2 DAY HIKING ITINERARY- THE NEEDLES DISTRICT OF CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK

I just got back from a seven day meditation retreat in Mexico. It was magical and life changing and brought me immense joy. Maybe I will write about it another day but today I want to discuss the trip I took the weekend before I left for my retreat which was grounding and beautiful in other ways. I visited and explored the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park and let me say, it far exceeded expectations. Exploring the four districts of Canyonlands was not very high on my bucket list but a friend recently visited the Needles and raved about it so I decided to plan a trip and check it out. I typically do a camping trip to Utah every year in May so I was eager to get back and see some beautiful (new to me) rock.

Getting There & Camping

I set off on a Friday with two friends and we drove the seven to eight hours (depending on traffic) from Denver to get there. I was a bit worried we were not going to find a campsite as we arrived later in the evening on a Friday but it turned out the campground I had in mind (the Needles Campground) had plenty of open sites to choose from. It also had flushing toilets and running water which I was excited about! You pass quite a few campgrounds driving the road in to the Needles (Federal Route 2444) as well as dispersed camping areas that I did not previously see on a map. If the Needles Campground is full, you have plenty of other nearby camping options to choose from!

Since it was June, which means higher temperatures in Utah, the National Park crowds dwindle a bit. This area seems to be rather untouched by many people as the trek is far and Arches National Park is a much more popular and accessible area for the majority. I loved that there weren’t any crowds or many people as it felt like we had this little slice of Utah all to ourselves. There was no light pollution or cell service and our campsite had big rock formations surrounding it that we could climb up on and see brilliant stars. There are quite a few black widow spiders that come out at night time. They didn’t bother us but be ware as they popped up on their webs around our campsite when it turned dark.

Best Trails in the Needles District

Needles Campground is right near the entrance road to Chesler Park Loop Trail (11-12 miles, 1800 ft. gain) which we planned to hike the next day. You take Elephant Hill Road to get to the trailhead which is a rock and dirt road that is pretty narrow but most 2WD cars should be able to make it. From Needles Campground the trailhead is only about a 15 minute drive.

We started the hike just before sunrise to beat the heat and we had the trail all to ourselves. There were ever changing views and really cool rock formations throughout the whole trail. Every time I hike in Utah it feels like I am on another planet! You can backpack this loop if you get a reservation for one of the backcountry camping spots which you will pass as you hike. It’s a lollipop trail (an out and back section with a loop) and it is highly recommended that you do the loop counterclockwise. The loop has a really cool section that takes you through some awesome slot canyons where you have an opportunity to cool off. When we spoke with a ranger after the hike they said it’s “the best hike in the Needles area”. It was an incredible hike and I think I said “wow” one thousand times.

When hiking in Utah or doing longer day hikes, a good rule of thumb is to carry a gallon of water per person. There are signs stating this as well and we each went through about a gallon of water throughout the trail. It got quite hot around 9am.

Another popular trail you can take from this trailhead is Druid Arch Trail (9.7 miles, 1,446 ft gain). You can add Druid Arch on to the Chesler Park Loop trail or make this an additional destination if you choose to backpack Chesler Park. We ran out of time and didn’t get a chance to do this but it is on the list for when I come back. If you only have one day available for a big hike, I recommend Chesler Park Loop.

After the hike we still had most of the day to check out the visitors center, play games at our campsite, read and relax. I couldn’t get over how peaceful the campsite was and how disconnected from the busyness of life I felt out in the desert. I loved it.

The following day for sunrise we hiked Slickrock Foot Trail (2.4 miles, 137 ft gain). This is a shorter lollipop loop with expansive views all around and there are beautiful views of sunrise at Viewpoint 4. This trail gives you a view into the Island in the Sky District which is the most visited district of Canyonlands. It was a lovely short hike to stretch the legs before a long journey home. We also had this trail all to ourselves during sunrise which is a great change of pace when you’re used to seeing people on the trails. The two trails we did were very well marked with cairns and signage but it is still best practice to have a downloaded map in case you stray off trail. I can’t recommend the Needles area enough if you’re looking for quieter trails and peaceful hikes!

As a bonus, there are incredible views all along the roads in the Needles District and there are quite a few off-roading opportunities if you have an equipped off-roading vehicle. If you haven’t thought about checking out the Needles district of Canyonlands National Park, I highly recommend adding it to your bucket list. This area would be awesome to visit in October, November, March, April, and May if you want cooler temperatures. I think the Needles district is very underrated but maybe that’s what adds to making it feel so special! Enjoy this little slice of paradise before everyone else finds out 🙂

Until the next tale… Happy trails.

-Hannah