The Large Needles Loop encapsulates every thing that makes The Needles District in Canyonlands Nationwide Park a must-visit vacation spot. The district is known for the colourful Cedar Mesa Sandstone pinnacles that punctuate the panorama and a predominance of slickrock trails.
One in every of many loops that may be put collectively linking shorter trails in The Needles, the Large Needles Loop traverses the very best Canyonlands has to supply. The Path takes in Peekaboo Creek, Higher Misplaced Canyon, Elephant Canyon, Druid Arch, Chesler Park Overlook andthe Joint Path (which requires shimming by way of shoulder-width cracks in rock partitions and boulders). As well as, there are a number of facet journeys you possibly can take so as to add selection and distance to your journey, together with the Salt River Canyon arches, the Satan’s Kitchen and the Confluence Overlook. The one limiting issue is the quantity of water you possibly can carry, notably in case you journey throughout peak season when water sources are scarce.
The Large Needles Loop may be tackled in both path, however our journey follows a clockwise route by way of Higher Misplaced Canyon. You can too customise your route by beginning at different trailheads or including on facet journeys. This description covers the three-night/four-day possibility.
Fast Info
- Distance: 23.7 miles roundtrip
- Days Wanted: 3-5 days
- Peak Elevation: 5,584 ft/1,782m
- Finest Journey Time: April-Might, Finish of September by way of November
- Permits: Required (see beneath)
- Problem: Reasonable to Troublesome
Highlights
- Multi-hued sandstone spires, fins, pillars and knobs, eroded by wind and water into phantasmic shapes
- Slot narrows, ladders and slickrock
- Wildlife: desert cottontails and black-tailed jackrabbits, kangaroo rats, antelope squirrels, lizards, snakes, hawks, and eagles
- Solitude throughout off-peak season
- Spectacular sunsets
Lowlights
- Highly regarded from Mid-Might to finish of September.
- Sudden storms; flash flooding throughout Monsoon season
- Few timber, little shade
- Shortage of water
- Gnats, and deer and horse flies are plentiful following wet spring season
- Trails can really feel crowded, numerous day hikers throughout peak season
Finest Time to hike
The most effective time to hike the Large Needles Loop is April-Might or September to November. April and Might temps highs vary from 60 to 80 levels and lows from 30 to 50 levels, making it a really nice time to backpack. Finish of September by way of October deliver day and night temperatures much like spring. Canyonlands is a positioned in a excessive desert, which suggests temperatures can swing 40 levels in a single day. Examine the climate report, deliver layers and plan your journey prematurely.
July-September temps attain over 100 levels and late summer time monsoons deliver the specter of flash floods. Even rainfall in different areas may cause floods 50 miles downriver in facet canyons, so be alert to climate modifications throughout monsoon season.
Though it not often snows in Canyonlands, winter temps not often high 50 when the solar’s out and infrequently slide beneath zero on winter nights. Even gentle snowfalls could make many trails tremendous slippery and impassable, so concentrate on impending climate.
Examine in at The Needles District Guests Heart, or name them at 435 259-4711, earlier than starting your journey, or examine the Nationwide Climate Service.
Problem
We fee most backpacking journeys on this space as average to tough on account of many steep ascents, shortage of water, and uneven path circumstances. Trails traverse a mixture of slickrock benches and sandy washes; lots of the extra intensive trails tough and steep with loads of publicity, together with drop-offs, slim spots, or ladders. Many trails are marked with cairns (small rock piles) somewhat than path markers (main intersections are signed). Web elevation change is barely a number of hundred ft or much less, apart from the Decrease Purple Lake Path, which drops 1,400 ft to the Colorado River.
Though The Large Needles trails will not be technically demanding, you have to be ready to climb ladders, descend steep rocky trails, and use some navigation expertise. To arrange for this journey you’ll wish to practice correctly, know your limitations, brush up in your expertise, and dial in your gear. Doing so will make for a extra secure and satisfying journey.
Permits
Permits are required for all backpacking journeys into the backcountry in Canyonlands. Competitors for permits may be stiff, particularly throughout spring months. You’ll be able to apply for backcountry permits at recreation.gov. Keep away from reserving for nights you by no means intend to make use of (it limits choices for different folks making an attempt to entry these nights) and dangers cancelation of your reservation.
