The Needles

This big area in the south-west of Canyonlands National Park consists at its heart of extraordinary – even weird at times – brightly coloured sandstone towers, spires, needles (even), mushrooms, cliffs and walls and arches laced with canyons big and small and scrubby pockets, and sheltering the area of dry grassland known as Chesler Park. The Needles have been shaped by the erosion of a multitude of vertical fractures. 

From a distance, the Needles look like a solid rampart of towers and spires, but this is deceptive: they are riddled with paths.

Around the core of “needles” are eroded slickrock and shallow canyons, which themselves support some fine walking.

The whole area is a bit of a maze, and it is hard to explain the walking in it, but here goes.

Access is by a long road in from the east, from the main 191 Interstate south of Moab. It is 30+ mins to the visitor centre. The main Needles group lies to the south-west of this, the drop-off to the inner Colorado canyon to the west, and rough slickrock to the north-west.

There are some 4x4 routes to the sides of the central Needles, but these, including the route to Elephant Hill, require passes for access as of writing – check the latest. So, for many, hiking in from the roadhead is the only ‘day’ option, and this means you can either make short explorations on the fringes of the Needles, or longer hikes into the heart.

Chesler Park

In the south-west is the peculiar, unexpected area of dry grassland surrounded by extraordinary needly formations known as Chesler Park, many would argue the area’s finest walking, which takes some getting to, but is accessible in some 3 miles’ hiking from Elephant Hill, or 1.4 miles from the Devil’s Kitchen campground, if you have a 4x4 (and pass); 4+ miles from Squaw Flat if not. (For many, the best way to explore the area is therefore to backpack in and camp for a night or two, giving time for local exploration without the long walks in/out.)

There is consensus that the best walk is the Chesler Park Loop/Joint Trail, a 11 mile (18km) circuit of Chesler Park from/to Elephant Hill (6miles appx if already in Chesler Park), which gets to admire the local rocky peculiarities, including the exceptional, even by local standards, formations and rocky psychedelia of Elephant Canyon on the way in, and sweeping views of the Needles. The dramatic Joint Trail section creeps through very narrow, deep gaps in the formations. If you don’t have time to walk the whole way in to Chesler Park there is a superb 6 mile there-and-back to Chesler Park Viewpoint.

(Walkopedia regrets not having time when we visited to get out to Chesler Park.)

Other great walks within the main Needles area:

There is a fine 4 mile (return) walk further out from Chesler Park to the elevated Druid Arch to the south. It is 10 miles return from Elephant Hill (even further from Squaw Flat), passing through magnificent Elephant Canyon.

Big Spring Canyon to Squaw Canyon, a magnificent 7.5 mile loop from squaw Flat, steep at times but with excellent views of the Needles. Could extend to Lost Canyon.

Big Spring Canyon to Elephant Canyon. Just under 11 miles, demanding, but remarkable views of canyons and formations, from slickrock and mesa tops.

Squaw Canyon to Lost Canyon, an at times demanding but superb 10 mile loop.

Peekaboo: Squaw Flat to Salk Creek Canyon, crossing the upper ends of Squaw and Lost canyons and making high slickrock traverses with some exposure. 

Outside the main Needles area, there is further magnificent walking:

 The Confluence Outlook Trail runs west from the northern roadhead to a superb high lookout over the… er…confluence of the Colorado and Green rivers. This is a more standard hike than those within the Needles, through bigger, more open country. 16km/10 miles +.

The Slickrock Trail meanders for 4 km or so through the rough bare rock of the north of the area, winding to an overlook across the low Little Spring Canyon, then across to the deeper Big Spring one. An interesting walk on rough but not difficult slickrock; good views to the wall of the needles, fine ones to the further Island in the Sky, which dominates the western horizon. Worthwhile if not amazing walk.

As a specimen of the area’s astonishing walking opportunities, Walkopedia walked a Circuit above Squaw Flats Roadhead: This trail leaves Squaw Flat road-end carpark on the route to (The Squaw Canyon and Peekaboo trails, turning off quite soon to the right, and circling back across the top of the local sandstone formation, a ridge of flat tops, knobs and sheer sides. The way is marked by small cairns.  An exciting trail with some easy scrambles. Good views across Squaw Flats and over a meadowy rock-enclosure to the Needles rampart, through which the Big Springs Canyon Trail departs. (2 miles, 1hr + without stops.)

Hike gorgeous Upper Salt Creek Canyon to the east, through fabulous scenery, including the famous Angel Arch, and taking in old Indian ruins and rock art. 

Walkopedia was very short of time, and walked the Slickrock Trail and the Circuit above Squaw Flats Roadhead. We wish we had had time to get to Chesler Park.

This can be tough walking in hot, dry conditions. Come fully prepared, including carrying plenty of water.

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See our Canyonlands National Park page for more general and practical information and photos.