of flora that … Longer trails are especially rough and require negotiating steep passes with drop-offs, narrow spots, or ladders. Several short trails explore the mesa top with minimal elevation change, enjoying canyon views from above. Title. The closest section or "district" to the town of Moab is the Canyonlands Island in the Sky district. This means that some parts of the park are far more remote than others. Explore the best trails in Needles, California on TrailLink. All are considered strenuous, with an elevation change of 1,000-2,000 feet, and require negotiating steep slopes of loose rock as well as sections of deep sand. This is the map I use and recommend for Canyonlands National Park. Carry a flashlight, map, and basic first aid equipment. Elevation change: 1,400 feet / 427 m. This challenging trail follows the canyons around Upheaval Dome and requires navigating steep switchbacks, climbing and scrambling through boulder fields, and a 1,300-foot (396 m) elevation change. View structures from a distance to protect fragile walls. Trails are usually marked with cairns (small rock piles) and have signs at intersections. We strongly recommend using a map to reach The Needles. This trail crosses both Squaw and Lost canyons on its way to Salt Creek Canyon, passing along high slickrock benches with spectacular views. The Needles district of Canyonlands National Park covers a vast area and has plenty of trails, though the majority are concentrated in just one part, south and west of the park road. Don’t be fooled, though; the Needles District of Canyonlands is a hidden gem, featuring an extensive hiking network, amazing geology, and relatively few people. Hiking trailsoffer many opportunities for long day hikes and overnight trips. As a result, the park is divided into three regions: The Needles, Island in the Sky and The Maze. Water available seasonally. Water is scarce; bring at least 1 quart (1 L) of water per person for short trails, and up to 1 gallon (4 L) for long trails. This longer hike leads past a historic corral on the mesa top. Along White Rim Road. The wilderness further west (The Grabens) and either side of Salt Creek to the south is essentially pathless. Many different itineraries are possible, but some of the more popular ones are listed below. Trail crosses open grassland, then drops 1,600 feet (488 m) into the canyon below. No need to climb the technical routes on Moses and Zeus towers to enjoy stunning views of Taylor Canyon. With minor elevation changes, this trail is a great way to see some varied plant life. Druid Arch The Needles District offers over 60 miles of interconnecting trails as challenging as they are rewarding. Canyonlands National Park Hikes Canyonlands National Park is an enormous region; in fact, it’s the largest national park in Utah. Most park rescues occur on this trail. Entering, touching, or climbing on archeological sites is strictly prohibited. Learn more about sites, reservations, and facilities. The views along the way make this one of the best hikes in Canyonlands but the last stretch makes it one of the more incredible hikes that you will ever do. Trails along the White Rim Road —You cannot reach these trails from the mesa top. The Needles District is the park’s hub for … Entering, touching, or climbing on archeological sites is strictly prohibited. The western fork on the left climbs the smaller butte then drops below the rim to two ancestral Puebloan structures. Rangers present evening programs at the campground most nights, March through October. You will climb two ladders to complete the route. This short loop leads to a historic cowboy camp and prehistoric rock paintings and peckings. It is only.6 miles around the loop, and much of it is cool and shaded even on the hottest day. A primitive trail with steep switchbacks drops 1,600 feet (488 m) into a long, sandy wash. Horseshoe Canyon is a popular hiking destination in The Maze. Along the way you’ll see wildflowers and amazing vistas. Unlike other Needles hikes, this trail traverses dry, open country along the northern edge of the geologic faults that shaped the Needles. The trail ends with panoramic views of Candlestick Tower, the Green River, and the White Rim Road. Moab Area Travel Council. Relevance All trails are marked with cairns (small rock piles). Water is available at the visitor center year-round. The Joint Trail winds through deep, narrow fractures in the rock. Hike this trail clockwise for more afternoon shade. Aztec Butte Trail. Camping Near Needles Canyonlands and Hiking Trails. The drive-in is beautiful with so much different land to view and newspaper wall with all kinds of petroglyphs to view. Many archeological sites and arches. View detailed trail descriptions, trail maps, reviews, photos, trail itineraries, directions and more on TrailLink. If backpacking isn’t your cup of tea, I recommend staying at The Squaw Flat Campground and doing one of the best Needles Canyonlands hikes: Chesler Park Loop Trail. This video describes the hike starting at the Elephant Hill Trailhead and going to Chesler Park the way it was on 10-28-2017. Carry a map, extra gallons of water, and a flashlight. No water before reaching the river. Exhibits at the end of the trail discuss this unique geologic feature. Recently Updated Easy hikes in Canyonlands National Park. No shade. The most popular backpacking loop is the Chesler Park