Chesler Park, Needles District, Canyonlands
I am obsessed with the Needles District area, I must have about 300 pictures on my computer of the area.
The image below shows the various trails that I hiked: Chesler Park, Devils Kitchen/Devils Lane, Druid Arch, Peekaboo, Squawflat/Lost Canyon.
I have taken a million pics at the Chesler Park area:
For a first time visit the hike that I recommend if visiting Chesler Park, with a side trip to the Joint Trail. If you go to this CalTopo link, look for the "chesler park" path and that is the one I am talking about. I have created a PUBLIC map in CalTopo for all these hikes. There is no real elevation concerns here, it is mostly the exposure to the sun during summer, which can be painful (there is no water on the trail, so bring plenty). You will start the hike walking mostly on slickrock, going up and down until you reach a wash that would take you to the Druid Arch trail. You just cross it and climb up more slickrock until you reach the top and Chesler Park reveals to you. F
From then on, it is a dirt path that you can use to walk around the complete part area. I believe there are campsites to the left and then inside the rock formations in the middle. I would recommend hiking until the sign for the Joint Trail, That sign will also indicate a viewpoint ares that you can climb ...... that is good elevated place to have lunch and admire the area.
Joint Trail is fun because it is a tight squeeze between two gigantic slabs of rock, that will eventually take you to the other side, where you can join Devils Lane.
From then on, it is a dirt path that you can use to walk around the complete part area. I believe there are campsites to the left and then inside the rock formations in the middle. I would recommend hiking until the sign for the Joint Trail, That sign will also indicate a viewpoint ares that you can climb ...... that is good elevated place to have lunch and admire the area.
Joint Trail is fun because it is a tight squeeze between two gigantic slabs of rock, that will eventually take you to the other side, where you can join Devils Lane.
Another group of pics from a previous visit.
For those that want to make this longer and not return via Chesler Park, go in the Joint Trail and follow the actual Devils Lane (there is trail that will lead you back to another entrance to Chesler Park). Trail. If you go to this CalTopo link, look for the "joint trail to devils kitchen" path and you will see where this it. You are walking on Devils Lane (an actual off road vehicles road), go past the tight squeeze (for cars) at SOB Hill (with nice pictographs to the left) and then keep looking back for nice views. At point you will reach a sign for Devils Kitchen. This is where you leave Devils Lane to a hiking path towards the Elephant Hill trailhead (this trail will take you to that junction on the wash towards Druid Arch).
Glorious Druid Arch.
So, remember that junction on a wash going to Chesler Park, if you take the wash you will get to Druid Arch.
Now, when I did it you need you leave the wash at some point. I lost that location and ran into a dead end (I knew I was not supposed to reach the dead end), but lucky for me, I backtracked and then I saw hikers on the right path going up. You go up some metal stairs to reach the bench for the viewpoint and the image below was taken from there. Dont forget the view from the canyon you came in from.
So, remember that junction on a wash going to Chesler Park, if you take the wash you will get to Druid Arch.
Now, when I did it you need you leave the wash at some point. I lost that location and ran into a dead end (I knew I was not supposed to reach the dead end), but lucky for me, I backtracked and then I saw hikers on the right path going up. You go up some metal stairs to reach the bench for the viewpoint and the image below was taken from there. Dont forget the view from the canyon you came in from.
The other area to explore starts at the Squawflat campground and it takes you to two trails, Peekaboo trail (mostly on slickrock) and the Squawflat/Lost Canyon loop.
The red path is the Squawflat trail and Lost Canyon loop, which is pretty short and it can be done in half a day.
On the other hand, the Peekaboo trail (blue) can be pretty long if you want.
The red path is the Squawflat trail and Lost Canyon loop, which is pretty short and it can be done in half a day.
On the other hand, the Peekaboo trail (blue) can be pretty long if you want.
The first part of the Squawflat/Lost Canyon loop is amazing, with views of large formations and many times with the La Sal mountains in the background.
The part that I loved the most is hiking up a saddle (the rightmost picture below) and then at the top admiring that lighthouse looking rock that you can actually climb to get closer (left most picture below). Then you go around it and get a view of the canyon that you are about to go down into to get to Lost Canyon.
On to Peekaboo trail ......... you are hiking on slickrock all the time, so please keep an eye for rock cairns. The good thing is that there is no cryptosoil in there so you can go off trail and explore all you want.
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Nice ruins just before you will take some stairs (yes, stairs) you down to the Peekaboo campground.
This is the canyon you are going to drop down to ...... WHAT A VIEW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The highlight at the end of the drop are the pictographs at the bottom:
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Now, you can end the hike here and turn around or you can make this hike longer and enjoy more stuff.
You see, Peekaboo trail intersects with Salt Creek Canyon, a very long canyon that now is closed to off road vehicles and it is used for backpackers (I have another page describing it from the south entrance). Ok, I recommend taking a GPS since the area where you want to connect Peekaboo to Salt Creek has lots of vegetation and you can get lost. |
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Two nice things, Paul Bonyan's toilet (center and right images, use your imagination) and the Tower Ruins. At this point I turned around.