Canyonlands expenses a non-refundable reservation charge for every allow, whether or not they’re reserved prematurely or in particular person at a customer heart. The associated fee is $36 per allow (non-refundable) plus $5 per particular person per evening.
You additionally should pay a $30 entry charge (for every automobile) into the Nationwide Park at a park entrance station, customer heart, or on-line by way of pay.gov. Every car, bike, and particular person getting into the park by foot or bicycle should pay an entrance charge.
First Come First Serve Stroll-Ins
When you didn’t safe a allow months out, you’ve gotten another choice. Unreserved dates and campsites could also be obtainable on a first-come, first-served foundation on the customer heart, but it surely’s a chance. If permits can be found, you possibly can attempt to get one as much as the day earlier than and the day of your required journey date begin. These can be found as much as one hour earlier than the shut of enterprise every day, seven days every week at customer facilities.
Attending to Canyonlands Nationwide Park
Flying
Relying on the place you’re coming from, there are two airports close to Canyonlands Nationwide Park:
- GRAND JUNCTION REGIONAL AIRPORT: Flights from Salt Lake Metropolis, Denver, Phoenix and Dallas. A 4-hour drive to The Needles.
- SALT LAKE CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: Main airport with direct flights from many overseas and home locations. A 6-hour drive to The Needles.
Driving
FROM SALT LAKE CITY, UT (244 miles): Take I-15 S towards Las Vegas. Merge onto US-6 E (exit 258) towards US-89 E Value/Manti. Take the US-191 S (exit 182) towards Crescent Junction/Moab. Flip proper onto US-191 S to Moab. Drive 40 miles (60 km) south of Moab or 14 miles (22 km) north of Monticello, and take IT 211 roughly 35 miles (56 km) west. UT 211 ends in The Needles, and is the one paved highway main out and in of the world.
FROM LAS VEGAS, NV (467 miles): Take I-15 N towards Salt Lake Metropolis. Take exit 132 for I-70 E. Take exit 182 towards Crescent Junction/Moab for US-191 S. Flip proper onto US-191 S to Moab. Drive 40 miles (60 km) south of Moab or 14 miles (22 km) north of Monticello, and take IT 211 roughly 35 miles (56 km) west. UT 211 ends in The Needles, and is the one paved highway main out and in of the world.
The Needles customer heart is open day by day 8-5pm from early March to late November. The telephone quantity is 435-259-4711 ext. 0. Bogs and water can be found yr spherical.
Attending to Squaw Creek Trailhead
The Large Needles Loop begins and ends at Squaw Creek Trailhead and traverses a wide range of trails to finish again on the similar trailhead. It’s a basic loop path that may be traversed in both path, nevertheless for the sake of this information, we’ll define the clockwise route by way of Higher Misplaced Canyon.
From Moab, UT and Monticello, UT: Head south on U.S. Freeway 191 for roughly 40 miles to Utah Freeway 211 (signed for Canyonlands Nationwide Park, Needles District) and switch proper (west). Observe Utah Hwy 211 west for 37.2 miles and switch left (west), on the highway signed for the Squaw Flat Campground, about 2.8 miles past the Customer Heart. On the first intersection (0.3 miles) proceed on Campground Loop A highway for 0.9 miles (Observe: Listen! It’s simple to mistakenly activate to Campground Loop B highway.the left-hand fork takes you to the trailhead with the shortest entry path to the backcountry. The fitting-hand fork and its respective trailhead are used principally by campers staying within the campground.) The parking space for the Squaw Flat Trailhead is positioned on the left (south) facet of the highway.
From Blanding, UT: Head north on U.S. Freeway 191 for roughly 34.8 miles to Utah Freeway 211 (signed for Canyonlands Nationwide Park, Needles District) and switch left (west). Observe Utah Hwy 211 west for 37.2 miles and switch left (west), on the highway signed for the Squaw Flat Campground, about 2.8 miles past the Customer Heart. On the first intersection (0.3 miles) proceed on Campground Loop A highway for 0.9 miles (Observe: Listen! It’s simple to mistakenly activate to Campground Loop B highway.) The parking space for the Squaw Flat Trailhead is positioned on the left (south) facet of the highway.
