The Massive Needles Loop encapsulates the whole lot 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 among many loops that may be put collectively linking shorter trails in The Needles, the Massive Needles Loop traverses the perfect 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 via shoulder-width cracks in rock partitions and boulders). As well as, there are a number of facet journeys you’ll be able to 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’ll be able to carry, significantly should you journey throughout peak season when water sources are scarce.
The Massive Needles Loop could be tackled in both course, however our journey follows a clockwise route via 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 Information
- Distance: 23.7 miles roundtrip
- Days Wanted: 3-5 days
- Peak Elevation: 5,584 ft/1,782m
- Greatest Journey Time: April-Could, Finish of September via 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
- Very popular from Mid-Could to finish of September.
- Sudden storms; flash flooding throughout Monsoon season
- Few bushes, little shade
- Shortage of water
- Gnats, and deer and horse flies are plentiful following wet spring season
- Trails can really feel crowded, a number of day hikers throughout peak season
Greatest Time to hike
The very best time to hike the Massive Needles Loop is April-Could or September to November. April and Could 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 via October carry day and night temperatures much like spring. Canyonlands is a situated in a excessive desert, which implies temperatures can swing 40 levels in a single day. Examine the climate report, carry layers and plan your journey prematurely.
July-September temps attain over 100 levels and late summer time monsoons carry the specter of flash floods. Even rainfall in different areas could 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 prime 50 when the solar’s out and sometimes slide beneath zero on winter nights. Even gentle snowfalls could make many trails tremendous slippery and impassable, so pay attention to impending climate.
Examine in at The Needles District Guests Middle, 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 reasonable to tough resulting from 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, slender spots, or ladders. Many trails are marked with cairns (small rock piles) reasonably than path markers (main intersections are signed). Web elevation change is simply a number of hundred toes or much less, apart from the Decrease Pink Lake Path, which drops 1,400 toes to the Colorado River.
Though The Massive Needles trails aren’t technically demanding, you have to be ready to climb ladders, descend steep rocky trails, and use some navigation abilities. To organize for this journey you’ll need to prepare correctly, know your limitations, brush up in your abilities, and dial in your gear. Doing so will make for a extra protected and pleasant journey.
Permits
Permits are required for all backpacking journeys into the backcountry in Canyonlands. Competitors for permits could be stiff, particularly throughout spring months. You may 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 individuals attempting to entry these nights) and dangers cancelation of your reservation.
Canyonlands fees a non-refundable reservation payment for every allow, whether or not they’re reserved prematurely or in individual at a customer heart. The fee is $36 per allow (non-refundable) plus $5 per individual per night time.
You additionally should pay a $30 entry payment (for every automotive) into the Nationwide Park at a park entrance station, customer heart, or on-line through pay.gov. Every automobile, motorbike, and particular person getting into the park by foot or bicycle should pay an entrance payment.
First Come First Serve Stroll-Ins
For those who didn’t safe a allow months out, you’ve another choice. Unreserved dates and campsites could also be obtainable on a first-come, first-served foundation on the customer heart, nevertheless it’s a raffle. If permits can be found, you’ll be able to 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 Worth/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 realm.
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 realm.
The Needles customer heart is open every day 8-5pm from early March to late November. The cellphone quantity is 435-259-4711 ext. 0. Bogs and water can be found yr spherical.
Attending to Squaw Creek Trailhead
The Massive Needles Loop begins and ends at Squaw Creek Trailhead and traverses quite a lot of trails to finish again on the identical trailhead. It’s a basic loop path that may be traversed in both course, nonetheless for the sake of this information, we’ll define the clockwise route via 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). Comply with 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 Middle. On the first intersection (0.3 miles) proceed on Campground Loop A highway for 0.9 miles (Word: Concentrate! 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 precise-hand fork and its respective trailhead are used largely by campers staying within the campground.) The parking space for the Squaw Flat Trailhead is situated 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). Comply with 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 Middle. On the first intersection (0.3 miles) proceed on Campground Loop A highway for 0.9 miles (Word: Concentrate! It’s simple to mistakenly activate to Campground Loop B highway.) The parking space for the Squaw Flat Trailhead is situated 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, preserve your eyes open for an indication pointing to Squaw Canyon Path. You’ll ultimately hit the path junction within the Elephant Canyon with the Druid Arch. It is a worthwhile out-and-back journey.
