Elephant Canyon Loop via Squaw Flat to Chesler Park to Druid Arch

The first draw of this adventure is the roadtrip to the trailhead itself. Set out pre-dawn from Moab, UT and head 77 miles south and west to the Needles District Visitors Centre on Utah 211. En route you'll pass Newspaper Rock, a treasured collection of pictographs well worth the detour if you're making good time.At the visitors centre pick up your backcountry permit and gather details on water...

Squaw Flat campground is an easily-accessed area full of picturesque campsites in Canyonlands National Park, Utah. It is located in the Needles District, which is well known for its colorful spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone that cover the region. Campsite reservations must be made in advance at recreation.gov. This is a great area for large groups because the campsites can be specious and there i...

Trail Description This adventure starts at Squaw Flat Trailhead A in the Needles District of the Canyonlands. Get there early to claim a parking spot, as there are several trails in the area, and you will want to see the colors change in the rock formations as the sun rises in front of you on your way to Salt Creek Canyon. While there is no change in total elevation, there are abundant elevatio...

A large part of the grandeur of Canyonlands National Park is the vast barren vista at Island in the Sky, but no visit to Canyonlands would be complete without the intimate and immersive desert experience that the Needles District offers. Drive two hours southwest of Moab away from cell phone reception and into ranch lands to the Needles District Visitor Centre to pick up your permit and human w...

This world class hiking route circumnavigates Chesler Park by way of open meadows, slots, subterranean alcoves, stairways and slick rock.Begin at the Elephant Hill Trailhead and head south following signage for the Joint Trail / Chesler Park along the way. Once you arrive at Chesler Park turn left to loop the park clockwise, eventually meeting the legendary Joint Trail and then returning the wa...

Important Note: Druid Arch is located on the eastern side of Canyonlands National Park in the Needles District. It is not located at the main entrance to the park. Stop by the Needles Visitor Center and pick up a map. Your starting point, Elephant Hill Trailhead is then located 6.3 miles west of the visitor center. (Elephant Hill, Monticello, UT 84535) Drawing it's name from a resemblance to S...