The Mountaineering Route
You’ll begin your hike at Squaw Creek Trailhead and heading clockwise, you’ll traverse 1.1 miles alongside comparatively simple terrain till you hit the junction with the Peekaboo Path. Flip left and journey 1.5 miles till you hit the Misplaced Canyon junction. Take a proper to go southwest into the Misplaced Canyon.
As you head up the Misplaced Canyon, maintain your eyes open for an indication pointing to Squaw Canyon Path. You’ll finally hit the path junction within the Elephant Canyon with the Druid Arch. This can be a worthwhile out-and-back journey.
When making the journey to Druid Arch in your solution to Chesler Park by way of the Misplaced Creek Path connector, stash your pack. The path (an extension of Elephant Canyon) is usually tough to observe with no shade and many sand to slog by way of. As an alternative, if you attain the junction of Chesler Park and Druid Arch trails, tuck your pack away someplace off-trail close to the paths’ junction and the top south on the Elephant Canyon/Druid Arch Path with a meals and water in a day pack.
If you return to the junction the place you stashed your pack, take the appropriate fork (southwest) and go one other mile to Chesler Park backcountry campsites. The following day, head southwest on the Joint Path. A short time later a facet path heads left to the Chesler Park Overlook. This junction is an efficient place to stash your pack once more and observe cairns .25 miles to the overlook. From the vantage level of the slickrock ledge you possibly can absorb a dramatic view of Chesler Park and the ring of “needle” rock spires that envelop it.
Return to your pack and head into the Joint — a traverse by way of a deep slim fissure between rock partitions, and the longest slot within the park about .25 miles. After negotiating it you’ll observe the route on a sandy low-traffic 4WD highway for about half mile till you see a highway on the left popping out of Beef Basin. Go proper for an additional 0.3 mile till you see the Devils Pocket Path forking to the appropriate (north). After 0.8 mile you’ll meet the Chesler Park Loop Path junction veering east. Go left right here and make a reasonably severe climb by way of a go by way of the Large Needles. After the go the path drops into the Satan’s Pocket.
In a half mile or so,a facet path takes you to the path to backcountry campsite DP1. The campsite is about .25 mile additional. An alternative choice is to remain on the path and proceed on previous Satan’s Kitchen, veering east again towards the Chesler Park loop and onto Elephant Canyon C1. Watch out right here – it’s pretty simple to get misplaced on this complicated space. As you traverse the Large Needle’s Loop, all the time examine your topo map and compass to be sure you don’t must backtrack to search out the official path.
Under is a map to observe the route listed above, together with the backcountry campsites. Extra on campsite planning beneath.
Journey Planning
The very first thing you’ll wish to determine is what number of days you’re going to take to finish the loop. It’s necessary to understand that, relying on the season, chances are you’ll want to hold all your water. This will dictate what number of days you select to finish the loop.
Though the day by day mileage could appear small on the itineraries listed beneath, it’s necessary to notice that this terrain and panorama will take you longer to cowl than typical path mileage. That mentioned, you possibly can all the time regulate your itinerary based mostly in your choice, bodily health and path plan. Under are pattern itineraries from VisitUtah.com that outlines day by day mileage, backcountry campsites, and potential facet journeys.
Backcountry Campsites
Backpackers in The Needles are required to remain in designated campsites excluding decrease Salt Creek Canyon. You’ll reserve every campsite on-line throughout the allowing course of. See the map and journey planning information above for planning every backcountry campsites.
Nightly tenting charge for a person web site is $20. You’ll be able to reserve some particular person websites in spring and fall. Different occasions of the yr, particular person websites are first-come, first-served. Websites fill shortly throughout peak season.
Maps & Guidebooks
Canyonlands Nationwide Park – Nationwide Geographic Trails Illustrated Map, – This detailed topographical map is printed on foldable, waterproof paper and supplies important particulars together with path mileage and trailhead entry factors for the whole park.
Needles District: Canyonlands – Nationwide Geographic Trails Illustrated Map – This map has the identical qualities listed above, nevertheless covers solely the Needles District, providing extra in-depth protection of this part of the park.