When making the journey to Druid Arch in your option to Chesler Park through the Misplaced Creek Path connector, stash your pack. The path (an extension of Elephant Canyon) is commonly tough to observe with no shade and plenty of sand to slog via. 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.
Whenever you return to the junction the place you stashed your pack, take the fitting fork (southwest) and go one other mile to Chesler Park backcountry campsites. The subsequent 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’ll be able to soak up 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 via a deep slender 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 fitting (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 via a cross via the Massive Needles. After the cross 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. Another 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 Massive Needle’s Loop, at all times examine your topo map and compass to be sure to don’t need to backtrack to search out the official path.
Beneath 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 need to determine is what number of days you’re going to take to finish the loop. It’s essential to understand that, relying on the season, it’s possible you’ll want to hold your whole water. This will likely dictate what number of days you select to finish the loop.
Though the every day mileage could seem small on the itineraries listed beneath, it’s essential to notice that this terrain and panorama will take you longer to cowl than typical path mileage. That stated, you’ll be able to at all times regulate your itinerary based mostly in your choice, bodily health and path plan. Beneath are pattern itineraries from VisitUtah.com that outlines every day mileage, backcountry campsites, and potential facet journeys.
Backcountry Campsites
Backpackers in The Needles are required to remain in designated campsites aside from decrease Salt Creek Canyon. You’ll reserve every campsite on-line in the course of the allowing course of. See the map and journey planning information above for planning every backcountry campsites.
Nightly tenting payment for a person web site is $20. You may reserve some particular person websites in spring and fall. Different occasions of the yr, particular person websites are first-come, first-served. Websites fill rapidly throughout peak season.
Maps & Guidebooks
Canyonlands Nationwide Park – Nationwide Geographic Trails Illustrated Map, – This detailed topographical map is printed on foldable, waterproof paper and offers important particulars together with path mileage and trailhead entry factors for the complete park.
Needles District: Canyonlands – Nationwide Geographic Trails Illustrated Map – This map has the identical qualities listed above, nonetheless 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 – For those who plan on exploring all three districts in Canyonlands – Islands within the Sky, the Maze, and the Needles – this map pack is your greatest wager.
Mountaineering Canyonlands and Arches Nationwide Parks: A Information To The Parks’ Biggest Hikes – This ebook offers good overview of the Canyonlands and Arches Nationwide Parks visible alternatives and important boots-on-the-ground data. No ebook singularly covers The Needles District, however this one offers you loads of path data to design your individual journey.
Water
Water is a scarce useful resource on the Massive Needles Loop. Springs are scattered all through the park, largely in canyon bottoms, however a lot of them marked on topographic maps dry up throughout summer time and even different seasons in periods of drought.
The park service extremely recommends backpackers pack in water each time doable, 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 Massive 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 tablets would work as properly.
Laws
- Bury human waste in a shallow gap at the very least 100 toes 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 aren’t allowed within the backcountry.
- You should pack out all trash, together with rest room paper, from the backcountry.
- Retailer all of your meals securely to stop animals from having access to it.
- Hold 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 toes 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 sources might happen and all gadgets should be eliminated.
- Swimming or bathing is simply allowed within the Inexperienced and Colorado rivers.
Path Etiquette
The paths in The Needles are constructed and maintained to attenuate influence of human use. Please be particularly conscious of the next:
- Shortcutting switchbacks and reducing 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 take in water like sponges when it rains, slowing down runoff and serving to retailer water for arid vegetation. At all times use trails offered; 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 cross, except 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 damage to horses, riders and hikers.
Meals Storage
There aren’t any meals storage necessities for this space, however we suggest at all times packing your meals in an Ursack to guard your provisions from ‘mini bears” like ravens, mice and small rodents. They will peck or chew into packs and tents left unattended. Comply with correct meals storage strategies 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 at all times 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 Listing
Make sure that to take a look at our Final Backpacking Guidelines so that you don’t neglect one thing essential.
Beneath 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 crew of outside specialists.
