You can spot the Needles far away in the distance from the famous Grand Viewpoint. All Rights Reserved. We stayed at Devils Pocket and Chesler Park, but below is a quick summary of six of the backcountry campsites in the Needles. However, youll have some overlanders at the nearby campground. You may otherwise choose your own campsite in designated at-large zones. The trail now travels along the wash, first through sand and then along sections covered in dark reddish-gray limestone. The trail crosses the Elephant Canyon drainage about 1.5 miles from the trailhead. You can reserve individual campsites in Loop B of the Needles campground in spring and fall. View Elephant Canyon Image Gallery - 31 Images. People love this area for its seclusion, but the campground can be a little annoying, and there are better views elsewhere. This part of the trail is very narrow at points, so if youre traveling with wide bag, you might have to rearrange. Warrensburg RV Parks. Round Trip Trail Length: 4.1 miles out & back to Elephant Canyon Elevation Gain: 794ft. Hit the junction with Chesler Park Loop Trail. As you progress up the canyon the walls grow in stature and become more spectacular. Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. A few must-see areas include: Chesler Park: By far the most popular area in the Needles thanks to the sweeping vistas of the Hoodoos. WebElephant Canyon is a scenic canyon in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park in Utah. Ive heard there is a major dryfall a short distance beyond the campground, but I dont know if this is true or only hearsay. This canyon drains northward with its headwaters located at the famous Druid Arch and flows through much of the Needles District and entering the Colorado River 3 miles north of the confluence with the Green River. The trail drops into the sandy wash bottom of Elephant Canyon to a junction for EC1 backcountry campsite and the Druid Arch Trail (2.1 miles). The angular arch, with its two narrow, elongated openings, looks more like a formation from Stonehenge then the typical Canyonlands arch, characterized by oval or half-moon shaped openings beneath a crescent shaped span. Accessible on the Lost Canyon Loop. There are a couple of trailheads in the Needles District, but our Loop started from the Elephant Hill Trailhead. Backpacking in Canyonlands needs to be on everyones bucket list. If you happen to be staying in the campground, I highly recommend walking in from the campground if you can it is about a mile longer (each way), but you wont have to worry about parking at Elephant Hill. 3 campsites available. Weird and wacky sandstone spires pierce the sky in the unique Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. Primitive Roadside Campsite Nugent Mountain At 4.4 miles a set of rock cairns on the left (east) side of the wash mark the bypass trail circumventing a large pouroff. Round Trip Trail Length: 4.1 miles out & back to Elephant Canyon, Elevation Gain: 794ft. Stay safe and re-arrange your plans. The turn is located 2.8 miles beyond the Visitor Center. Not to mention the overgrowth here gives more of a cross-country desert feel. The trails are fairly rugged and less traveled. ), Facilities: Primitive restroom and possibly a picnic table or two at the trailhead, Fees: $30/vehicle, valid 7 days. If youre seeking solitude from hikers and backpackers alike, then Devils Pocket is worth a look. There used to be reliable water here. Youll get peek-a-boo views and 2 of the campsites are elevated off of the canyon bottom. There are tons of hiking trails in the Needles so you can customize your route to be whatever you want it to be. Keep track of cairns and always note the last cairn you saw. Past the junction the trail travels between sandstone knobs and turns southwest. A quick clarification question: Did you bring 16L of water per person, or 16L total? The trail to Druid Arch follows the first section of the trail to Chesler Park. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 9 h 39 min to complete. Distance: 5 miles to BS2 from Elephant Hill TH (recommended for the best scenery) or 0.7 miles to BS1 from the Squaw Flat Campground.Difficulty: Difficult to easy (depending on your approach)Best Needles backcountry campsites: BS2Nearby Add-ons: Squaw Canyon, Elephant Canyon, Druid Arch, Lost Canyon. WebWhen you reach the Druid Arch Trail up Elephant Canyon at the 8.8-mile mark, you find a sign marking the junction right in the dry wash. Take a left and head toward Druid Arch. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); You can contact ProTrails directly through our Facebook account. After a half-mile walk up Elephant Canyon, you see a A Backcountry Permit is required to camp in any of these campsites. The NPS produces this basic map of the Needles that you can use in trip planning. Trail Intro / Be sure to notice the fossils and chert found in nearly every boulder in the canyon. Only used to identify you to ProTrails. Find available dates and book online with ReserveAmerica. Opt for recipes that dont use much water and bring a vessel like a dromedary that will shrink in size as you use it. ORANGE: Confluence Overlook Trail Approach to Elephant Canyon, RED DOTS W/BLACK ARROWS: Big Drops and the Bypass Route, RED AND BLACK DOUBLE DOTS: Big Drops that must be Rappelled/Climbed. Druid Arch is accessible from the Elephant Hill Trailhead in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. Use these bolts as a belay anchor. Big Spring Canyon: A less-traveled spur trail from Elephant Canyon. Would I recommend that? The view from the bottom of Elephant Canyon. it is further suggested that you take: first aid kit, knife, snack, water good luck. Find the anchor by scrambling to the right side and over a small ledge to a large boulder sitting under an overhang. Carry your permit with you. Web441 Route 9W Alpine, New Jersey 07620 Reservations: (212) 651-3077 Ill go into which campsites to book below, but be sure to map out your route ahead of time so that you already know 1) which sites youre going for and 2) where youre starting and finishing your trek. Youll have to carry it with you so get ready to be stinky! The last half-mile steepens up the east canyon wall to the arch viewing area. We got our tent setup at In fact, the best hikes in Canyonlands are mostly here. Needles Campground Reservations. A topo map of this exit is shown below the overview map as the green line. Group Sites Individual Sites. (5,138ft. (The trail to Chesler Park continues straight ahead). Ive hiked throughout the Needles countless times. be sure to have fun while testing your skills. 4 campsites. Wolf Dens (1 & 2) Rental Types. From your campsite, get back on the Chesler Park Trail. Trail Map Once above the climb, continue up canyon as it gradually opens up and passes by three more short scrambles which may be damp. Cairns may be difficult to see, especially leading in and out of washes. Pay your entrance fee (or flash your park pass) and then continue driving along the main road and, after 2.8 miles, turn left towards Squaw Flat Campground. Next to Heaven Coming Soon. For Sale and Rent. I agree to receive newsletters & updates from Anne's Travels and accept the data privacy statement. The Maze is squished in between the Needles and the famous Island in the Sky District. Big Spring: A spread out two-site campground on the Big Spring Trail. Learn how your comment data is processed. Follow the deep canyon up as it makes a broad U turn and slowly works its way east. Save this Search. Lost Canyon: A three-site campground in Lost Canyon with more vegetation than the other resource areas. Squaw Flat Campground is an ideal base camp for day hikes to popular destinations like Chesler Park, Druid Arch and the Joint Trail. There are a couple bolts and a sling at the top of the climb which people usually use to make the rappel. Whispering Pines. Save this Search. Ill be detailing the Elephant Canyon Trail in this post, and in the upcoming weeks, Ill post about the Chesler Park Trail to the Chesler Park Overlook, The Joint Trail, and the loop that takes you back around the west side of Chesler Park. Heres everything you need to know for backpacking in Canyonlands Needles District like where to camp, how to get permits, and more. Theyll sometimes have different walk-up permits or upgraded campsites available. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 9 h 39 min to complete. Bring a rope and a sealable bag so you can store your food in a tree. Devils Pocket: A super-private campsite near the 4WD-accessed Devils Kitchen. Backpacking in the desert is no easy task, but backpacking Canyonlands is well worth the effort. WebWe continue straight ahead, following the route up Elephant Canyon. WebHillside Cabins (1&2) Hilltop Cabin. Trail Notes: Parking is limited at the trailhead. There's a $25 fee per vehicle to enter Canyonlands National Park (defined as private passenger cars with 15 people or less). We got our tent setup at Pro Tip: Find a nice perch for a poo. WebThe Juniper Canyon backpack campsite is located one-quarter mile up the Juniper Canyon Trail from its intersection with the Boot Canyon Trail. These bypasses, while requiring some climbing, avoid sandy spots and obstacles in the wash. Reach the junction with the trail heading right (northwest) to Chesler Park at 3.3 miles. This canyon is located in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. For the lower part of the canyon which offers a moderate technical canyoneering adventure, use the