Canyonlands Nationwide Park Map Pack Bundle – Nationwide Geographic Trails Illustrated Map – When you plan on exploring all three districts in Canyonlands – Islands within the Sky, the Maze, and the Needles – this map pack is your finest wager.
Mountaineering Canyonlands and Arches Nationwide Parks: A Information To The Parks’ Biggest Hikes – This e-book supplies good overview of the Canyonlands and Arches Nationwide Parks visible alternatives and important boots-on-the-ground info. No e-book singularly covers The Needles District, however this one provides you loads of path info to design your personal journey.
Water
Water is a scarce useful resource on the Large Needles Loop. Springs are scattered all through the park, principally in canyon bottoms, however lots of them marked on topographic maps dry up throughout summer time and even different seasons during times of drought.
The park service extremely recommends backpackers pack in water each time potential, particularly bigger teams (4 or extra) who will discover some springs offering only a trickle at sure occasions of the yr.
If you end up backpacking the Large Needles Loop in a time when there are springs obtainable, you’ll must purify all water collected within the backcountry. A light-weight water filter or chlorine dioxide drops or drugs would work as nicely.
Laws
- Bury human waste in a shallow gap at the very least 100 ft from any water provide, in order that rain or snow runoff won’t carry contaminants into lakes and streams. Physique waste decomposes quickest in holes dug 6-8 inches deep.
- Cleaning soap (even biodegradable manufacturers) and meals particles pollute lakes and streams. Don’t wash your dishes, garments and your self close to the shore of lakes, ponds or streams.
- Wooden campfires will not be allowed within the backcountry.
- You will need to pack out all trash, together with rest room paper, from the backcountry.
- Retailer all of your meals securely to forestall animals from having access to it.
- Preserve all tenting actions inside campsite boundaries at designated websites. Camps in at-large zones should be one mile from a highway and in low-impact areas like slickrock.
- Tenting inside 300 ft of an archeological web site, historic web site, or water supply is forbidden.
- All pure objects and cultural artifacts are protected and should be left the place they’re discovered. Touching rock artwork and drawing graffiti is forbidden.
- Pets, discharging firearms, looking, and feeding wildlife are prohibited.
- Caching meals, water, or provides is allowed with written notification of the district ranger. No injury to assets might happen and all gadgets should be eliminated.
- Swimming or bathing is barely allowed within the Inexperienced and Colorado rivers.
Path Etiquette
The paths in The Needles are constructed and maintained to reduce impression of human use. Please be particularly conscious of the next:
- Shortcutting switchbacks and slicing throughout an arid panorama can injury plants (organic soil crusts, aka biocrusts) and trigger soil erosion. Biocrusts are tangled plenty of mosses, lichens and cyanobacteria that absorb water like sponges when it rains, slowing down runoff and serving to retailer water for arid vegetation. All the time use trails supplied; don’t create new ones.
- Hikers assembly horse events on the path ought to transfer a substantial distance off the path and stay quiet and immobile till the horses go, until suggested in any other case by the riders. Colourful backpacks, curious canines, clicking trekking poles and any sudden noise or motion might trigger a horse to spook, leading to harm to horses, riders and hikers.
Meals Storage
There aren’t any meals storage necessities for this space, however we advocate all the time packing your meals in an Ursack to guard your provisions from ‘mini bears” like ravens, mice and small rodents. They’ll peck or chew into packs and tents left unattended. Observe correct meals storage methods and this shouldn’t be an issue. To study extra about meals storage, take a look at our Meals Storage video.
Bugs
Mosquitoes, cedar gnats, and deer flies all make their presence felt in Canyonlands’ backcountry throughout moist years, and usually all the time within the early spring. Use a mix of permethrin in your clothes and a small quantity of DEET or the much less harsh Picaridin on uncovered pores and skin for full safety.
Gear Record
Make sure that to take a look at our Final Backpacking Guidelines so that you don’t neglect one thing necessary.
Under you’ll discover our present favourite backpacking gear. If you wish to see extra choices, our curated gear guides are the results of a few years of intensive analysis and hands-on testing by our group of out of doors consultants.