Loop, though we … The Needles campground is open year-round. Sort By: The Needles The Needles District of Canyonlands National Park makes up the southeast corner of the Park. Trail follows cairns. We hiked this trail near sunset and loved the colors filling the sky and the lighting of the rocks to shades of purple. Canyonlands is split up into three districts, with Island in the Sky being the closest to a town (Moab), and sporting incredibly expansive views. A short trail leads to a storage structure built by indigenous people. Hours vary by season. Moderate trails involve elevation, such as climbing a sandstone feature or descending partway into a canyon. All backcountry hikers should carry a topographic map. Day 5 From Bakersfield continue to travel southeast to the city of Needles, California located on the California, Arizona, Nevada boundary. Elevation change: 100 feet (30 m), The trail follows a sandy wash, then splits. Exposed trail crosses a narrow mesa to a high point in a bend of the Green River. Many remote trails do not receive regular maintenance and may not be adequately marked. For those interested it is a short ... the Canyonlands National Park and the other ... hike or walk in Trail crosses uneven surfaces. Toddlers will need to be carefully carried up. To promote visitor safety and the opportunity to view natural features undisturbed, climbing, scrambling, walking or standing upon, or rappelling off any arch is prohibited in the park. Route in Lost Canyon passes through dense vegetation and may be very wet. Foot trails and four-wheel-drive roads lead to such features as Tower Ruin, Confluence Overlook, Elephant Hill, the Joint Trail, and Chesler Park. Elevation change: 225 feet (68 m), A walk back in time, this loop trail passes historic ranching features and two springs where cowboys watered cattle. All are considered strenuous, with an elevation change of 1,000-2,000 feet, and require negotiating steep slopes of loose rock as well as sections of deep sand. The last 0.25 mile at the upper end is steep with one ladder and some scrambling. The Needles district of Canyonlands National park is roughly an hour southwest of Moab and is far less crowded than the better known Island in the Sky district. In case you haven’t had enough views! Two backpacking sites in each canyon. There are 2 short ladders to climb, which are easy for the 4 and up crowd. Had a great visit to the Canyonlands needles section of the park! Riparian areas in both canyons attract birds and other wildlife. GPS units frequently lead people astray. Avoid hiking during peak heat on summer days. Because of the remoteness of The Maze, most other trails are best for overnight trips. Trail guides are available at the visitor center and at the trailheads. The Slickrock Foot Trailis advertised as an introduction to hiking in the Needles Districtof Canyonlands National Park, though at 2.4 miles (loop) it is still relatively long, taking at least an hour. I’ll make sure that you don’t miss the sights that make this park so famous, but I also want to provide a few treasures that are off-the-beaten-path as well. Follow the wash to the White Rim Road. Having hiked most of the trails in Canyonlands National Park, here are the hikes easiest and most accessible for everyone: Mesa Arch trail (.5 miles) White Rim trail (1.8 miles) Grand View Point trail (2 miles) Total descent from the mesa top to the river is 2,000 feet (610 m). Surfaces can be uneven. The Needles gets its name from the color-splashed sandstone spires that populate the area. On US 191, drive 40 miles (60 km) south of Moab or 14 miles (22 km) north of Monticello, then take UT 211 roughly 35 miles (56 km) west. The Maze is the least accessible district of Canyonlands, so hikers must be self sufficient and deal with their own emergencies. Very strenuous climb in and out of The Grabens and then descend steeply toward the river. Water in the backcountry is unreliable and scarce in some areas. Distance - 1.8 miles (2.8 km) Difficulty - … You will firstly arrive at the visitors centre where you can get the Canyonlands Needles map before deciding which Needles Canyonlands hikes you want to do on your visit. It is possible to hike out and back to Chesler Park on a short day hike. The Maze sees only 2,000 people per year, compared to the 264,000 people that visit Island in The Sky, just to give you an idea of how remote it can be. But we were happy with what we did do and see in Needles and feel it was well worth a visit. There are two paved roads to reach it- a sparsely traveled black top road just south of Wilson Arch which leads to Features include: exhibits, book and map sales, backcountry permits, picnic area, general information, wireless internet, and park rangers on duty. Canyonlands is broken up into three districts, The Maze, Island in The Sky and The Needles. The entrance to The Needles Canyonlands is 75 miles south of Moab and is accessed via the UT 211 road. The geology of the Joint Trail will blow your mind without requiring canyoneering skills. Start checking them out and you'll be out on the trail in no time! The Needles is a district in the Southeast corner of Canyonlands National Park. Trail ends at a cliff overlooking the junction of the Green and Colorado rivers 1,000 (304 m) feet below. Cottonwoods and tamarisk offer some shade near the river. 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