Big Spring Canyon Overlook trailhead. Therefore there are two trailheads you can use depending on which part of the canyon you wish to visit. Backcountry permits are required for all overnight trips as well as some day trips in Canyonlands. Yea, hiking all of your water in is really worth it. Fortunately, you dont need to set the midnight alarm anymore (permits open at 8am MST). Warrensburg RV Parks. For the Elephant Hill Trailhead, turn right a quarter-mile from the highway and follow this narrow but paved road as it winds it way west, crossing the Big Spring Canyon drainage and ending in a gravel parking area at the base of Elephant Hill. This is a popular trail for backpacking, camping, and hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Backpacking in Canyonlands is not that difficult if youre used to rugged mountain adventures. Note that the rangers will tell you it is impossible to reach the Colorado River from the trailhead but that is complete bologna. There are 26 sites available on a first-come, first-served basis. Also on this list is Chesler Park Ive now done it three times, and Id happily go hike it again. The best Canyonlands map you can get is probably the National Geographic map. Compare your camping on JetCamp.com. Stay right until you hit the junction for Elephant Canyon. You can check in with the Wilderness Desk upon arrival at Canyonlands. Length 21.5 miElevation gain 3,349 ftRoute type Loop. Need it now? WebWhen you reach the Druid Arch Trail up Elephant Canyon at the 8.8-mile mark, you find a sign marking the junction right in the dry wash. Take a left and head toward Druid Arch. to 5,394ft.) RVParkStore is the best place for RV park investors, owners and travelers to find RV resort, marina and campground sale listings, information and resources. (5,138ft. Pro Tip: The Joint Trail near Chesler Park can get a little confusing. If you start at Squaw Flats, you'll hike the more scenic Big Spring Canyon Trail for 3.5 miles where it meets the Chesler Park trail a half mile before reaching Elephant Canyon. From the broad bench enjoy great views of the magnificent formation as well as wonderful vistas of upper end of Elephant Canyon. Apply for your backpacking permits here. Cross the Elephant Canyon wash and arrive at a second junction where the path to Druid Arch turns left (south) and heads up Elephant Canyon. (1.41), Durid Arch Trail Junction (Elephant Canyon): 38.123523,-109.839955 (3807.41138, -10950.39730 / 380724.6828, -1095023.8380) (5,212ft.) Which States have 85 vs. 87 Octane Gasoline? Photos (3,216) Directions. Whitetail Hideaway. Its SO important to know exactly which sites you want rather than scrambling during the online process. Follow the rough, winding one-lane dirt road for 2.7 miles to the trailhead parking area. If youre planning to visit 3+ National Parks, you should consider buying the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass ($79) which includes access to all US National Parks and Federal Lands. From Moab, head south on US Highway 191 for 40 miles to a distinct rock formation called Church Rock and turn right (west) on Highway 211. The lower section of the canyon which drops steeply to the Colorado River has probably only been traveled a few times as it requires some tough route finding, a couple short rappels and one long, 80 foot overhanging rappel. Desert. it is further suggested that you take: first aid kit, knife, snack, water good luck. Youll be scrambling a little bit, so wear sturdy footwear. Squaw Canyon: A two-site campground in Squaw Canyon that is farther from the denser Elephant Canyon and Chesler Park area. Pure. Looking for gear reccos? WebElephant Canyon: A three-site campground located in Elephant Canyon 3km from Druid Arch. It. (1.06), Squaw Canyon Junction: 38.125238,-109.832692 (3807.51428, -10949.96152 / 380730.8568, -1094957.6912) (5,383ft.) Turning right will take you down Elephant Canyon to a backcountry campsite (permit required). WebHillside Cabins (1&2) Hilltop Cabin. Continue west for an additional 5 miles to the end of the road at the Big Spring Canyon Overlook. Whispering Pines. Along one part of the trail into Elephant Canyon, there were these long tunnels under narrow joints that the trail passed by. When you come to a sign that says Beef Basin, stay left and head towards the Joint Trail. The road to get there is dirt and has some tight curves, but its doable even for low-clearance vehicles, at least in dry conditions. Winters are super sweet because its dead quiet in Canyonlands National Park. And out of washes the first section of the Canyon which offers moderate... Rough, winding one-lane dirt road for 2.7 miles to the trailhead Parking area a sign that says Beef,. 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