Needles
8 galleries
Canyonlands Needles District is both a hikers and 4WD driver's paradise. Glimpses of the Needles can be seen from a couple paved overlooks, but the real magic of the place requires serious planning and permits. Hiking and off road camp permits open the door to some geologic wonders in banded spires - and ancient artwork. For a video tour of Canyonlands Needles Off Road and Back Trails, see https://bit.ly/CanyonlandsTrails2023
Loading ()...
-
14 imagesChesler Park's vast canyon is surrounded by red and white sandstone formations that defy easy description. Hiking the trails in and around Chesler Park was certainly a major bucket list destination for me. You simply have to get there to believe it. -
4 imagesThe heart of the life giving water for the Southwest, the Green River flows in from the far north Wyoming to join the Colorado River in the heart of Canyonlands National Park. Here the Green enters from the left as the rivers join on their way to the Grand Canyon and beyond. These canyons divide the park, making road travel from one unit of the park to another an all day project. -
11 imagesDevil's Kitchen offers four highly prized campsites for 4WD campers tucked into the rock formations at the north end of a vast valley. This provides an ideal base for the many hikes in the area including Chesler Park and Druid Arch. -
9 imagesAncient testament to human presence in the area. What seems like remote and challenging land to us is actually along many canyons that lead directly to the vital waters of the Colorado River. Take away the railroads and the roads and it takes you back to the time when rivers were the primary means of transportation and navigation. -
11 imagesLong parallel valleys called grabens dominate the landscape on the eastern edge of the Needles District as it approaches the Colorado River. These provide pathways between rock ridges in a north/south direction. Devil's Lane is an important corridor in exploring the Needles. -
12 imagesThe Joint Trail is not to be missed. Three feet wide and three quarters of a mile long, it reaches between a long crack in the rocks and opens into views of the spectacular Chesler Park. This is a hike that will be long remembered. -
6 imagesFor 4WD enthusiasts, the Elephant Hill road is one of the most challenging and fun roads in any National Park. Rated a 6 out of 10 on the off road scale, it requires good tires, lots of clearance and a narrow width. See my video for the fun of driving Elephant Hill: https://bit.ly/CanyonlandsTrails2023 -
5 imagesThere is only one way south in the Needles District. The sometimes impassable Bobby's Hole trail is a rocky 200 ft climb that can involve lots of rock stacking and good spotting. You can see it all at the end of my Canyonlands Back Trails video: https://bit.ly/CanyonlandsTrails2023